May the Force Be With Us

Technology has been drastically changing the way we teach, learn and conduct research in health care education. Many institutions have shifted towards exploring technology to provide more interactive learning opportunities, visually rich presentations, enhance point of access to learning, enhance learner feedback quantity/quality/relevance, increase practice opportunities, create a more diverse learning environment, improve patient safety, enhance clinical effectiveness, and provide a system for quality assurance. This presentation will showcase many innovative examples of how basic and advanced technology has been used in chiropractic education settings around the world in the spirit of inspiring Animal Chiropractors and Veterinarians to adapt similar uses for their own purposes and goals.

Diagnosis and adjustment of the Caudal/Anterior Atlas - The Dens is Pithing the Patient

This lecture will discuss the frequent presentation of a listing we call the Caudal/Anterior Atlas. This presentation in dogs is frequent enough to warrant recognition within the community. Many of these dogs suffer paralysis, undiagnosed continued lameness, and appear to respond poorly to adjustments of the current listings taught in the basic course. We teach this adjustment in our advanced Canine Intensive Atlas Adjusting weekend.

IASTM for the Equine Practice

Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) is an evidence-based treatment modality in which specifically designed rigid devices are used to assess and treat soft tissue dysfunction. IASTM techniques have grown in popularity over the past 25 years, and have shown to be an effective treatment modality to decrease pain, improve range of motion and function for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions in humans. This course will review the history, science, and clinical effectiveness of IASTM, and introduce techniques that have been developed for use on equine patients to improve performance and comfort.

Capacity and Adaptability Workshop

What makes the perfect adjuster? Some may say, the ultimate adjuster is someone who can adapt the use of their force across a large spectrum to meet the needs of their patient big or small. Someone, who has not only control of their force but can judiciously execute the appropriate force lighting fast. Whether this is fact or fiction it forms the basis of many principles in education. This workshop is meant to provide participants with a hands on opportunity to explore simulation methods used for training animal chiropractic adjustments. Participants will have a chance to profile their own adjustments for their control of force/speed using advanced technology. Not only will you have a chance to walk away knowing more about your skills, you can also have fun challenging yourself to adapt your adjustments to match specific targets across a large spectrum that have been identified by experts in your profession. There is no safer place to test your limits and learn more about your capacity and adaptability than with simulation technology. Come have fun and try it out.

Canine Head Injury, My Brain Hurts, Science behind Brain trauma and how animal chiropractors can help

Head injuries in dogs. Concussions and head injuries and how it is affecting our dogs lives and performance, behaviors. With all the new sports like dock diving, just playing hard, fast cat, agility hitting their bodies and heads they are suffering brain trauma. Leading to behavior changes, neck pain, decreased performance.......

Equine Fascial Lines Identified, Evaluated and Treatment

The latest research on equine fascial lines will be discussed and demonstrated. Attendees will learn the anatomy and neurology to understand the importance of the fascial system and how to identify and treat issues as it relates to equine performance. Treatment will be explained and case studies will be shown to help the attendee understand how they can identify the issue, treat the area of concern and be able to discuss with clients the importance of follow through for enhanced performance.

The Agility Dog: Common findings and other considerations

This lecture will explore the history of agility events, introduce the equipment (obstacles) used in the events, and present common subluxations and injuries in agility. Managing these skilled and athletic dogs can become an exciting part of your practice. This presentation is geared for doctors desiring to be in the agility circuit. Information about how to become a regular provider of chiropractic care at an agility event will be discussed followed by Q & A.

Equine Kinesiology Post Chiropractic

Using kinesiology tape to support the thoracic and lumbar spine after chiropractic.

Communication Human to Human - Human to Animal

We all believe we know how to communicate. We spent a lifetime in school learning how to use language and gaining knowledge. How good are we at conveying what we do to other people? Proof is not in the words you use. It is in the response that you get. This class will give you insights into verbal and nonverbal communication and how to be more effective at getting the responses that you want from people and animals

Chiropractic, Mobility and functionality; the animal chiropractic's triad of sports injury risk assessment

All sports pose an increased risk for injury and animal sports are not the exception. Since most sports animals are bred for their role, and since the length of their athletic career is affected by the frequency, degree and extent of injuries, animal healthcare professionals play a fundamental role. The main approach to sports medicine is from a therapeutic perspective that is more curative than preventative. Animal chiropractic and physiotherapy can play a fundamental role in increasing the preventative care that animal athletes receive; nevertheless, the animal healthcare professional needs to adopt a risk assessment approach which, in turn, should be embraced by the animal athlete’s team. In a time where sports involving animals are often questioned about the moral burden and the role of animals in society, the mitigation of the risks of injury should become a significant part of decision making.

Treating mobility with fascia in mind - canine blading and taping

Understanding what fascia really is and how to positively effect mobility outcomes using a Fascial blade and kinesiology tape

Principles of Equine Lameness Recognition

The lecture will review the concepts used in identifying lameness in the equine patient and ask the audience to apply these concepts to identify the lameness in videos of horses during a lameness examination. The strategies used by veterinarians to diagnose and treat lameness will be discussed with the goal of increasing the audience's knowledge and understanding of the process. This will be an interactive session where Q&A discussions will occur and are encouraged throughout the presentation.

