New Suburban Pet Rehab Center Has Underwater Treadmills, Exercise Gym, Massage Therapy

BUFFALO GROVE, IL - A Buffalo Grove veterinary clinic has opened a new 8,600-square foot athletic center for pets.The clinic is meant to meet an increased demand in rehabilitative services as more pets are undergoing orthopedic surgeries in recent years

Many of those pets are obese or have suffered injuries from over-exercising.

Veterinary Specialty Center, an owner-operated veterinary specialty and emergency hospital headquartered in Buffalo Grove, opened its Athletic Center earlier this month at 1495 Busch Parkway in Buffalo Grove. The new facility has underwater treadmills and an exercise gym for pets and offers circulation therapy, laser therapy and classes geared at teaching pet families how to work out with their dog, according to a press release.

According to the American Pet Products Association, an estimated $15.92 billion will be spent on U.S. veterinary care this year. With Americans as a whole spending more on their pets than ever before,orthopedic surgeries such as Tibial-Plateau- Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) and Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA), commonly conducted for the equivalent of torn ACLs in dogs, have continued to rise in popularity. The number of orthopedic surgeries performed surgeries at VSC have doubled in the past three years, according to the news release.

“Orthopedic, musculoskeletal and sports-related injuries are extremely common in companion and working animals and represent a major component of our most challenging cases,” said Mitch Robbins who is the Chief of Surgery at Veterinary Specialty Center in Buffalo Grove. “Just like with orthopedic and neurosurgery in humans, pets that undergo rehabilitation after surgery have a shorter recovery time than those that do not. We are excited to offer the advanced equipment and space for additional rehabilitation services in our new facility to provide our patients with an even better, more customized experience.”

The rise in orthopedic surgeries at VSC and elsewhere can be attributed to several factors, including increased knowledge of available treatment options, aging pet complications, owners being more active with their pets and also, pet obesity. With an estimated 58 percent of cats and 54 percent of dogs in the United States overweight or obese, according to Pet Obesity Prevention, excess weight can increase the chance of injury and create the need for rehabilitative treatment.

The rehabilitation team at VSC will uses low-stress handling and positive reinforcement techniques with patients as they expand programs to its new 3,600 square foot gym area, which will allow the clinic to use a multimodal approach to improve their patient’s comfort and mobility, according to information posted on the VSC website.

“We will now have the ability to incorporate modalities, such as laser therapy and acoustic compression, along with both land and underwater treadmill therapeutic exercises within a single appointment,” said Lindsay Seilheimer, DVM, CCRP. “All of the therapies complement each other to give pets the best possible outcome. We will be using a very tailored approach for each pet’s treatment plan.”

Another option that is available at the new clinic is Thermography. VSC is the only veterinary clinic in Illinois offering Thermography, which is a high-definition digital map that detects some conditions and abnormalities by using temperature patterns, according to VSC. The only other veterinary setting in Illinois using Thermography is the Brookfield Zoo.

“Thermography not only helps us diagnose orthopedic and other health issues in pets, it also helps us illustrate progress during therapy treatments,” Seilheimer said. “It will aid us as we continue to update treatments to help a dog or cat in the healing process.”

Rehab Treatments Offered at VSC Athletic Center

Here is a more detailed look at some of the rehabilitation treatments being offered at the new Athletic Center:

Acoustic Compression Therapy (ACT): This non-anesthetic treatment option supports healing by increasing circulation and pain relief. For this treatment VSC uses a PiezoWave Vet device, and is the first clinic in the Chicago area to offer this treatment. The device uses sound waves directed at varying depths to provide focused and pinpointed deep tissue massage in muscles, tendons and joints.

Cold Laser Therapy: This non-invasive procedure uses light in the form of low-level laser treatments to stimulate tissue repair and increase blood flow, helping with pain management after an injury or surgery. In addition to reduced pain and sensitivity, the use of low-level light triggers the production of cellular energy, promoting cellular regeneration, production of collagen for tissue repair and vascular dilation and synthesis for improved circulation.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): TENS is a form of electrotherapy that sends small electrical currents to targeted body parts and decreases acute pain and inflammation. This form of electrotherapy also assists in decreasing muscle spasms, re- educating atrophied muscles and improving joint range of motion.

Underwater Treadmill Therapy: This form of therapy uses water to support a dog or cat’s weight while walking on the treadmill. The therapeutic benefits of this water therapy include improved range of motion, strengthened muscles and boosted endurance. Additionally, the thermal effects of water can lessen pain and makes connective tissue more flexible while increasing blood flow and the pet’s motivation.

Holistic Medicine: Combining Western medicine with Eastern modalities, holistic approaches are helpful in improving a pet’s quality of life. VSC’s holistic approaches include acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, aquapuncture, chiropractic, herbology and nutritional counseling.

Massage Therapy: Massage promotes balance and support to aid the body’s natural healing process from illness or injury and is beneficial in maintaining a pet’s overall health and vitality. VSC offers therapeutic massages for pets recovering from injury or surgery, or for those dealing with a chronic condition. VSC offers wellness massages that focus on a pet’s long-term health.

Pet Weight Loss Consultation and Classes: VSC is currently developing joint fitness classes for pets and their families to ensure pet owners approach working out with their pets properly, including stretching techniques.
More via the Veterinary Specialty Center website

Photo credit: Veterinary Specialty Center