Animal Osteopathy: A Review

Animal osteopathy is a branch of veterinary medicine that utilizes an integrative, natural approach to identify and treat restrictions of mobility across different body structures. Osteopathic treatment (OT) is a noninvasive approach based on the gentle manipulation of 4 fundamental pillars: structural, cranial, visceral, and lymphatic. In animals, improving the range of motion of muscular and skeletal systems by means of osteopathic techniques can enhance general wellbeing, decrease pain, ameliorate surgical outcomes, and improve performance. Craniosacral osteopathy may contribute to lowering back pain, improving GI signs, and resolving edema. Studies in humans suggest that visceral osteopathic manipulations may help improve symptoms in cases of GI issues, infertility, respiratory diseases, and general physical function. Animals may experience the same benefits from these techniques. Lymphatic techniques increase lymph flow within the thoracic duct and help the immune system in cases of respiratory infections. The purpose of this paper is to review the field of animal osteopathy and highlight the few available peer-reviewed studies. This may give rise to opportunities for future research into the benefits of osteopathic techniques.