Treatments

We want to make our animals feel great! These therapies have a great body of research supporting their use in humans and animals. For more reading, please check out our list of references at the bottom of this page.

Treatment Modalities

Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy (aka chiropractic)

Veterinary Chiropractic (VSMT) is a manual therapy that targets areas of muscle tension causing subtle abnormal relationships between two adjacent bones. Small proprioceptive neural mechanisms called Golgi bodies are stimulated through the high velocity, low amplitude thrust of an adjustment. The nervous system, muscles, and bones are delicately intertwined to allow proper function, movement, and range or motion. This can relieve the abnormal pressure and irritation of nerves and soft tissues that result from restricted areas of movement along the pelvis, back, neck, jaw, and poll regions.

Dry Needling / IMS

Dry needling uses very thin needles to release myofascial trigger points, which are tight, hyperirritable bands of muscle. Trigger points can cause pain, restrict range of motion, and make it difficult for muscles to function appropriately. When a needle is applied to a trigger point, it decreases muscle tightness, increases blood flow, and reduces pain. Ultimately this allows for a return to normal muscle length and movement.

Shockwave

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is a safe, non-invasive therapy that uses mechanical energy to reversibly change the cellular skeleton. The cellular membrane is "deformed" and this change is shape kick starts a reaction of the cell to release specific proteins of the healing process. Shockwave can help tendon and ligament injuries, osteochondrosis dessicans lesions, mild disc bulges, and more. To ensure peak efficacy of this therapy, the fur is trimmed over the treatment area.

Regenerative Medicine

Orthobiologics is an exciting branch of regenerative medicine, which uses natural substances from a patient's own body to treat arthritis, tendon and ligament injuries, and muscle injuries. This can be used as an adjunctive treatment to surgical repair of a joint, or when surgery is not a viable option for a patient. Platelet-rich plasma is created by distilling a blood sample into a small volume of material that is packed with growth factors. We do not offer stem cell treatments at this time.

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy

PEMFs have great applicability for regenerative medicine. They promote bone fracture healing and enhance the maturation of osteoblastic cells and are shown to be effective in the treatment of tendon disorders. These electromagnetic fields influence the proliferation, release of anti-inflammatory cytokines, tendon-specific marker expression, and angiogenic factor. The low-level energy from a PEMF mat can modulate cell surface receptor activation/expression and downstream signal transduction pathways. As a result, this restores homeostatic cell functions, such as cell viability, cell proliferation, communication with neighboring cells, differentiation and “interaction with components of the extracellular matrix.

Photobiomodulation (laser therapy)

Laser therapy works at the cellular level - light energy is absorbed by the cells, which stimulates mitochondria and energy production. The result is an increase in metabolism, enhanced cellular repair, and decreased inflammation. Microscopic vasodilation improves circulation to injured areas bringing oxygen-rich blood to the area and removing waste products.

Exercise Prescription

Creating functional movement patterns is the best way to recover from previous injuries and surgeries, develop robust neuromuscular control, and prevent musculoskeletal issues in the future. The goal of exercise prescription is to build muscle endurance and strength, create strong tendons and ligaments, and lessen the impact of any imbalances and assymmetries in the body.

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Acupuncture

Acupuncture helps the body heal itself by changing its physiology. Nerves are stimulated, blood vessels dilate and increase circulation, hormones are released, and stem cells are stimulated. Thin needles are inserted at specific points along various meridians to affect change. This is well tolerated and very safe.