Real-Life Decision Making
You're a human-turned-animal chiropractor. Glowing press clippings decorate your wall, along with a certificate from the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA).
A thin, droopy-eyed beagle awaits you in your examining room. His owner is in a panic: she says he has been throwing up constantly and she's at a loss as to what to do.
At first, her vet prescribed pills, but that seemed to have no effect. After one particularly bad night, the vet advised her to have the dog put down. In tears, she has turned to you.
The work of animal chiropractors is full of twists and turns. "There's a lot of decision making, beginning with which end of the animal you're going to approach first," says Leslie Collins. She is the executive secretary of the AVCA.
"There's the safety factor in knowing how to handle animals -- whether it's a striking, rearing horse, or a dog that has its lips curled backwards or whose owner doesn't know how to control it."
You ask the owner whether her pet has been moody or has snapped at her lately. She says no: he just lies there and doesn't move. Gently petting the animal, you find him sweet and placid. Getting bitten isn't a problem in this case.
The rules in your area say you need a referral from a vet to treat an animal. If you don't comply, you could face disciplinary action by the chiropractic association to which you belong.
But according to the beagle's owner, all the veterinarians she has seen feel the dog is old and should simply be put out of his misery. They're not about to refer the case on to you.
Based on your preliminary examination, you have a strong hunch that the dog has a pinched nerve. The owner practically begs you not to waste any time and authorizes you to proceed with treatment of her pet.
What do you do?