Diagnostics
Diagnostic imaging
We partner with the hospital’s diagnostic imaging service to provide advanced imaging technologies and services to our clients:
- Radiographs (X-rays)
- Diagnostic ultrasound
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Nuclear scintigraphy
- Positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT)
Objective gait analysis
Identifying asymmetry in gait or limping will often require more than a visual evaluation of the animal walking. Objective gait analysis is a non-invasive diagnostic test that involves walking across a state-of-the-art pressure sensitive mat, which collects data like the amount of pressure applied by each paw, length of the stride, and the force generated when walking or trotting. This allows us to precisely determine which paw(s) or limb(s) is causing the abnormal gait.
The first gait analysis may support findings from our examination, or uncover abnormalities not noted before. Once a baseline gait analysis is performed, we can use this data to monitor how your dog is doing by performing gait analysis during each recheck exam.
Baseline profile
When used together with our physical and orthopedic examination, a gait analysis can allow us to see just how much of an effect the lameness may have on the patient, and identify a problem that is not obvious with visual examination. It can help us differentiate which limb is more affected in cases where multiple limbs may have pain or discomfort, such as hip dysplasia where both hips are affected.
Early detection of orthopedic problems
It is much better to treat orthopedic problems before they progress into a major problem. The pressure sensitive mat (the device that collects gait data, pictured to the right) is more sensitive than our visual (subjective) lameness examination. Objective gait analysis can pick up even the most subtle factors affecting your dog’s gait, which might have otherwise gone unnoticed. By showing us how much body weight is placed on limbs, we can create a pressure profile and determine if discrepancies exist between the front and hind paws, or left and right paws. Detecting these changes in gait patterns can guide us on what is needed for further evaluation and work-up.
Monitoring the effect of treatment
When performed at follow-up visits, objective gait analysis can allow us to monitor a patient’s progress and response to therapy. This helps us to determine if our treatment is working or is we should pursue other options; for example, if treating a dog for chronic osteoarthritis we may determine that another pain medication or joint injections are needed.
Orthopedic or neurologic?
Objective gait analysis can also help identify gait abnormalities due to an underlying neurologic disease, as it can detect changes in stride length, paw placement, and variation of each foot strike. Certain neurologic disorders will cause large variations in these values, whereas orthopedic conditions do not.
Treatments
Cold laser therapy
A beam of laser light applied through an aperture enters the body and has physiological effects used for pain relief and to accelerate tissue healing. The cold laser can be used as a stand-alone treatment or to prepare the body for other treatments, such as manual therapy or stretching.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy
High-pressure shockwaves are applied through an aperture and travel through soft tissues but release their energy at tissue sites of greater densities (like where bone and tendon meet). This release of energy activates powerful tissue healing; for example, shockwaves are used in people to break up kidney stones. Shockwave therapy is often used to treat ligament and tendon conditions, as well as arthritis, and can also be used to accelerate bone healing.
Electrical stimulation
Used to treat pain and aid with tissue healing and reversal of muscle atrophy. Small electrodes are placed over the painful or injured tissue and a small electrical current is sent through the electrodes to promote pain management or tissue healing.
Game Ready dry cold compression
Provides an automated combination of icing and compression, and is used to reduce post-operative swelling and control pain. We use Game Ready after every surgical intervention, but it can also be used for animals with sprains or strains that don’t require surgery.
Land and underwater treadmills
The underwater treadmill provides buoyancy to the body and resistance to the limbs to normalize gait, recondition muscles and increase weight bearing capabilities. It can be used after surgery or for muscle strengthening for chronic conditions such as arthritis.
For animals that are unable to use the underwater treadmill due to recent surgical incisions, skin issues, or medical contraindications (like a history of cardiac disease), the land treadmill is used for gait training and muscle reconditioning.
LiteGait
Used for gait training patients who are unable to bear weight through their limbs. LiteGait supports the body with a sling allowing the therapist to manually move the limbs so the patient can walk with assistance, and may be used in conjunction with the land treadmill.
Manual therapy
Application of forces through a therapist’s hands to mobilize tight muscles or joints. This treatment is used to decrease pain, and increase range of motion and flexibility.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
Improves bone healing and treats common issues like arthritis and tendon injuries. Platelet-rich plasma is made by spinning the patient’s own blood to concentrate the content of platelets, which is then injected into the injured tendon, joint, or bone. Though less costly than stem cell therapy, further research is needed to investigate the efficacy of this treatment.
Sports conditioning
Promotes the highest level of conditioning for certain activities, and may include treadmill work, balance work, strengthening exercises, and sport-specific training. The purpose of conditioning is to increase competitiveness or return to competition after medical treatment of an injury.
Therapeutic exercises
Fitness equipment such as blocks, balance discs, wobble boards, therapy balls, and exercise bands are used to strengthen and recondition muscles. Patients often receive home exercise programs that include therapeutic exercise.