Animal Chiropractic in Canada:
A Growing and Unregulated Sideline
Across Canada, chiropractors — and in some cases veterinarians — have begun offering spinal "adjustments" to dogs, cats, horses, and other animals. The claims are large. The evidence base is thin. The regulatory oversight is minimal. ChiroWatch documents the practitioners, the promoters, and the unanswered questions.
Background: What Is Animal Chiropractic?
Animal chiropractic — also called veterinary chiropractic or zoological chiropractic — applies the core chiropractic premise of spinal "subluxation" to non-human patients. Practitioners claim that misalignments of the vertebrae interfere with the nervous system and that manual adjustments restore normal function, relieve pain, and improve mobility in dogs, cats, horses, and other animals.
The concept is not new. The American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) has offered certification since the mid-1980s, and an Ontario-based instructional body — the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre — has trained practitioners in Canada for decades. In the United States, the Options for Animals college in Illinois has been a primary credential-granting institution.
The Subluxation Premise Applied to Animals
The foundational claim — that spinal "subluxations" cause systemic disease and that adjustments correct them — has never been validated in human chiropractic to the satisfaction of mainstream medicine. Applying this framework to animals adds a further layer of difficulty: the animal cannot report symptoms, cannot consent, and cannot describe whether treatment is helping or hurting.
Practitioners acknowledge this implicitly. As one Canadian animal chiropractor told the Sault Star in 1996, diagnosing animals requires "observing the animal's posture and gait" and "feeling for it." A 2013 profile in The Tribune (Welland) noted that a veterinarian at Main West Animal Hospital, Welland, had "seen dramatic improvements" in animals with hip dysplasia — though no controlled data was cited.
The placebo problem is acute in veterinary settings. Owners who invest time and money in treatment are highly motivated to report improvement. The animal's response to handling, warmth, and attention from a practitioner may itself produce apparent behavioural change. None of the newspaper profiles reviewed for this page cited peer-reviewed evidence for the treatments described.
Canadian Practitioners Documented by ChiroWatch
The following practitioners were identified through Canadian newspaper coverage spanning 1996 to 2018. ChiroWatch makes no claim that this list is complete. Inclusion does not imply disciplinary findings; it reflects documented public promotion of animal chiropractic services.
A licensed animal chiropractor described as treating dogs and horses in Calgary. Reportedly dedicated one day per week to four-legged patients, leaving her human practice behind. Described treating a 12-year-old Labrador cross with neck problems.
Owner of Waterloo North Chiropractic. Certified in animal chiropractic by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association. Treated dogs, cats, horses, ferrets, and birds. Operated her animal practice separately from her human clinic on Tuesdays and Saturdays. One of five Ontario chiropractors certified in animal chiropractic at the time of the article.
One of the most prominent animal chiropractors in Ontario during the 2000s. Graduated from chiropractic school in 1982 and began animal chiropractic work at York University. Opened her Virgil clinic on Halloween 1986. AVCA-certified; sat on the AVCA Certification Committee as Chair; Candidate Examiner for the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. Treated ferrets, horses, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Claimed evidence "proved chiropractic care does work on animals." Operated www.animalchiro.ca.
Described as one of several local animal chiropractors in the Greater Toronto Area. A Globe and Mail profile featured his treatment of a 13-year-old cat named Natalie. Rosenberg reportedly attended Options for Animals college in Illinois to become certified, after a guest speaker inspired him at chiropractic school. Described as having a "neat white beard" and starting animal chiropractic "strictly as a courtesy" for his patients, then continuing on his own.
Certified Animal Chiropractor. Operated through Southview Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, serving the Bolton/Caledon and surrounding areas. Advertised services targeting mobility, performance, and overall health. Website: www.southviewchiropractic.com.
A veterinarian at Main West Animal Hospital, 1423 Pelham St., Welland. Began offering animal chiropractic after approximately seven years of interest in the field. Claimed chiropractic could help animals not responding to pain medication or other therapies, and cited cases of hip dysplasia improvement. Noted that "it's not for every condition" and that the profession is regulated by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario.
A full-time human chiropractor who expanded her practice to mammals in 2006 "because she wanted to be able to treat her whole family." Demonstrated animal chiropractic at the Algoma Horse Association Speed Trials in Bruce Mines (July 5, 2014). Trained through an American Instructional Organization (the modern version of an 1989 program). Described treating a cat with seizures and tremors, a dog facing euthanasia, and a stallion with a hip injury.
Director and instructor at the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre (one of six certification programs in the world). Owner of FullStride Animal Chiropractic. Trained as a chiropractor for three years (undergraduate) plus a four-year chiropractic medicine degree before enrolling in the VCLC's 220-hour structured program in 2008. Ran her own family practice in Minden for 13 years before focusing on animals. In 2018 she presented research on force-sensing technology for measuring spinal adjustment forces at the AVCA annual convention in Texas, in collaboration with Dr. David Starmer of the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. Enrolled in a master's program in health sciences at UOIT. Operated www.FullStride.ca.
