Animal chiropractic saved their practice

Contributors and big supporters of OneChiropractic, Melanie and Dr. Renold Bleem,
firmly believe that animal chiropractic saved their practice, working relationship, and
lives. The couple has supported OneChiropractic’s efforts to bring animal chiropractic to
all 50 states since the fight in Texas began two years ago.

Twenty-five years into practice, Dr. Bleem felt the tug to get ‘back to the barn’ as he was
raised on a dairy farm. The decision to attend animal chiropractic college came at a
pivotal point in Dr. Bleem’s career, when he was considering leaving the profession due
to burnout and concerns about human insurance reimbursement. Reentering college at
midlife was daunting; however, it soon turned out to be everything he needed. Dr. Bleem
knows he is a better human chiropractor because he is an animal chiropractor.

“Truly, we’ve been able to tell the chiropractic story better through animals than humans.
Currently, animal chiropractic accounts for over one-third of our practice, and we
practice it on a part-time basis. We see humans on Mondays, Wednesdays, and
Fridays, and animals on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as every other Saturday.
Truth be told, everyone told us not to pursue it. The State of Illinois requires a vet
referral to see an animal, despite the animal being property, and even though I am a
primary care physician in the State of Illinois. Even after attending animal chiropractic
college and obtaining two certifications in animal chiropractic (IVCA & AVCA), I was
once the only doctor in the state to hold both. We abide by the law, even if it’s
antiquated and puts more pressure on our overburdened DVMs.

Melanie used to work in the veterinary world (approximately 10 years), so she was
familiar with many of the DVM offices in Central Illinois. The law was new information to
some of the local vet offices, so she started sending the referral form from our office to
get the ball rolling. Once DVMs understood the process, and once word got around
about my reputation and results (and the fact that we were doing the referral), obtaining
referrals has been relatively seamless.

DVMs were happy to have someone in the area who was a doctor and certified in
animal chiropractic, rather than a layperson with no higher education and no training in
animal chiropractic. 

You must be a DC or a DVM to be eligible to enter an animal chiropractic college. You
are required to complete continuing education units and maintain malpractice insurance.
The layperson cannot do any of that. The State of Illinois should pursue those
individuals. 

We would like to see the number of well-trained, certified animal chiropractors grow.
Many areas are underserved. It’s common for animal owners to choose anyone who
advertises that they can perform ‘chiropractic’ services. DCs and DVMs coming together
to push back against impostors would go a long way in legitimizing animal chiropractic
politically. Often, practice owners are too busy. OneChiropractic fills that
void. Chiropractic is its profession. It is not an adjunct therapy or modality. 

It is essential to support fellow animal chiropractors across the US in protecting
the practice of chiropractic. Animal chiropractic will be the first time many people are
exposed to the practice of chiropractic. It must be adequately represented. Lay people
must be stopped so that we can protect that heritage. The ability to practice should be
equal as well. If DVMs have direct access with no prior chiropractic background (outside
of an animal chiropractic college), then a Licensed Doctor of Chiropractic should also
have direct access. 

The support is unbalanced right now. DCs comply and jump through the hoops to
maintain peace and practice. There are a handful of DVMs who will come out politically
to help us change the law for direct access. That needs to change. Unfortunately, their
associations and vet boards will come after them for supporting a DC adjusting an
animal. This also must change.

We joined the fight with Texas a couple of years ago, knowing that one day Illinois
would attempt to change our law to allow direct access. We made a significant donation
to Texas and are founding contributors, giving monthly to OneChiropractic. It is
essential to ensure that good chiropractic care is being delivered. We’ve worked
with Bharon on the Texas bill through our support of OneChiropractic. We also
appreciated the work he did during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

If you don’t fight for it, it will be taken from you. There are vet schools that are now
teaching chiropractic outside of chiropractic oversight. This is not appropriate. The
chiropractic profession should care about who teaches chiropractic and who is being
taught. Animal chiropractic is not going away. It’s here, and state associations should
take note and fast. Again, animal chiropractic will sometimes be the first time
someone is exposed to chiropractic. It matters how it’s delivered—every time.”