Pet Rehab/Pain Management
Pet Rehab/Pain Management
Prolo Therapy
Veterinary prolotherapy, also known as non-surgical ligament reconstruction, is a valuable tool for pets that have suffered from ligament or tendon damage. We also offer Spryng and PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections as part of our regenerative medicine services to support healing, reduce inflammation, and improve mobility and comfort.
Prolotherapy involves an injection, usually of a mixture of medications, into the affected area or joint. The medications most commonly contained in the prolotherapy compound are geared towards pain relief, ligament and tendon reconstruction and regeneration and to generate faster healing. The solution causes the growth of new connective tissue, helping to stabilize the joint and provide relief from pain. The injection is actually a series of injections, performed once every three weeks for a total of five treatments.
Prolotherapy has been around for a while, having been used in human rehabilitative medicine for over 35 years. The side effects are minimal and are usually localized to area soreness and potential bruising. This usually only lasts for one to two days following the treatment.
Prolotherapy should not be seen as a replacement for surgery; some pets would not be considered candidates for this type of medical procedure. Careful evaluation performed by one of our veterinarians as well as a thorough consultation will help you to decide what is best for you and your pet.
Therapeutic Laser
Therapeutic laser can be used to help treat numerous conditions that may affect our pets. It helps to accelerate wound and joint healing and promotes muscle regeneration. Laser therapy also helps to alleviate acute and chronic pain and is useful in the treatment of chronic and acute edema. It can be useful in the treatment of neurologic conditions, the treatment of arthritis, and postoperatively.
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Therapeutic ultrasound can be used in veterinary medicine and rehabilitation to decrease pain and muscle spasm, increase the extensibility of collagen which increases range of motion and decreases stiffness, and increase blood flow and metabolic rate which aids in and enhances tissue and fracture healing.
Ultrasound is produced by the vibration of synthetic crystals that vibrate at a particular frequency due to the crystals shape. The crystals contract and expand when exposed to alternating electric current. This produces pressure waves known as ultrasound waves that stimulate the tissue beneath the skin’s surface.
Therapeutic ultrasound can be used in conjunction with other modalities, therapeutic exercises, and pain relief to treat conditions like calcific tendonitis, fibrotic myopathy, contractures, tendon and ligament injuries, muscular back pain, and can help accelerate wound and fracture healing.
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation can be used along with theraputic exercise and other modalities to help animals who have experienced muscle mass loss due to neurological injuries or muscle disuse following an injury or surgical repair. NMES uses a safe, low frequency current to excite the nerves that innervate the desired muscles causing them to contract. This enhances muscle learning, muscle re-education, muscle strength, and muscle endurance. Electrical stimulation can also be used for pain control and reduction of edema.
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy(ESWT)
Shockwaves are high-energy acoustic waves that travel through soft tissue to reach a target area where the energy is then released, creating a biological response from the body that improves blood supply, stimulates growth factors, and inhibits pain signals. The result is reduced swelling, improved vascularization, increased bone formation, realignment of tendon fibers, enhanced wound healing, and a short term analgesic effect. In dogs, ESWT is used to treat conditions like tendonitis, desmitis, spondylosis, non-union fractures, cruciate disease, and osteoarthritis.
Underwater Treadmill
The underwater treadmill is a useful tool to encourage weight-bearing, gait training, strengthening, and proprioceptive training. It is most beneficial for post-surgical pets, pets suffering from neurological injuries or disorders, arthritic pets, or pets that just need to lose some weight. The underwater treadmill uses the natural properties of water: buoyancy, turbulence, resistance, and thermal effects to offer a great low-impact option.
