Specialty Services & Equipment

pet-acupuncture

Acupuncture

Acupuncture allows the patient’s own body to participate in the healing process via the nervous system. Medical/Western acupuncture is based on the neurological interaction of nerves, vessels, fascia and muscles to promote balance of various body systems. The neuromodulation can improve function and balance of the nervous system as well as reducing pain, supporting the immune system and digestive system. The parasympathetic system is responsible for rest as well as digestive processes and function. Whereas, the sympathetic system is responsible for the fight or flight mechanism. This system can be in overdrive with patients experiencing pain. Some conditions treated with acupuncture are: pain from arthritis and/or muscle tension, post-surgical/traumatic pain, nerve injury (weakness, paralysis), disk disease, cystitis (bladder inflammation), allergies, lameness incontinence, immune issues, reproductive issues, wound healing, digestive disorders, cranial and peripheral neuropathy, respiratory disorders, and dermatological issues.

Learn more about how acupuncture can help your pet

Gait Analysis

Due to their fur and ability to hide their injuries this tool can be instrumental in diagnosing which leg/area of the animal is affected. It uses ultra-thin sensors and innovative scanning electronics to provide objective bio-mechanical data. This information helps us to identify areas of problems in gait, asymmetries and weight bearing to help make better decisions for treatment to help improve patient outcomes and results. It will help us monitor improvements in gait and weight-bearing.

NMES / TENS

Neuromuscular Electric Nerve Stimulation (E-Stim/NMES)

NMES allows us to increase/maintain muscle strength/girth for the neurologic or post-surgical/injury patient. NMES causes an excitation of nerve cells which can help with neuroplasticity to elicit muscle contractions and decrease pain/swelling.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

Allows us to help treat chronic and acute pain. This modality works by affecting alpha and delta fibers the sensing nerve fibers in the body. When we stimulate these nerves, we can help over-ride the nerve pain sensation in those areas.

 

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)

PEMF therapy can help your pet recover from their sports conditioning or rehabilitation sessions. Electromagnetic Field Therapy can be used for the treatment of  fractures, failed fusions, and arthritis in pets. The device produces electromagnetic fields which activate Nitric Oxide, which can promote accelerated healing. This therapy will aid in building oxygenation of the tissues, boosting your pets metabolism.

PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)

PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) is a convenient same day treatment that harnesses the healing abilities of the patient’s blood platelets. Veterinarians utilize the treatment in conjunction with common surgeries or as a part of treatment plans to combat injury and disease.

The concentrated platelets found in PRP contain mass quantities of bio-active proteins, including growth factors and signaling proteins that are vital to initiate and accelerate tissue repair and regeneration. These bio-active proteins can initiate tissue healing and reduce inflammation.

Read more on PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) treatment

Shockwave

Shockwave uses sound waves that oscillate creating a direct mechanical force that results in the maximal beneficial pulse energy producing tensile force. The second phase creates air bubbles that generate a second wave of shockwaves. The resulting energy also stimulates a biologic response, an indirect effect. This unit is a radial shockwave unit that does not require anesthesia or sedation for treatment. This differs from focused shockwave as focused can penetrate 80mm with a small field of treatment and radial can penetrate 40mm and has a larger field of treatment. It can help with blood flow, repair of tissue, neurologic control, skeletal stem cell recruitement and inhibits inflammation. This is used for treatment of: nonunion fractures, avascular necrosis, stress fractures and ligament/tendon injuries among other uses.

MLS Laser Therapy

Therapeutic Laser

Used to increase healing and decrease pain/inflammation. Therapeutic laser therapy is based on wavelength, power and frequency. Increased power means increased energy into tissue, but different wavelengths are absorbed at different levels so knowing the wavelength is important to target inflammation, bactericidal or pain relief. Power determines time required to treat. Frequency allows you to use increased power without heat/damage to the tissues. Pulsed lasers treat pain whereas continuous treats inflammation, stimulation of blood/lymphatic system and reabsorption of fluids. Laser is used to treat: pain from arthritis, disc disease, acute/chronic sprains/strains, tendonitis, bursitis, acute/chronic otitis and gingivitis, skin lesions (hot spots, anal gland issues, lick granulomas, clean/infected wound healing), cystitis. We can also use laser to treat acupuncture points for animals that will not allow acupuncture.

Read More on Theraputic Laser Treatments

Therapeutic Ultrasound

Therapeutic ultrasound helps the body in healing itself. The sound waves create microscopic air bubbles that stimulate cell membranes and promote healing via micromassage of fluids and tissue. This increases cell/vascular wall permeability, heats tissues (if needed), increases circulation, increases collagen extensibility, increases the metabolic rate, decreases edema, decreases inflammation, decreases muscle spasm, decreases scar tissue, relaxes muscles, changes nerve conduction velocity and can help/remind tissues to heal.

Thermal Camera

The thermal camera shows us a colorful visual map of your pet’s body to help discover areas of heat/inflammation and chronic/long term change. It provides a visual map of vascular, neurologic and musculoskeletal function via thermal gradients of radiant heat. This can assist in discovery of areas of potential musculoskeletal stress even before they have clinical signs. These areas can receive early intervention to avoid more serious injury.

Read more on Digital Thermal Imaging

cat at vet in camino ca

(VSMT) Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy

VSMT allows us to treat areas of decreased motion and discomfort via a high velocity low amplitude thrust to a specific joint and direction. The VSMT adjustment can have numerous neurological consequences beneficial to the body and nervous system. Joint/segmental dysfunction can lead to an area of dysfunction in a much larger area, including affecting an entire body system even the entire body. VSMT can be used to treat pain, areas of restriction and overall maintenance and health. It can also be used to alter neurologic abnormalities that may be affecting the gastrointestinal, respiratory, urinary, musculoskeletal and other systems.

 Read More About VSMT