The Report of Findings: How and Why This Sets the Tone for Treatment Plans

A complete, concise and educational Report of Findings is paramount in achieving your treatment goals. Owners who understand and are optimistic about potential gains in their pet's health are more compliant, motivated and most likely to adhere to your treatment plan. Additionally, they can be realistic and participatory in their pet's chiropractic, and you become more confident with expected outcomes. You will hear how to convey to a client just exactly what is chiropractic, what subluxations you discovered, how these dysfunctions specifically are affecting their pet, and what to look for as far as a response. A confident, knowledgeable personal report establishes your authority and creditability and allows the client to have confidence in you. This Report of Findings can used to speak to other practitioners (including other chiropractors and veterinarians), chiropractic patients themselves or people who have never even been a chiropractor. It works on all levels of knowledge, education and understanding. If you have ever floundered to find the most effective way to explain to a client just what may be going on with their pet and how chiropractic may help, this lecture lays it all out simply. It may help to propel your practice forward to one in which you are thrilled to go to work each day, your owners are happy and compliant, and your clients are healthy and overjoyed to see you!

Yes, I can alter the animal's disease state with an adjustment

Many animal chiropractors limit their work to lameness issues and limit their discussion with clients to this area. This lecture will empower animal chiropractors to better understand why their work is essential to the overall health of the animal. In this lecture I will explore the symptoms, the signals and the solutions to returning both acute and chronically ill animals to health. Doctors will be given protocols and methods for setting this up in their practices.

Video Analysis Workshop

Have you ever wished you could see your patients in their natural environments? Have you ever wanted to slow down a video to analyze your patient’s movements? Have you ever wished you could compare your patient’s motions before and after treatment? Have you ever wished you could illustrate faulty movements in your patients to educate their owners? The reality is all of these things are super easy to do with free software available on most mobile devices (cell phones and tablets). Please join us as we walk you through how to do these things. This workshop is hands experience on where you can use your own device or ones provided by our facilitators while we practice recording, analyzing, comparing and sharing videos. The possibilities are endless for how you can apply this in your daily life. Come join us to learn more.

The Importance of Research Relating to Animal Chiropractic

At the end of this session, attendees will have a better understanding of how to write a research paper and submit it for publication in a peer reviewed journal. Rather than only relying on word of mouth or testimonials on the work you perform, published case studies or case series on animal chiropractic can help take you to a different level. Research papers will document what the animal(s) presented with, what kind of exam and treatment you performed, and what the results were. Both DC’s and DVM’s can benefit from writing papers and the goal of this one-hour class can provide the basic steps on what is necessary for a successful research paper.

Gelding castration scarring. Is it a problem? Diagnostics and treatment options.

Gelding castration scarring is more common than we think. This problem, closely related to behavioral and performance issues, tends to be included in horse's "bad behavior" attitude. Lots of these horses are really difficult for everyday care and are underperforming. Lecture includes multidisciplinary diagnostic approaches, including performance issues and compensation patterns. It also explaines different treatment options, from conservative to surgical.

Diagnostics and the Animal Chiropractic Patient

This lecture looks at radiology, digital thermography, the use of the tonometry, motion palpation and the knowledge of the facet joint and in diagnosing the VSC in animals

Proactive vs Reactive Hoof Care: Helping Your Clients Put their Best Foot Forward

The traditional methods of equine hoof care are typically based on a strategy of reacting to various hoof and foot issues on an as-noticed basis. The outcomes of this tactic often include performance reduction, loss of use, and long-term health complications – each with attendant time and financial obligations. Alternatively, this lecture describes a proactive approach to hoof care in which future performance and health problems are mitigated or eliminated through a continuous process of correctly identifying and removing contributing factors to unhealthy feet. Such a tactic eases the burden on all concerned parties by creating a generally healthier client.

Hoof Boots: A Healthier Choice for Horses

While many horse owners are content with traditional methods of equine hoof care, they may not be as well-acquainted with newer approaches such as booting, which can provide superior financial, performance, and health advantages over traditional techniques. This lecture presents a cost/benefit analysis of each method in an effort to equip the veterinary chiropractic provider with the tools necessary to guide the client towards the best hoof care choices for their animals.

Western Herbs for Mobility and Pain Management

An introduction to how Western Herbs can be used in support of manipulative therapies and management of post injury pain, inflammation and recovery.

Beginner's Guide to Adjusting Pigs

Piggy-backing (pun completely intended) on last year's brief overview of porcine adjusting, this year's lecture will review pig handling and adjusting techniques and will feature real-life cases from Dr. McLeod's practice. Expand your knowledge and leave armed with tips and tricks for swooning the swine on your schedule. Labs will feature pigs from a local rescue and may be observatory only. Without knowing which pigs will attend the lab, palpation will only be permitted if the pigs participating allow it.

