Dan’s a regular Dr Dolittle thanks to CQU chiropractic
By Greg Chapman
“Every day is a surprise, and that’s what I love about it.”
That’s according to Dan Humphreys, CQUniversity Chiropractic graduate and owner of Humphreys Animal Health in Southeast Queensland.
Running clinics at Stockleigh, near Logan, and in his hometown on the Gold Coast, his patients include not only people, but also a wide array of animals.
“The majority of my animal patients are horses and dogs, with occasional cats, but I have treated pigs, cattle, goats, donkeys and sheep, whatever walks in the door really.”
Dan also donates his time to native wildlife rescue organisations, and it is not unusual to have a joey or a possum on the day’s patient list.
“There is a huge diversity in animal types, shapes and sizes, and temperaments. Part of the appeal is working out how to approach each animal, and each circumstance.
"Equally, people come with unique experiences and challenges as patients themselves, or as animal owners or trainers.”
The 40-year-old, a third-generation chiropractor, is keen to carry on the family legacy.
After studying Exercise Science and Education and working as a physical education and science teacher for a time, Dan realised his calling to follow the same path as his father Robert, and grandfather Tom, and he ultimately enrolled in CQU’s Bachelor of Science (Chiropractic) and Master of Clinical Chiropractic.
“Treating animals began with Tom. He was one of the early human chiropractic practitioners in Brisbane and began treating racehorses in the early ‘60s. He pioneered the ‘care for the whole family’ philosophy, and his weekends began to fill with his patients bringing their animals to see him too,” Dan said.
Robert then took over the animal chiropractic treatments in the 80’s, and Dan transitioned from teaching to take up his role in the family business in 2010.
“I believe chiropractic provides us with an ideal model to diagnose, manage, and rehabilitate injuries, improve performance and health, and to support the management of a diverse range of conditions that present in our animal patients,” he said.
Humphreys Animal Health is well established in Queensland and Australia, with people bringing their animals from far and wide. Dan explains that he is grateful to be invited regularly to work internationally, most commonly in Japan.
Dan believes that CQU’s Chiropractic courses have informed his work and consolidated his prior knowledge immensely.
“I feel that my training at CQU has complemented my prior education, training, and experience well, and it has filled a few important gaps for me,” he said.
“I value the patient-centred, evidence-based approach as this aligns with my philosophy. The clinical training components provided a fantastic opportunity to develop and practice manual skills while working with real patients, as well as focusing on the human skills that underpin trust and relationships in health care.
“There is a clear crossover with animal and people care, and both are complementary. Although handling and managing animals is quite unique and nuanced for obvious reasons, there is the same need to build trust, rapport and understanding with the animal and the person involved, regardless of who is the patient."
Dan encouraged anyone considering a career as a chiropractor to look no further than CQU.
“As a mature age student, I was able to study full-time while managing the busyness of life, which included working in and running my business, and commuting from the Gold Coast to Brisbane. I really valued the flexibility afforded by the hybrid learning model, and the opportunities to work within an inspiring, supportive community of staff, students and professionals in the field. A strength of these programs is that they encourage each student to develop as an individual and establish their own niche or pathway, in readiness for professional practice.
“I feel that I’ve come full circle to now integrate chiropractic for people,” Dan said. His plan is to offer chiropractic care for the whole family – human and animal.
