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The Nervous System

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Sandhills Equine, LLC offers acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments in addition to traditional medical therapy. These components work together for optimal health, performance, and longevity. Read more below to learn how your horse's body works and responds to treatment

     Acupuncture and chiropractic are therapies that work by stimulating or restoring the nervous system back to normal function.

     The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves that are found throughout the body. This system works as the framework to and from all different parts of the body, influencing EVERY function. There are millions of interconnections between nerves throughout the nervous system. These connections manage a variety of functions. The most common functions we think about are decision-making and movement. However, there are many other functions that are not commonly considered. For example, how our body seems to “know” where our legs and arms are in space. Or how our systems overseeing hormone regulation, temperature control, breathing, heartbeat or digestive system contractions are controlled. 

     When there are external factors affecting the nervous system, it changes the way our body moves and functions, which can lead to further injury and prolonged healing times. These problems can arise from many factors, including:  reduced range of motion, nerve impingements, swelling/inflammation, or a bombardment of signals from the nervous system to the body (or vice versa).

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Medical Acupuncture

    Medical Acupuncture is a complementary therapy that is used to regulate the nervous system. Acupuncture is most well-known from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM) standpoint. Dr. Hecox is trained in Veterinary Medical Acupuncture. While the acupuncture points are named the same as TCM to facilitate communication between practitioners, the treatment rationale and understanding are different.

    Medical Acupuncture is based upon scientific research that highlights the physiologic effects of inserting needles into different points on the body. The needles stimulate receptors in the skin, which send a signal from the nerve supplying that region to other parts of the body. This allows the practitioner to regulate parts of the body that may be a distance from where the needle is inserted. This also influences communication from the nervous system to internal organs. Depending on the location of needle insertion, a practitioner can stimulate hormone regulation, pain control, wound healing, and even affect internal medicine conditions. Dr. Hecox now offers electroacupuncture, which adds electrical stimulation to the acupuncture points selected. The electrical stimulation adds a slightly higher intensity stimulation, which typically leads to a more robust response to therapy.

A list of conditions responsive to acupuncture can be found at the bottom of the page.

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Animal Chiropractic

     Chiropractic treatment works by essentially enabling the body to heal itself. The principles that chiropractic treatment is based on are as follows:

     1. Each individual, person or animal, possesses the ability to heal. Even in traditional medicine, a cut on the skin or a broken bone is expected to do the work of knitting back together. The body innately works to react physiologically to changing conditions.

     2. The nervous system is very important in controlling or coordinating other functions of the body to maintain health. The physiologic changes that respond to internal and external factors are controlled by the nervous system.

     3. When the structural spine becomes dysfunctional, nerve dysfunction occurs. When there is improper vertebral joint motion, the nervous system's function is affected. This affects the body's innate ability to respond effectively to different stimuli.

     4. Chiropractic adjustments help restore the normal function of the spine, which in turn, restores normal function of the nervous system. This allows the body to revert back to a system that ultimately allows for optimal health.

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     So while chiropractic is most commonly known for it's effects and benefits to the musculoskeletal system, it can actually affect anything in the body that is controlled by the nervous system. This includes internal organs, hormonal imbalances, and the immune system.

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Painful Conditions

  • Laminitis/Founder

  • Arthritis

  • Acute Injury

  • Chronic Inflammation

  • Lameness

  • Musculoskeletal Disorders

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Respiratory Problems

  • Cough

  • COPD

  • Heaves

  • Poor Performance

  • Nasal Discharge

  • Nasal Obstruction

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Internal Medicine

  • Colic (in conjunction with traditional therapy)

  • Anhidrosis (inability to sweat)

  • Kidney Disease

  • Heart Disease

  • Liver Dysfunction

  • Hypothyroidism

  • Insulin Dysregulation

  • Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (Cushings)

  • Seizure Disorders

  • Neurologic Dysfuntion

    • West Nile Virus​

    • Equine Protozoal Myelitis (EPM)

    • Wobblers

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Behavioral Issues

  • Cribbing

  • "Girthiness"

  • Anxiety

  • Head Shaking

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Urinary Problems

  • Incontinence

  • Kidney/Urinary Dysfunction (including stones)

  • Cystitis

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Reproduction

  • Ovarian Disorders

  • Uterine Bleeding 

  • Retained Placenta

  • Poor Milk Production

  • Impotence

  • Prostatitis

  • Ejaculatory Problems

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