Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / Background: Animal chiropractic, an internationally sanctioned profession, assists veterinarians with a complementary approach to animal healthcare therapy. Animal chiropractic in South Africa appears to be within its novel stages of development and no clear parameters define its present position. As a result of ambiguity and present concern dictated by veterinary regulation, animal chiropractic has not developed along well defined parameters, and it is thought that this study will contribute to achieving some clarity in this regard. The impetus for this study originated as a result of an increased awareness within the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) field of these CAM therapies in the management of animal healthcare, and a growing interest in their application. Objective: The purpose of the study is to identify the current status of animal chiropractic in South Africa and to explore ways in which the integration of animal chiropractic into the animal healthcare setting of South Africa might be achieved. Method: This study is an interpretive investigation set in a post-positivistic paradigm and used a grounded theory approach. Data was collected from twelve semi-structured interviews (digitally voice recorded) with relevant stakeholders who were knowledgeable within their respective fields (animal chiropractic; veterinary health science; their respective governing bodies; and owners of animals which had received treatment from animal chiropractic). Questions addressed participants’ perceptions and experiences of animal chiropractic with regard to the role it plays, current interprofessional interactions and developmental issues facing the profession. Qualitative analysis of the data was done using NVIVO 9 software (NVivo 9, developed in Australia, copyright 2011 QSR International Pty Ltd.). The purpose of the data collection was to obtain knowledge presently available within the proposed field in order to build a credible theory which might explain the current status of animal chiropractic in South Africa and the way forward to professional integration with mainstream animal healthcare practice. iv Results: Applying a process of grounded theory methodology revealed that certain key prerequisites were needed for integration of animal chiropractic with mainstream animal healthcare to take place. Firstly, animal chiropractic practitioners had to be seen to have reached a certain level of competence, which could be achieved through a recognised educational programme and by following practising standards at the same (or similar) level as veterinary practitioners. Secondly, acceptance by the public and mainstream practitioners is vital, and requires that the need for animal chiropractic is well motivated, that the role of animal chiropractic is better defined, and that collaboration with mainstream professionals is implemented. Thirdly, animal chiropractic needs careful regulation in order for it to be controlled appropriately. This will require a suitable professional body to govern it, legislation to endorse it and guidelines to direct its actions. Lastly, resources must be available, such as enough animal chiropractors interested in entering the field, sufficient qualified instructors (i.e. experienced animal chiropractors) to provide tuition, adequate amenities, and sufficient time available for the profession to develop and the integration process to take place. Conclusion: It would appear that, with CAVM therapies becoming popular, more people are becoming interested in animal chiropractic. The study suggests that, if the animal chiropractic profession makes provision for achieving the prerequisites of competence, acceptance, regulation and resources in terms of its future development, it might be possible to achieve professional integration with mainstream animal healthcare within the next ten years.

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa. 2017. / Introduction: Chiropractic treatment of animals is a young and dynamic field of interest among chiropractors, veterinarians and animal owners. As a young profession, regulation of animal chiropractic is limited to only a few countries, with regulatory models in various legal paradigms. Bosman (2012) determined through a qualitative investigation that in order for the profession to grow, it would require well defined guidelines, proper governance, appropriate legislation and set educational standards. Presently there is a paucity in the literature regarding animal chiropractic regulation. Through a comparative study of current international animal chiropractic regulatory models, possible international trends in animal chiropractic regulation can be identified. This could assist in identifying any possible short comings or positive developments and possible future areas of progress in the regulation of animal chiropractic. Aim: To determine the regulatory status of animal chiropractic in selected countries, at statutory and professional association level, in order to ascertain whether an international trend in animal chiropractic regulation exists. Method: The study was a comparative analysis. The sample consisted of ten jurisdictions spread over seven countries. These were Australia (Victoria and Queensland), Canada (Ontario and Alberta), Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of America (Texas and California). The validated data collection sheet (Appendix B) was used to extract quantitative data through the various organisations’ web pages and communication with the relevant organisations. Results: The regulation of the practice of animal chiropractic was found to be in various stages of regulation, with it being unregulated or largely unregulated in three out of the ten jurisdictions included in this study. In seven out of the ten jurisdictions the regulation of the practice of animal chiropractic fell under government devolved authority to the veterinary statutory regulatory body, although regulation was not very extensive in most of these jurisdictions. Four of the jurisdictions with regulation of the practice of animal chiropractic through government devolved authority had national animal chiropractic professional associations and two of the jurisdictions in which the practice of animal chiropractic was unregulated had a national professional association. None of these professional associations held government sanctioned authority. Statutory regulation played a more significant role in regulation of the practice of animal chiropractic in terms of the existence of codes of ethics, complaints and disciplinary procedures and CPD requirements than the national animal chiropractic professional associations did. Significance was also found in the legal requirement of registration as veterinarian or chiropractor in jurisdictions where veterinary referral was a legal requirement for chiropractic practitioners of animal chiropractic and where post-graduate animal chiropractic qualifications were only recognised by the veterinary statutory regulatory bodies if it was a legal requirement for registered veterinarians and chiropractors. No professional statutory regulatory body regulated or required regulation by educational statutory regulatory bodies or international accreditation of animal chiropractic education. The significance of national animal chiropractic professional associations was limited to their codes of ethics as it correlated with their limitation of membership by the professional association to mostly registered veterinary and chiropractic practitioners holding a post-graduate animal chiropractic qualification. Several trends were identified that could either hinder or promote the development of appropriate regulation for the practice of animal chiropractic. Conclusion: From the comparison of the current animal chiropractic regulation it was found that cooperation between veterinary and chiropractic statutory regulatory bodies appears to be important for the development of suitable and effective regulation of the practice of animal chiropractic. The study suggests that there is a need for standardisation and regulation of animal chiropractic education and the definition of the animal chiropractic scope of practice. This study also suggests continuation of cooperation between chiropractors and veterinarians that has been sought since the inception of the animal chiropractic profession. Involvement of functioning national animal chiropractic professional associations with the development of appropriate regulation, defining of animal chiropractic scopes of practice and promotion of the unity, integrity and identity of the animal chiropractic profession is recommended to achieve growth for animal chiropractic as a profession. / M