Therapeutic Laser
Laser therapy involves the use of specific wave lengths of light (red and near-infrared) to create therapeutic effects. Class IV therapeutic laser is a painless procedure used for post-operative care, treatment of arthritis, skin wounds and other selected conditions.
Therapeutic lasers supply energy to the body as light is transmitted through the layers of skin and stimulates and accelerates the healing of damaged cells. Laser therapy causes no adverse effects on healthy cells. Laser therapy also decreases inflammation and eliminates pain, which allows your pet to quickly return to his or her normal activities. We Now offer K-Laser Treatments to achieve better pain relief and advanced tissue healing.
Laser Therapeutic Effects
During each painless treatment, the energy from the laser increases circulation, drawing water, oxygen, and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is relieved.
What You and Your Pet Can Expect
Your pet does not need sedation for laser therapy treatments and the experience is usually pleasant and comforting. Most pets do not need to have their fur clipped.
Improvement is sometimes seen after the first treatment; however, most pets require several treatments to achieve maximum benefits. Generally, 4-8 treatments produce the best results. The length and frequency of treatments varies with your pet’s condition. Your veterinarian at Dodgeville Veterinary Service will recommend a laser treatment plan specific to your pet’s condition.
Dodgeville Veterinary Service also offers a rental laser therapy unit that pet owners can operate at home for wound treatment and pain management. For more information, please call us at (608) 935-2306.
Therapeutic Ultrasound & Estim
Therapeutic ultrasound and es-stim are a deep tissue-heating agent, used to treat musculoskeletal injuries. As opposed to superficial heat treatment, which can cause excessive heating of the skin, ultrasound produces temperature changes deep within the underlying tissues. Ultrasound is helpful in treating joint motion-limiting conditions, soft tissue injuries, and chronic conditions. Therapeutic ultrasound increases blood flow to the affected area, which accelerates the wound healing process.
- Reduced pain and muscle spasms
- Improved flexibility
- Improved wound healing
- Decreased scar tissue
- Improved circulation
Heating, cooling and massage treatments and neuromuscular electrical stimulation round out our rehabilitative program by offering pain relief, as well as decreased swelling, stiffness and muscle loss and improved circulation.
Underwater Treadmill
Low-impact walking in our glass-walled, underwater treadmill with variable speeds and resistance jets provides low-impact exercise in a reduced gravity environment. This treatment combines heat therapy of warm water with strengthening exercise while eliminating impact and concussion to the joints, which builds muscle and provides cardiovascular conditioning with minimal joint stress. The benefits of underwater treadmill therapy are numerous. It allows dogs to exercise with less pain. Weak, unbalanced and arthritic pets can move around more freely without falling. It allows an earlier return to exercise after surgery. The underwater treadmill can also be used for weight loss.