Animal Chiropractic Can Be Alternative For Pets With Chronic Pain

Ishmael is lucky just to be alive. A head injury at 7 weeks old left the now-7-month-old pooch brain-damaged and unable to walk straight.

"He would just walk in little circles. When he would walk, he would just turn little circles and his head was always to the side," says pet owner Chris Hooker.

Veterinarian Libby Engel was able to help Ishmael. She is certified in

animal chiropractic

and began giving him regular adjustments of the neck, shoulders and spine.

She says animal chiropractic is an alternative to medication for many dogs, cats and horses in chronic pain. It is based on the same principles as chiropractic for humans.

Owner Susan Bennett says spinal adjustments have helped her 10-year-old daschund, Weiner. Weiner suffers from disc disease. She says chiropractic has helped her dog through several crises and given him, like Ishmael, a new "leash" on life.

"It's great to be able to have him run and play and just be happy," she says.

Engel is one of only a handful of veterinarians in North Carolina certified in animal chiropractic. She also practices in Durham and Chapel Hill. She can be reached by calling

919-260-8559.