The Well Balanced Animal

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Valley Park, MO
The Well Balanced Animal

Animal Chiropractic and Canine Rehabilitation Services. Mobile canine and equine chiropractic services. Serving the Franklin County and West St.

Louis County areas in Missouri. Services are by appointment only.

11/02/2026

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month, and it's a good time to revisit a common assumption about aging pets: that slowing down is just something they live with.

Some of it genuinely is age. But the changes owners tend to write off are often the ones we can help with, including difficulty climbing stairs or jumping, arthritis, stiffness after a nap, and a dog who's stopped getting onto furniture they used to reach easily.

This work is personal for Dr. Alexis Strode. Early in her veterinary career, she noticed how many pets she saw were dealing with arthritis and mobility issues, which led her to rehabilitation and chiropractic training. If your senior dog has changed this year, we'd like to see them.

Book an evaluation at https://link.k9rehab.marketing/widget/form/sDGIx84xkmPmS9PXd3VL

10/28/2026

Hardwood, tile, and laminate are easy to sweep, and they also give a dog's paw pads almost nothing to grip. For a senior dog, or any dog whose hind end has already lost some strength, a smooth floor turns every stand-up into a small negotiation.

The fix costs very little. Runners along the hallways your dog actually travels, a mat under the food and water bowls, and an area rug wherever they tend to get up and turn around will change how confidently they move through the house. Trimmed nails and tidy paw fur help too.

If your dog is already slipping or limping without an obvious cause, The Well Balanced Animal can help you get to the bottom of it. Learn more about canine chiropractic care at https://www.thewellbalancedanimal.com/canine-chiropractic

10/21/2026

If your dog comes up sore after a hard play session, the instinct is to give it a day and see. Sometimes that's exactly the right call. Sometimes it's how a small problem gets time to become a bigger one, and most owners don't have a clear line between the two.

Here are things we suggest warrant an evaluation rather than another week of watching:

▪️Soreness that hasn't improved after a few days
▪️A limp that doesn't improve
▪️A yelp when your dog is picked up
▪️A sudden refusal to use the stairs
▪️Any of those paired with an appetite or behavior change

Dr. Strode is a veterinarian and an animal chiropractor, so an evaluation at The Well Balanced Animal considers your dog's whole medical picture. Chiropractic care doesn't replace a veterinary diagnosis, and part of our job is making sure we rule out the right things first.

Schedule your dog's evaluation at https://link.k9rehab.marketing/widget/form/sDGIx84xkmPmS9PXd3VL

10/14/2026

October 14 is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day, and the link between a dog's weight and their joints is direct. Extra body weight doesn't spread itself out evenly. It concentrates on the hips, knees, and spine with every step, for years, which is part of why arthritis, degenerative joint disease, and hip and pelvic imbalances are so common in the dogs we see.

You can do a simple check at home. Run your hands flat along your dog's sides and notice whether you can feel the ribs under a thin covering without pressing. If you're unsure what you're feeling, your primary veterinarian can assign a body condition score and talk through what's appropriate for your dog's breed and age.

Have questions about animal chiropractic care? You can find answers at https://www.thewellbalancedanimal.com/faqs

10/05/2026

Ask ten dog owners whether a harness or a collar is better, and you'll get ten answers. The honest one is that it depends on the dog at the end of the leash. National Walk Your Dog Week runs October 1st-7th, so here's how we think about walking gear at The Well Balanced Animal.

▪️A flat collar is fine for a dog who walks on a loose leash and doesn't pull.
▪️For a dog who pulls, a collar concentrates that force on the neck and spine, which are two of the areas we assess most often.
▪️A harness spreads pressure across the chest instead, but only when it fits. Straps sitting too far forward can limit shoulder range of motion.
▪️Re-check the fit as your dog's weight and coat change through the year.

No piece of equipment fixes a pulling habit on its own, though good gear can keep that habit from costing your dog comfort later. Wondering whether your dog's neck or back is already carrying the strain? Learn more at https://www.thewellbalancedanimal.com/canine-chiropractic

09/30/2026

Dogs are wired to hide discomfort, which is why pain so rarely shows up as a limp.

Watch for the quieter signs, including panting more than the room temperature explains, lying around more than usual, groaning while settling down, restlessness at night, or pulling away when you touch one spot along the back. It's easy to read those as a dog simply getting older, and sometimes that's all it is.

October is National Pet Wellness Month, so it's a good time to take a closer look. Dr. Alexis Strode evaluates dogs for exactly these signs at The Well Balanced Animal, and we'd be glad to take a look. You can learn more about canine chiropractic care at https://www.thewellbalancedanimal.com/canine-chiropractic

09/22/2026

Fall is when many St. Louis County dogs log their highest-mileage days of the year. Castlewood State Park is nearby and welcomes dogs on leash, and its bluff trails involve sustained climbing. That's a real jump in load for joints that spent the summer taking it easy.

The morning after is usually the most telling. Watch for a slower rise from lying down, hesitation before jumping into the car, or stiffness that hasn't loosened by afternoon. Most of it settles with an easy cool-down walk and an honest rest day, and when it hangs on past that, it's usually pointing at something more.

Ready to make recovery part of your dog's routine? Request an appointment at https://link.k9rehab.marketing/widget/form/sDGIx84xkmPmS9PXd3VL

09/16/2026

Every time your dog leaps off the bed, the couch, or the back of the SUV, their front limbs and shoulders absorb the full force of the landing.

Repeated over the years, that impact adds up, especially for senior dogs and breeds prone to orthopedic issues.

Pet stairs and ramps offer a simple solution. They let your dog move freely around the house and in and out of vehicles without the wear on their joints, and most dogs adapt to them quickly.

Small changes now can prevent injuries later. For more preventative care guidance, visit thewellbalancedanimal.com or call (636) 283-2255.

09/09/2026

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy is a non-invasive treatment that stimulates cellular repair and supports the body's natural healing processes.

At The Well Balanced Animal, PEMF is one of several advanced modalities we may incorporate into a treatment plan, commonly for arthritis management, back pain, wound healing, and post-surgical recovery.

It is gentle, painless, and most dogs relax comfortably during sessions.

Curious whether PEMF could benefit your dog? Ask us during your next visit or call (636) 283-2255 to schedule a consultation.

09/02/2026

Back pain in dogs is not always obvious. It can stem from injury, genetics, repetitive strain, or age-related changes, and dogs are remarkably good at hiding discomfort.

Signs to watch for include:

🔹Difficulty jumping
🔹Reluctance to climb stairs
🔹Stiffness or changes in posture
🔹A general drop in activity

If any of these sound familiar, a professional evaluation can identify the cause and determine whether rehabilitation and gentle spinal adjustments may help restore mobility and reduce discomfort.

Visit thewellbalancedanimal.com or call (636) 283-2255 to schedule an evaluation.

Address

Valley Park, MO
63088

Website

http://www.thewellbalancedanimal.com/

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