When Jillian Johnson, DC, (third from right in photo) graduated from National University of Health Sciences ̶ Florida in 2016, her ultimate goal was to work with animals. On July 30, she returned to NUHS to share her experience as a certified animal chiropractic physician with members of the Lambda Chi sorority, along with her partner and fiance Ashlee Parker (third from left), a certified equine and canine massage therapist.

“Our practice is primarily performance dogs and horses,” Dr. Johnson explained about Farmhouse Chiropractic. “Working with them is the same as people. I look for restrictions in the spine and correct them.” Parker provides massage support for muscular issues. “This type of work is gaining popularity in the performance world,” Dr. Johnson noted.

Dr. Johnson gave Florida site students an overview of animal chiropractic practice and related Florida laws, explaining that to become certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, graduates of veterinary or chiropractic schools must attend an accredited post-doctoral animal chiropractic program.

She first became interested in working with animals as a child. “I’ve been horseback riding my entire life,” Dr. Johnson said. When she was nine years old, her horse had an injury and her father asked a chiropractic doctor to treat it. “I saw the relief on her face, and it was my aha moment,” she remembers.

In addition to her equine and show dog patients, she and Parker treat equestrians as well, using the tagline “Chiropractic and Massage Therapy for you and the horse you rode in on!” She exclaimed, “It’s such a fulfilling job!”