Shockwave Therapy for Veterinary Use
Shockwave therapy for veterinary use employs high-intensity sound waves targeted at a specific area of the animal body. These shockwaves interact with tissues, stimulating blood vessels, reducing chronic inflammation, promoting collagen production, and dissolving calcium buildup. This treatment encourages the healing process and provides pain relief for chronic conditions.
The short-lived Shockwave treatment cycle lasts only a few minutes, and precise focus of the acoustic waves ensures optimal treatment quality. Licensed veterinarians, specializing in therapies or shockwave therapy, perform this procedure.
Common applications of shockwave therapy for veterinary use:
Indications addressed by veterinary shockwave therapy
Osteoarthritis
Joint injuries – hips, elbows, stifle (knee), and shoulder
Chronic back pain, lumbosacral disease
Non-union or delayed union fractures
Tendon/ligament injuries
Chronic soft tissue wounds
How the shockwave therapy is performed:
A physical exam is necessary to diagnose musculoskeletal disorders and exclude neurological conditions that cannot be treated with ESWT. Identifying all painful areas, including secondary issues due to compensation for an injured joint, is crucial. X-rays help determine treatment spot, while blood work and urinalysis ensure your pet’s health before anesthesia.
Treatment is performed under short general anesthesia, as shockwave therapy can cause discomfort ranging from mild to severe depending on intensity. The machines generating shockwaves can be loud, potentially frightening the patient. Treatment duration is brief, with the site shaved and gel applied for optimal energy transfer. Energy levels are adjusted based on the disorder’s location, type, and severity.
Treatment frequency varies but generally occurs one to three times, two weeks to a month apart. Mild soreness may follow treatment for 12 to 24 hours, occasionally producing a short-term anesthetic effect. Improvement can be immediate or take weeks to manifest fully. Periodic yearly treatments might be required, although some pets experience longer-lasting effects.
Benefits of shockwave therapy for veterinary use
Pain Relief: shockwave therapy can offer effective pain relief for animals. The treatment targets painful musculoskeletal conditions, reducing discomfort and improving the animal’s overall well-being.
Enhanced Healing: Shockwave therapy stimulates blood circulation and collagen production, accelerating the healing process for various injuries, fractures, and soft tissue damage. This leads to quicker recovery and improved tissue regeneration.
Non-Invasive Treatment: As a non-surgical and non-pharmaceutical option, shockwave therapy avoids the potential risks associated with surgery or medication, making it safer and easier to use.
Increased Mobility and Function: By promoting tissue repair and reducing inflammation, shockwave therapy can improve joint function and mobility in animals with musculoskeletal issues. This allows them to move more comfortably and participate in daily activities with greater ease.
Versatile Applications: Shockwave therapy offers versatile applications, making it suitable for treating various conditions such as osteoarthritis, tendonitis, ligament injuries, and non-healing fractures. Its broad range of benefits allows veterinarians to address different musculoskeletal problems effectively.
Shockwave therapy has emerged as a valuable and well-tolerated treatment option for animals, significantly enhancing their quality of life and contributing to a faster and more successful recovery from musculoskeletal issues.
“As a veterinarian, I wholeheartedly recommend shockwave therapy for animals. It offers significant benefits with only a few sessions, providing effective pain relief and facilitating musculoskeletal healing and recovery. This non-invasive treatment has proven to be a game-changer for our animal patients, enhancing their well-being and overall quality of life. The growing success and positive outcomes observed with shockwave therapy have convinced me and many other veterinary professionals to embrace this valuable and promising option for our furry companions.”
Scientific Support
Abstracts Worth Recommending
[1] Gollwitzer, H., Gloeck, T., Roessner, M., Langer, R., Horn, C., Gerdesmeyer, L., & Diehl, P. (2013). Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) induces new bone formation in vivo: results of an animal study in rabbits. Ultrasound in medicine & biology, 39(1), 126-133.
[2] Jeong, H. C., Jeon, S. H., Qun, Z. G., Kim, K. S., Choi, S. W., Bashraheel, F., … & Kim, S. W. (2017). Effects of next-generation low-energy extracorporeal shockwave therapy on erectile dysfunction in an animal model of diabetes. The world journal of men’s health, 35(3), 186-195.
[3] Meirer, R., Brunner, A., Deibl, M., Oehlbauer, M., Piza-Katzer, H., & Kamelger, F. S. (2007). Shock wave therapy reduces necrotic flap zones and induces VEGF expression in animal epigastric skin flap model. Journal of reconstructive microsurgery, 23(04), 231-236.
[4] Leeman, J. J., Shaw, K. K., Mison, M. B., Perry, J. A., Carr, A., & Shultz, R. (2016). Extracorporeal shockwave therapy and therapeutic exercise for supraspinatus and biceps tendinopathies in 29 dogs. Veterinary Record, 179(15), 385-385.
[5] Dahlberg, J., Fitch, G., Evans, R. B., McClure, S. R., & Conzemius, M. (2005). The evaluation of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in naturally occurring osteoarthritis of the stifle joint in dogs. Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 18(03), 147-152.
[6] Revenaugh, M. S. (2005). Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for treatment of osteoarthritis in the horse: clinical applications. Veterinary Clinics: Equine Practice, 21(3), 609-625.
The Scientific Research behind It
Shockwave Therapy in Veterinary Rehabilitation
https://www.vetsmall.theclinics.com/article/S0195-5616(23)00028-1/fulltext
Characterization of the Use of Shock Wave Therapy among Equine Veterinarians
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7424940/
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Osteoporotic Osteoarthritis of the Knee in Rats: An Experiment in Animals
https://arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/ar4601