IASTM using Graston Technique

By the end of this lab, participants will understand a variety of clinical applications for instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization using Graston Technique in the equine patient.

DVM - Functional Assessment - Visual Motion Palpation

The job description of the sound equine athlete demands high levels of mobility, coordination and physical capacity. The evaluation of the equine patient involves the assessment of the condition of multiple structures and systems that work in synchrony. The interaction of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems is fundamental, both from a motor perspective and from a functional one. The first interaction of the AVCA certified doctor with a patient is visual and become an opportunity to gather a deep understanding of the horse’s restrictions and limitations. Hence, the purpose of this lab is to provide the AVCA certified doctor with a step-by-step routine for the functional assessment of the equine patient. It will offer the animal chiropractic practitioner an insight of its patient’s mobility and the functional consequences of the restrictions that he/she is about to treat.

Equine Fascial Lines - Identify, Evaluate and Treat

The lab will be a chance for the attendee to experience how to identify, evaluate and treat fascial line disturbance and how to relate the findings to the performance of the equine and how to discuss the findings with the client.

Barrel & Endurance Horses - special considerations

Discussing common problems found with barrel horses and endurance horses. Demonstrating adjustments and helping communicate with riders. What to do at the barn and during training to enhance performance given the specific findings. Answer questions you have.

Palpation & Technique

Hands on lab to help students improve palpation skills and give them an opportunity to improve technique skills in a very small group setting.

The Neurology of Movement

How an understanding of the relationship between movement and neurology will improve your skills as an animal chiropractor and provide a more comprehensive approach to treatment of your animal patients.

Business Management: Equine Chiropractic Practice

The business systems and procedures of a successful equine chiropractic practice can often be a mystery. Especially, for those first starting out or chiropractors trying to figure out how to juggle human and animal patients. I have been in practice for 6 years, built a 6 figure practice within my first year of full time animal chiropractic practice, and would like to share my knowledge, business systems, and experience. Considering there are many doctors who have been in practice much longer than I have, this will be a teaching/interactive lecture. It's important to share the successful gems of a successful animal chiropractic practice!

New Techniques in the Treatment of Navicular Syndromes

Navicular Syndrome, variously referred to as Navicular Disease, Caudal Heel Syndrome, Equine Podotrochlosis, etc. can be a devastating disease and often results in the end of a horse's career. Management can be quite difficult as there are a variety of different tissues that might be involved and successful outcomes require a multi-pronged approach. This lecture will present several advances in treatment medical and farrier care to chiropractic technique, physical therapy modalities and embryophytotherapeutics, a novel way of administering plant stem cells.

Treatment Plan for the Geriatric Dog

Geriatric dogs generally respond wonderfully well to chiropractic treatment. Additionally, there are several at-home things owners can do for their older dogs. These are quick, simple procedures that will enhance proprioception, balance and strength. If any of these are out of balance or weak, there cannot be biomechanical harmony in the body. This results in a weak hind end and, if left untreated, results in an overuse syndrome in the shoulders. Owners are compliant because the "exercises" are easy and fast (some are only 30 seconds!), and they know they are helping their dogs because results are usually quick. This is usually a six week "rehab" treatment plan. During this time, we want to see some positive changes - and almost always do! How to present this treatment protocol to the owner for maximum compliance and response will be discussed.

Search Engine Optimization 101, Improving the visibility of your website in search engines' organic search results

Introduction to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Improving the visibility of your website in search engines' organic search results.

Show Me Animal Chiropractic

Show Me Animal Chiropractic is a system that includes everything from the first exam to follow up, marketing and record keeping. It is reproducible and easy to implement.

Palpation & Technique

Hands on lab to help students improve palpation skills and give them an opportunity to improve technique skills in a very small group setting.

Agility Dog

We will discuss and demonstrate providing chiropractic care for agility dogs at the event. Common adjustments seen relating to surface differences, expertise level of dog, challenges that obstacles present that might create micro/macro injuries, adjusting them and recommendations to the owners. Bring your agility questions.

Fascia, Blade & Taping

Understanding what fascia really is and how to positively effect mobility outcomes using a Fascial blade and kinesiology tape

Adjusting Pigs

Piggy-backing (pun completely intended) on last year's brief overview of porcine adjusting, this year's lecture will review pig handling and adjusting techniques and will feature real-life cases from Dr. McLeod's practice. Expand your knowledge and leave armed with tips and tricks for swooning the swine on your schedule. Labs will feature pigs from a local rescue and may be observatory only. Without knowing which pigs will attend the lab, palpation will only be permitted if the pigs participating allow it.

Equine Lower Limb Dissection

The complex three-dimensional shapes of the bones of the horse’s foot and their relationship to other internal and external structures can be challenging to grasp from two-dimensional photographs and drawings. This laboratory experience will facilitate an understanding of these important structures through a guided dissection of the distal limb.