Most pet owners would do anything to make their dog happy, but many times, as they age, conditions like arthritis can steal their mobility, causing a lot of pain.

There's a new trend in alternative treatments becoming very popular at the Hillcrest Animal Clinic here in Lincoln.

Dr. Pat McInteer and Dr. Kelly Stitch, a husband and wife vet team, use chiropractic treatments and acupuncture, paired with traditional western medicine, to treat a growing number of dogs and horses.

"I definitely saw when I graduated from veterinary school that there were some problems in animals that my western medicine training didn't seem to be able to help, or help as well as I had hoped. I had a mentor that was trained in these therapies and kind of turned me on to them, and showed me that there's another way that we can get some response and help the animals. So that's how it started for us," said McInteer.

The clinic uses chiropractic adjustments to treat horses and dogs for pinched nerves, collapsed discs, arthritis, and the entire nervous system - all conditions that can also be treated with acupuncture.

"Acupuncture is the insertion of small needles into very specific places that are rich in nerve endings to have different effects on the body. Depending on the condition that the animal may have, you may be treating pain issues, we may be treating inflammatory issues, or we might be trying to normalize or stimulate the nervous system to say wake up and work like you should," Stitch said.

Stitch says they treat certain breeds that are prone to specific problems, like Dachshunds and Corgis for issues their long backs can cause.

"Long-back dogs tend to have more issues with their back, pain in their back, and often times will have disc problems. But on top of that, Emily [her pet Corgi] was also diagnosed with Lupus at the age of six, and so for Emily we do a lot to keep her back healthy," said Stitch.

The whole treatment takes about 20 minutes, and the needles can be paired with heat or electricity to further soothe the nerves. Stitch says they create a spa-like atmosphere with relaxing music and lavender scents to enhance the experience for the dog.

"I'll have back dogs that will come in in significant pain, unable to use their legs, dragging their hind end, and be able to, after the third session, actually walk. So it's just absolutely, literally amazing," Stitch said.

She says the treatments usually begin with appointments once a week for three weeks, after which a determination is made on further treatment.

To learn more about these alternative treatments for your dog, just click on the link below.