The MediaArt / Marchfield Farm Event (2004)
On April 18, 2004, an event titled "Experts offer alternative therapies for animals" was held at Marchfield Farm, 3510 Bowen Rd., approximately one kilometre east of South Morningstar Road in Stevensville, Ontario. The event was hosted by MediaArt, an alternative health publisher. More than a dozen experts in alternative therapies were scheduled to offer live demonstrations and "meet-the-experts opportunities."
Therapies advertised included acupuncture, light infusion, chiropractic, SCENAR therapy, massage, and reiki. Non-invasive diagnostic assessments were also promised, along with an "animal communicator" who would discuss the causes of behavioural issues and "talk to an animal." Contact was listed through Rebecca Proulx at Marchfield Farm and Lori D'Ascanio.
Credentialling Bodies Referenced in Canadian Coverage
| Organization | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) | USA | Primary certifying body referenced by Canadian practitioners. Offers certification; Canadian practitioners have served on its committee. |
| Options for Animals College | USA (Illinois) | Chiropractic college offering animal chiropractic training. Dr. Rosenberg (Toronto) attended. |
| Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre (VCLC) | Canada (Ontario) | One of six certification programs worldwide per 2018 reporting. Dr. Kim Adie is director and instructor. 220-hour structured program. |
| College of Animal Chiropractors | Canada/International | Referenced in 2018 coverage as a standards body. Website: www.collegeofanimalchiropractors.org. |
| Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) | Canada | Dr. Susanne Langdon was a Candidate Examiner. Dr. David Starmer of CMCC collaborated with Dr. Adie on the 2018 AVCA force-sensing research. |
The Regulatory Gap
Animal chiropractic in Canada occupies an unusual regulatory position. Unlike human chiropractic — which is a self-regulated health profession under provincial legislation — animal chiropractic has no equivalent regulatory framework. Practitioners may hold AVCA certification, but this is a private credentialling body, not a government-authorized college.
In Ontario, the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) governs veterinary practice. Whether a chiropractor who is not a licensed veterinarian may legally treat animals without a veterinary referral is not consistently enforced. Dr. Langdon's 2006 advertisement in the Niagara Falls Review stated explicitly: "In accordance with our Provincial Standards, a veterinary referral is not required before Dr. Langdon can examine and treat your animal." This claim should be read in light of the CVO's own guidelines, which have evolved over time.
Dr. Aron Bhan, a veterinarian by training, is in a different regulatory position than a chiropractor offering animal services — but in neither case does an independent body audit outcomes, investigate complaints, or publish discipline records for animal chiropractic specifically.
Questions ChiroWatch Is Asking
- What is the current position of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario on chiropractic treatment of animals by non-veterinarians?
- Has the College of Chiropractors of Ontario issued any guidance on members who offer animal services?
- What adverse event reporting, if any, exists for animal chiropractic injuries in Canada?
- Does the VCLC's 220-hour program meet any government-recognized educational standard?
- Has the CMCC formally endorsed Dr. Starmer's collaboration with the AVCA, and what peer review process governed the force-sensing study presented in Texas in 2018?
- Are there documented cases of injury to animals following chiropractic treatment in Canada?
Press Coverage: Source Record
| Publication | Date | Subject / Headline | Practitioners Named |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sault Star | Jan. 20, 1996 | "Once a week, Doc lets every dog have its day" | Dr. Judy Williamson (Calgary) |
| Waterloo Region Record | Nov. 4, 1998 | "Creature comforts: Animal chiropractic clinic faces marketing challenge" | Jennifer Heick (Waterloo) |
| The Standard (St. Catharines) | Feb. 5, 2004 | "Beastly treatment" | Dr. Susanne Langdon (Virgil) |
| The Tribune (Niagara) | Apr. 9, 2004 | "Experts offer alternative therapies for animals" | Multiple (MediaArt/Marchfield Farm event) |
| The Globe and Mail | Nov. 20, 2004 | "Chiropractors for cats? Natalie was worth it" | Dr. Leo Rosenberg (Toronto) |
| Niagara Falls Review | Apr. 3, 2006 | Full-page advertisement / Pet Page | Dr. Susanne Langdon (Virgil) |
| Caledon Enterprise | Feb. 28, 2013 | "Animal Chiropractic" (Pet of the Month feature) | Dr. Lori Batch (Bolton) |
| The Tribune (Welland) | Jul. 9, 2013 | "Chiropractic care for pets" | Dr. Aron Bhan (Welland) |
| The Sault Star | Jun. 9, 2014 | "Chiropractor treats creatures, great and small" | Dr. Sherrie Guillet (Sudbury) |
| Kawartha Lakes This Week | Jun. 21, 2018 | "Adjusting attitudes about animal chiropractic" | Dr. Kim Adie (Lindsay) |
| Kawartha Lakes This Week | Dec. 27, 2018 | "Lindsay animal chiropractor presents research in Texas" | Dr. Kim Adie (Lindsay) |
Page compiled by ChiroWatch.com. Information is drawn from Canadian newspaper archives. ChiroWatch is a consumer health watchdog site operated by Dr. Terry Polevoy MD FRCPC (ret.), Waterloo, Ontario. Errors or updates may be sent to the webmaster. This page does not constitute legal or medical advice.
Last updated: June 2026.