No Bad Dogs Podcast E334-Why Your Harness Is Ruining Your Dog | Dr. Ava Frick A Vet & Chiropractor Explains — Dr. Ava Frick, DVM
Dec 26, 2025
Dr. Ava Frick is an esteemed veterinarian and animal chiropractor with over four decades of experience in integrative veterinary care. She shares insights on how structural issues in dogs relate to behavior, connecting breeding practices with health problems like hip dysplasia. Dr. Frick also discusses the impact of poor-fitting harnesses on gait and the significance of proper nutrition and mineral balance in managing anxiety and inflammation. Her innovative approaches in animal rehabilitation and chiropractic care are also highlighted.
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Inspect Three Spine Hotspots
- Check three high-risk spine zones: the atlas (C1), the mid-back transition, and the pelvis for movement abnormalities.
- If motion palpation finds reduced mobility, seek a certified animal chiropractor for targeted adjustments.
Choose Certified Animal Chiropractors
- Use a certified American Veterinary Chiropractic Association practitioner for animal adjustments and motion palpation.
- Look for 300+ hours training plus board exams and live-animal competency to ensure proper technique.
Soothing Aggressive Dogs Before Work
- Ava explained methods to work with reactive or aggressive dogs: calm clinic environment, windows, larger rooms, and pre-session microcurrent therapy.
- She often uses AlphaStim microcurrent for 20 minutes to lower stress and allow safe palpation.