ne of my good friends greets people with the question, “How’s your atlas?” instead of the usual, “How are you?” True chiropractic is based on the spine and the central nervous system. The atlas is the first bone of the spine, located at the base of the skull or right behind an animal’s ears. A principled chiropractor will almost always adjust the atlas.

When we forget the whole and start to look at individual segments of the body, it is difficult to see how the atlas can be a problem, no matter what the symptom is. When we begin to expect healing to occur due to outside intervention, it is difficult to understand how the atlas can help so many problems with so few side effects.

It is very easy for any veterinarian to see if the atlas is moving correctly. The ability of an animal to bend its head and neck around so that it can see behind itself is called lateral flexion. The motion begins at the junction between the occiput (base of the skull) and the atlas. There will be about 10 to 15 degrees of lateral flexion at this first joint.

If that joint is misaligned or subluxated, then the first motion occurs between the atlas and the axis (the second cervical vertebra). The only motion that occurs at this second joint is rotation. When the first motion at the top of the neck is a rotation instead of a lateral flexion, it locks the entire neck out, causing it to be stiff and unable to bend properly.

When the atlas is out of alignment, it can actually put pressure and maybe a little torque on the brainstem. This puts direct pressure on the animal’s brain, disrupting the flow of messages through its central nervous system and affecting its body in a multitude of ways. The brainstem controls the flow of messages between the brain and the rest of the body, and it also controls basic body functions such as breathing, swallowing, heart rate, blood pressure, consciousness, vomiting, and whether the animal is awake or sleepy.

Pressure on the brainstem can cause changes in behavior and the inability of the animal to perform at 100%. Parts of the brainstem have a role in maintaining homeostasis—the body’s ability to adapt and survive in the environment. There are nerve tracts in the brainstem that play a large role in maintaining tone, balance and posture, especially during movement.

ike many veterinarians, Dr. Omar Farías can trace his love of science and animals back to a young age. Now, he’s an industry veterinarian at Hill’s Pet Nutrition and an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

“I was the kid that asked for a microscope and a chemistry set as gifts. I even volunteered to dissect a frog when my class dissection in 7th grade got canceled. Sorry, Froggy!” Dr. Farías shares.

Later, he volunteered with a veterinary hospital in Puerto Rico. “I knew then that I wanted to be a veterinarian. The compassion, knowledge, and impact of the veterinarians whom I was helping were amazing. The gratitude of their clients and the difference they made in those pets’ lives immediately hooked me. I wanted to emulate those veterinarians,” he recalls.

hen a potential candidate makes that initial contact with the interviewer, first impressions speak volumes; the look of the resume, the postings on social media, the attire the person wears for the interview, and even the handshake gets included in the notations about the first impression. The candidate is also affected by first impressions; the look and actions of the team and the interviewer, and the hospital’s appearance (inside and out). First impressions are critical. But what about first impressions on the first day on the job?

The first impression for that first day on the job is not about the new hire. No, on the first day on the job, it is about the veterinary practice and the new hire’s first impression of the team and culture. Is the team welcoming? Is management prepared? Is the trainer organized? Are things ready for the new hire, or does the new hire wander around watching and waiting for someone to offer direction?