Getting Heidi to stand on her own two feet

Heidi was prone to lying down for large portions of the day but when she started having trouble getting up Robert Gordon, a farmer from West Wight, consulted his Local vet. The vet recommended he visited the local chiropractor who is trained to treat animals using the McTimoney method.

Heidi's owner says: "I noticed her problem one day out in the field. She was still just a baby and was spending much of her time sunbathing or sleeping. Whenever she tried to get up, one leg would wave freely in the air, and it seemed she couldn't support her weight on the other leg. She should have been pushing that leg under her stomach to help lever herself up. I tried painkillers but they didn't seem to make much of a difference, so I decided to consult with the local vet to see if she was suitable for treatment by a chiropractor."

A McTimoney-trained chiropractor and animal practitioner said: "After taking a full history, I examined Heidi's spine and made small adjustments using the McTimoney method - fast, precise adjustments that help realign the individual bones of the skeleton. The improvement was immediate - Heidi was able to stand unaided and walked the length of the barn. "

The chiropractor agreed a plan of care which involved a follow-up session. In the three years since working on Heidi, other alpacas in the herd have also benefited from treatment.

Robert said: "It was amazing. The chiropractor did not seem to do anything forceful but Heidi was soon walking around pain free. Two weeks later, she was able to run with the herd. McTimoney chiropractic treatment is non-invasive yet so effective, quick and easy. Heidi has been 100% ever since and is growing strongly. This year we may even breed from her.

"I would recommend that anyone who has concerns about the wellbeing of their animal consults a vet and asks about visiting a chiropractor trained to treat animals using the McTimoney method."

They include this Note:

"Chiropractic is concerned with the integrity of the nervous system and does not involve the use of drugs or surgery. Many techniques have evolved but they all have the same aims: to correct the alignment of the bones, in order to restore nerve function, which helps to alleviate pain, improve mobility and promote natural healing and health. It has been found helpful for all those with a spinal column - humans and animals too."