Veterinary Chiropractic Care Offers An Option

They come from six hours away, many with appointments secured a month in advance to see Dr. Mark Haverkos in Batesville, Ind., population 5,000.

No, he's not a god, but he's been a savior for hundreds of pets that once agonized and cried with every step. For some, Haverkos is a last option before merciful euthanasia. After treatment sometimes two or three visits, often several more - many revert to their once robust selves.

Haverkos offers it all - conventional and alternative treatment - but approximately 80 percent of his caseload is devoted to the latter, the centerpiece of which is network chiropractic, the adjustment of vertebral subluxation.

"It gained its name," he said during a recent seminar in Tukwila, "because it utilizes a syntheses, or network, or many existing forms of chiropractic adjustment."

Haverkos is a disciple of sorts of Dr. Donald Epstein of Boulder, Colo., a chiropractor who introduced network spinal analysis to human medicine in the late 1980s.

"I took three seminar classes in 1991," said Haverkos, "before I had a basic understanding of the working principals. I was the first nonchiropractor he taught." Now he conducts seminars for veterinarians in tandem with Epstein's classes for chiropractors.

Chiropractic treatment of animals remains somewhat controversial within the veterinary profession. The American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines on alternative therapies, last updated in 1988, says, "A licensed veterinarian must be involved in diagnosing, prescribing and supervising chiropractic treatment on animals. Referrals must be made to a licensed chiropractor and in conformation with that state's veterinary practice act." Washington state veterinary statutes do not address chiropractic treatment in veterinary medicine. Public wants more

"The public is demanding our profession offer these alternatives for their pets," says Haverkos. "Many owners have experienced firsthand what it has done for them and they want that option for their animals."

A 1982 Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine graduate, Haverkos adds, "The acceptance and open-mindedness in our profession has come a long way in 15 years," he adds. "In vet school I saw the limitations of what they were teaching us, which didn't include any alternative care. I never even palpated the spine of a dog there.

"Conventional medicine has its place, too. It's excellent in crisis situations and, of course, when surgery is called for. But it has limitations.

"I'm not locked in to either camp. Those who say conventional medicine is a moral sin are just as far off base as those who accuse me of practicing witchcraft."

Haverkos receives referrals from other practitioners and vice versa. "This speaks volumes for how far we've come as a profession. The bottom line is the welfare of the animal. Politics shouldn't enter into it, but it does. Network chiropractic isn't the answer for everything and I let clients know that from the outset. But it's a viable option in many cases."

Shortly after graduating from Ohio State, Haverkos became the veterinarian for the Hopi Indian tribe in Northeastern Arizona, until 1989.

"That was an eye-opening experience for a young veterinarian," he says. "I learned to view animals as individuals and that they have feelings and are willing to work with you if you are willing to do the same with them.

"They will tell you everything that you need to know if you are able to read it. What I learned on the reservation would have taken me years longer in a standard practice. Animals respond to alternative therapy largely because I think they are are much more in tune with their innate, native intelligence, with that part of you that keeps you alive."

Haverkos sees everything from deerhounds to dachshunds with plenty of Doberman pinschers, bassethounds, German shepherds and beagles in the mix, too.

His steady stream of patients aren't only dogs. Cats, horses and birds have received treatment as well.

Spinal problems are rooted in everything from genetics to injuries. "The objective is to get the spine realigned as close as it was when the animal was born," says Haverkos. "Through its life stresses of all sorts - chemical, physical and emotional - deviate the spine.

"When it loses flexibility, the ease of both motion and emotion is impacted. The animal's entire quality of life suffers. The pain often will begin minimally but when not attended to, it can become dramatic to the point the animal can hardly function."

With the network approach to vertebral subluxations, says Haverkos, gentle contact is made in specific areas to reduce tension in the brain and spinal cord, before any vertebrae adjustment is attempted. "In this way, the central nervous system is put more in a state of ease so that the movement of bones will not add more tension to the system."

Hands only

Network chiropractic is centered on hand adjustment only - no activators or mallets are deployed.

Small-animal visits range from 15 minutes to two hours. It usually takes two to three adjustments to correct a problem, he says. "It's not unusual for a patient to be sore for a day or two after the first visit, but the intensity of the pain is usually reduced considerably."

Dr. Sharon Willoughby, a Port Byron, Ill., veterinarian/chiropractor (she has degrees in both fields) launched the veterinary chiropractic movement a decade ago, teaching many veterinarians the rudiments of the care mode.

"She deserves a lot of credit," says Haverkos. "What Donald (Epstein) has done is take it a step further."

Haverkos' seminar here attracted about two dozen veterinarians. "This isn't something you can learn on a single weekend," he explains, "but the first session can teach the basics and show first-hand on pets how user friendly network chiropractic is."

"It's critical on first visits," he told the practitioners, "to establish a comfort zone immediately. The patient is already hurting, and is facing a strange person in a new environment. The whole scenario isn't conducive to relaxation. Pay close attention to the dog's breathing pattern. Is it panting heavily or breathing at a near normal rate?

"Animals read your thoughts, intent and tone, not necessarily your words.

"Talk softly and meet the animal on its level. Then begin palpating the spine gently, to pinpoint the problem area."

Haverkos is a proponent of incorporating basic spinal adjustment in dogs' annual physical examinations from midage (6 and older) on. "It's a chance to spot problems before they intensify. Regular adjustments can benefit animals with hip dysplasia, arthritis, spondylitis (inflammation of the vertebrae) and other orthopedic problems, by providing needed flexibility and stability."

Colorado State and Cornell University veterinary schools, according to Haverkos, are exploring the addition of chiropractic courses to their curriculums.

Walk coming up

Seattle Dog Walk '96, a three-mile-long event on Lake City Way N.E., is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday, with all proceeds going to Dogs for the Deaf in Central Point, Ore. Check-in begins at 9 a.m.

Registration is $15 per person, which includes a T-shirt and a dog bandanna, supply permitting. Walkers without dogs are welcome. Dogs must be licensed, leashed and have all updated immunizations.

Dogs for the Deaf has been providing training and dog-placement services for the hearing impaired since 1977.

The check-in and walk starting point is the Fred Meyer parking lot, 130th Ave. N.E. and Lake City Way N.E.

To register, call 206-440-1533 or 541-826-9220.