Founded by Marc L. Sommer, DC, DAAPM, CAC in 1993, Little Critters Chiropractic Services provides gentle, painless chiropractic treatment to animals varying in size from hamsters to horses, and all sizes in between.
Dr. Sommer earned his B.A. from the University of Hartford, where he was the quarterback on the football team, and a pitcher on the baseball team. He earned his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from the New York Chiropractic College.
In 1993, he pursued advanced training in animal chiropractic, receiving his Diplomate as a Certified Animal Chiropractor from the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association.
Some of the conditions from which animals may suffer which usually respond well to gentle chiropractic treatments are arthritis, disc problems, back and joint pain and stiffness, unequal limb weight distribution (limping), ataxia (reduced balance and equilibrium), neuropathies and myelopathies, lameness, altered gait, musculoskeletal problems, and connective tissue (tendons and ligaments) strains and sprains. These conditions usually manifest as some form of an alteration in the proper use of body mechanics.
It is the job of the Doctor of Chiropractic to determine if any bones are out of their normal position (misaligned or subluxated) and are causing pressure to be placed on a nerve, that can alter normal function and health. The affected bones are gently placed back into their normal position with an gentle adjustment.
It has been my experience over the past 30 years that animals usually respond dramatically faster than people do, for the same condition, possibly because their spines are horizontal and supported by four legs and our spines are vertical and supported by two legs. Therefore, their mechanical stress loads are more balanced than ours.
On the first visit, we will conduct a consultation, perform a bio mechanical evaluation and provide gentle chiropractic treatment. Please bring with you, if available, any x-rays previously taken, the most recent blood tests, a list of medicines and supplements being taken and a description of the food and exercise you provide.
The fee for the first visit is $135.00. The fee for patients not seen for twelve months, is $95.00. Follow up appointments for chiropractic treatment is $45.00. When more than one patient from the same house is treated at the same time, the fee is reduced.
Dr. Sommer is conveniently located at 90 Hamburg Turnpike, Riverdale, New Jersey (near I-287 and Route 23), in the center of the northern half of the state.
Mission Statement:
This is Bonnie having her neck adjusted. She is my Sheltie (Shetland Sheep Dog) and has arthritis. In addition to chiropractic adjustments, Bonnie also receives physical therapy and nutritional supplementation.
The mission of Little Critters Chiropractic Services is to treat your best friend as if she were mine, like Bonnie.
My goal is to do anything and everything I know, by virtue of my education and experience, to obtain and then maintain the best quality of life possible for the animals that are so dear to us.
If your little critter is having difficulty walking, is limping, or has difficulty standing from a sitting or lying position, has stopped jumping on the furniture, or squatting to do their personal business maybe chiropractic treatment can help.
Dr. Sommer started treating people in 1980, and rapidly built a very successful practice with three office locations. In 1991, he read an article in a chiropractic journal about Doctors of Chiropractic treating animals. An avid animal lover, he enrolled in the program offered by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association that would train and certify him in this unique specialty. Completing all of the requirements, he started treating animals in 1993. Realizing that there were enough chiropractors to treat people and so few to help animals, he closed his human practice in 1999 to treat animals exclusively. Dr. Sommer is a former member of the Ethics Committee of the New Jersey Chiropractic Society, and advised the boards of both professions in the drafting of the protocols in 1994 that allow for the chiropractic treatment of animals in New Jersey. The “Jersey Protocols” as they were known, was the model used nationwide to help provide for animal chiropractic throughout the United States.
“My problem is that I have never met an animal I did not love. While most of my patients are dogs and cats, I have treated wolves, horses, rabbits, pot bellied pigs, ferrets, an ingana with a crooked tail and a veterinarians pet guinea pig. I am truly blessed to have the kind of job that I love so much that it does not feel like work. In fact, one of the greatest perks of my work is that I get to meet some of the nicest people in the world. People that love their animals enough to take them to a chiropractor. People like you.”
Dr. Sommer is a former member of the Board of Directors of the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, as well a co-author of the Code of Ethics of the ACVA and member of the Peer Review Committee. In 2019, Dr. Sommer was inducted into the Animal Chiropractic Hall of Fame.
He has lectured both Veterinarians and Chiropractors on animal chiropractic and physical rehabilitation.
He has appeared on “CBS This Morning” and Time-Warner Cable, as well as numerous radio interviews discussing animal chiropractic.
Dr. Sommer is a featured speaker at many dog breed clubs, as well as other animal interest venues.
As the human companion to a Sheltie (Bonnie) and a Corgi (Peanut), Dr. Sommer understands the love and concern you have for your little critters. That’s what motivates him to help your precious pet!
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For additional information, or to schedule an appointment, please contact:
Dr. Marc L. Sommer
Little Critters Chiropractic Services
Ph: 973-838-2106
Fax: 973-838-2572
Email:
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Little Critters Chiropractic Services 