Apparatus for treating spinal disorders of an animal particularly those of a horse

Abstract

An apparatus and method for treating spinal disorders in an animal, particularly a horse. The apparatus includes a pair of elongated support plates arranged in an opposing relationship. A frame having a hole therethrough is mounted above the support plates. The frame is oriented so that the hole therethrough defines an axis extending between the support plates. A rod is disposed in the hole in the frame, the lower end of the rod being movable toward and away from the frame along the axis and the rod being rotatable about the axis. A fork-shaped element having a pair of adjustable pegs arranged in an opposing relationship is attached to the lower end of the rod. A harness attached to the support plates is used to mount the support plates on the animal. The method includes the steps of disposing the fork-shaped element above a portion of a spine of an animal, lowering the fork-shaped element so that it contacts the portion of the spine, adjusting the pegs of the fork-shaped element so that the pegs are situated at opposing sides of the portion of the spine, and moving the fork-shaped element to align the portion of the spine.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.