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.
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.
Cold Laser Therapy
The benefits of laser treatments help in the reduction of swollen limbs, pulled muscles, post surgical inflammation, and speeds healing. We offer single treatments or multi-treatment packages. Your pet will also love the extra attention while the treatment is performed.
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.
Theraputic ultrasound can be used in conjunction with other modalities, theraputic 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.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a manual therapy that looks for decreased motion and restriction in the joints of the spine. These restrictions can cause a decrease in normal movement and have negative effects on the nervous system. During a chiropractic exam the joints in the body are taken through a series of motions to identify restrictions and decreased range of motion (subluxations). An adjustment is made through a very quick and concise movement.
Common causes of subluxations include; trauma, poor fitting equipment, age and just everyday life which causes wear and tear on the joints in the body. Chiropractic is a very safe treatment when performed by a trained practitioner. Typical sessions last around 45 minutes. Frequency of sessions will depend on the animal, its lifestyle and the issue being treated.
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, and thermal effects to offer a great low-impact option.
We are also pleased to have Dr. Stacie Seymour visit the clinic to offer the following services:
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a method of treatment in which specific points on the body are stimulated. Methods of stimulation include pressure, needles, fluid, electrical current, and heat. The goal of acupuncture is to restore the flow of energy throughout the body and help the body become balanced once again to restore health. A typical acupuncture session will last about an hour. The number and frequency of sessions will depend on the condition being treated. It may take at least three sessions to see any improvement.
Many studies have proven that acupuncture is beneficial in reducing pain, regulating gastrointestinal motility, decreasing inflammation, stimulating the immune system, aiding in hormone regulation, and promoting microcirculation. Acupuncture is a very safe medical procedure. Some side effects that may occur include redness or bleeding at the sight, bent needles, and pain upon insertion.