Basic Veterinary Chiropractic Course

The BackBone Basic Veterinary Chiropractic Course is open exclusively to licensed Veterinarians and DC´s (university education in human chiropractic, 4 years minimum).

The theoretical part of the course can be studied conveniently at your PC at home. The compact practical training is offered during the weekend of a module in our seminarhouses in Buxtehude, Germany and Biarra, Australia.

Every student will be taught individually on both horses and dogs during technique labs. Attainable goal is the ability to confidently diagnose and treat structural and functional problems. 

You consider taking the course but are not sure? Visit us to get a feel for it. 

Curriculum

Anatomy and Neurology: Focus on equine and canine joint osteology, myology and syndesmology. Skeletons of the horse and dog, as well as spinal models and many individual bones are available at any time during the lectures. Students will investigate and feel relevant comparative anatomical structures by examining dissected specimens. Static palpation and localization of all chiropractically relevant anatomical landmarks on the equine and the canine on patients

Review of neuroanatomy and -physiology. Focus on central and peripheral nervous system and on the neurologic patterns that explain the chiropractic adjustment. Modern functional neurological concepts open up a perspective on functional problems that is useful for any medical approach.

Biomechanics and Gait Analysis Normal biomechanics in equine and canine. Biomechanical changes during movement and pathophysiological changes that can occur under stress. Equine and canine gaits. Gait analysis will include topics such as normal gaits and abnormal gaits comparing individuals and species.

Animal Chiropractic Adjusting Techniques Theoretical class focussing on the factors that increase efficiency, safety, reliability and comfort of the chiropractic adjustment. Students will apply the principles learned above through hands on laboratories. Topics are doctor position, hand and body positions, contact points, safety and handling of animals in regards to adjusting. The motion palpation lab deals with learning how to diagnose and helps developing the "feel" for normal versus abnormal movement in motion units. Hypermobility and hypomobility will be felt by each student. Specific animal chiropractic techniques demonstrated on horse and dog covers the areas cervical, thoracolumbar, sacropelvic, front limb, rear limb, ribs, TMJ, tail and cranium. Hands-on labs in very small lab groups are designed to let all students practise to adjust on dogs and horses at least four times during the course to gain confidence in the chiropractic treatment of the animals. An introduction to other modalities in lectures provides practitioners with the basic understanding of the pertinent aspects of the use of other healing options or rehabilitation ideas incl. physical modalities to speed up the healing process.

Case Management of the Animal Chiropractic Patient Diagnostic Imaging (Plain film radiography, digital radiography, myelography, fluoroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging) are discussed and evaluated for the chiropractic patient. Case management address some of the common topics in everyday case management including lay lecture, introduction to leads and collars, introduction to saddle and harness fit, equine teeth and the equine foot. In integrated case management the "diagnosis" aspect based on the "case approach".is emphazised. Ideas and standard operating procedures will be given like signalment, history and consultation, posture analysis, static palpation (osseous, muscle, temperature, coat changes, etc.) motion palpation and gait analysis so that case intake and progress plan will become second nature and proper therapeutic protocols and a realistic prognosis can be achieved and communicated to the owners of our patients. Emphasis is placed on how these diagnoses relate and integrate into the primary health care of the animal and are demonstrated on real cases.

Chiropractic Philosophy and Studies Modern history of animal chiropractic and the roots of chiropractic philosophy. In Chiropractic Basics the terminology and listing systems are introduced and an overview of the vertebral subluxation complex is given. In chiropractic pathology the compensatory mechanisms that develop secondary to the vertebral subluxation complex are presented..

Veterinary Studies Fundamental veterinary topics incl. safety and handling, physiology and pharmacology, zoonotic and metabolic conditions and lameness and relevant large and small animal pathologies in regards to differential diagnosis for chiropractic patients are presented.

Ethics and Legalities The class will prepare the students to deal with the every day legal issues that will be faced in both conventional or alternative/complementary practice.

Scientific validity Up to date available research valids the spinal manipulation health care modality and expands knowledge of functional neurology. Part of the home work is to read a given number of current research articles handed out on CD-rom each module.

Examinations From the second module on the students will have a written and practical review test on theory and techniques of the previous module with average passing grades of 80% for each section to sit the final exam. The final exam consists of a written and a practical part with passing grades of 80% for each section . All practical examinations will be held on both species, horse and dog for every student.

Home Study From the second module on each student has to hand in one case report at the beginning of the module. These reports will help to reflect the review of chiropractic tecniques at home. Each student has to hand in 5 test questions. This will help the students to find the key points in the offered reading material.

Advanced Veterinary Chiropractic Courses 

The BackBone advanced course row deals with the "Black flies in the chiropractic Chardonnay", the most common obstacles in the chiropractic treatment success. Advanced I and II are already open, the rest of the course row is currently under consonstruction to provide the theoretical modules via e-learning and to offer a practical part on demand for integration of the presented material.  

Subclinical lameness issues - Internal problems - Myofascial restrictions

All  courses use chiropractic techniques and use soft tissue for diagnosis and treatment and can be booked completely independend of each other:  Advanced I, III and V are exclusively for dogs and Advanced II, IV and VI are exclusively for horses. IVCA credit: 10 hours per e-learning module. On demand practical part: 5 hours

Advanced I and II “Muscles – they can do more" Obstacle subclinical lameness issues. This course offers diagnostic and treatment techniques for dogs (I) and horses (II) that are presented with typical compensatory muscle tension patterns. Rewinding those patterns is easily achieved in a specific 1-2-3 step approach. Emphasis is on practical evaluations of patients.

Advanced III and IV “It´s all about spots”  Obstacle internal problems. Chiropractic meets acupuncture – the common basis and integration of underlying internal problems that block the chiropractic treatment success. Ever had problems with for example the right shoulder in your patient? It could be an underlying liver problem. We will focuss on the diagnosis and treatment on dogs (III) and horses (IV). 

Advanced V and VI “Osteopathic techniques for animal chiropractors including diaphragm and myofascial release techniques” Obstacle myofascial restrictions. Chiropractic meets osteopathy – common basis and integration of some ultra-useful osteopathic techniques into the chiropractic treatment protocol. Vertical techniques open up and release the patient´s body for a better connection between the upper neck and the sacrum. In this module, we will open up and start with very light palpatory techniques in diagnosis and treatment of dogs (V) and horses (VI). 

CE Hoof Balance and Biomechanics of the Equine with Darrall Clifford (AUS)

Based on decades of research, hoof specialist Darrall Clifford outlines the complex interrelations between a lack of hoof balance and disturbances in the movement of horses.  He explains how such dynamic patterns of exposure lead to subluxations, false muscle development and compensatory changes and pathology on tendons and joints based on overburdening.

To understand the complex interrelationship between hoof balance and biomechanics of the body as a whole it is mandatory to diagnose external hoof pathology and gain knowledge on the mechanisms that happen inside the hoof to correlate subluxation patterns and make the correct conclusions. Correcting subluxations without paying attention to hoof imbalances will automatically result in frustration for the vet, the rider and the trainer.

The goal of this seminar is to draw a red line through the patient and correct all imbalances. Lots of practical training on patient evaluation plus supervised practical introduction on horse hoofs is designed to reach that goal. 

CE The Z-Factor - Rider Biomechanics for a Happy Horse mit Jim Townhill, DC (The Netherlands)

Z-Factor: Introduction into the therapeutic principles of muscle testing and the use of this modality in diagnostics and treatment of reciprocal biomechanical imbalances in horses and riders  

IVCA credits: 15 Stunden.