How do you know when your animal actually needs treatment, rather than just having an off day? For me, the answer is quite simple: if you notice them behaving differently in any way, it’s worth getting them checked.
With a dog, this could be a reluctance to jump on the sofa or run up the stairs when they’d normally shoot up and down. They may look stiff after exercise, or stop initiating play with their favourite toy.
With a horse, the signs might be not looking happy when you bring out the tack, or not standing still for you to mount. They may start to find things difficult, such as striking off on the correct canter lead, or become more reluctant to jump a fence.
I would always recommend seeking advice if your animal’s behaviour changes in any way, even if the change is small. These changes are how our animals tell us that they’re compromised in some way, or uncomfortable somewhere in their bodies.
Chiropractic maintenance treatments are a great way of checking over your animal’s body and picking up any areas of discomfort or restriction before they become a significant problem.