Is Your Dog Injured? Consider Shockwave Therapy

X-rays show the healing progression. photos: Coastal Holistic Veterinary Services

When you have an energetic 60-pound - and growing! - puppy who ends up with a compound fracture of the femur (the biggest bone in a dog or a human), which then gets infected after surgery, your life and his are pretty much a mess. But even given that challenging scenario, my dog avoided a leg amputation thanks to a newer modality called extracorporeal shockwave therapy - or Shockwave for short.

In the veterinary world, it’s often the worst cases that change the way we practice so we are sometimes grateful for them, even when they are distressing. The fact that my guy is now running comfortably on four legs is definitely a testament to Shockwave therapy.

What Is Shockwave Therapy?

Despite its somewhat disturbing name, Shockwave is a noninvasive, high-energy sound or pressure wave treatment that can penetrate more deeply than many other modalities. It can be used on its own as an alternative to surgery or to aid in healing after surgery or with other modalities. Unlike laser therapy, there is no risk of burns with sound energy and no protective glasses are needed. In fact, no adverse effects have been reported to date with Shockwave.

Shockwave therapy has been very popular for horses, but it is just starting to catch on in small animal veterinary practices. This technique used to be so painful that dogs had to be sedated, but the technology has improved over time and now, with just a little relaxing cocktail, sound waves can be blasted at the injury site to promote stem cell production and increase healing.

What Is the Treatment Like?

For Shockwave treatments, dogs have cotton balls put in their ears so they are less bothered by the loud clicking sound the device makes. Their hair is clipped and ultrasound gel is applied to the area to help the sound waves travel. Each treatment takes about 10 to 15 minutes and the dogs walk out following treatment as if nothing has happened.

Shockwave therapy typically consists of three or more treatments about two to three weeks apart. Costs vary widely based on city and clinic, but they usually run between $450 and $800 per treatment. The therapy is currently covered by many pet insurance policies.

What Can Be Treated with Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy has been successfully used in the treatment of fracture repair, ligament damage, elbow arthritis, hip dysplasia, and many other orthopedic conditions. In most cases, it is important to have radiographs and a diagnosis to be able to make an informed decision as to whether Shockwave is appropriate for the case.

Different conditions require a different number of pulses and sometimes multiple joints are treated. It is important to note that this is a cumulative energy treatment and the biological responses and healing take place over a period of time. Even if the dog feels great, it is still important to limit exercise to the recommended amount based on the injury so that the dog can heal completely.

Two Case Studies

The following cases illustrate how Shockwave may be used to treat injuries in dogs.

Case # 1. Bear was a five-year-old, 65-pound Labrador/Pit Bull/Doberman mix. A very athletic dog, he generally ran next to a bike for two to four miles, five times a week. For nine months, he had been experiencing a non-healing stifle injury with a suspected partial cruciate ligament tear. The injury would improve on its own by roughly 75% with strict rest, but once he was active again, he would reinjure it. Although Bear was a great candidate for traditional surgery, his family felt that post-surgical rehab would not be possible in their household with young children. Instead, they sought out Shockwave therapy.

Bear was treated with three rounds of Shockwave roughly two to three weeks apart, and he was allowed 30 minutes of leash walking every other day during this time. He has since made a full recovery and has resumed his bike runs. His family reports that even if he now chases a squirrel or engages in some other strenuous activity, he no longer comes up lame afterward.

Case # 2. The second case involves my own dog, Calvin, a six-month-old German Shepherd puppy with a broken femur, as mentioned above. A surgical repair was done on the bone, but it did not heal due to infection. The infected surgical implant was removed, and Calvin was put on antibiotics, but due to the severe non-union of the fracture and his discomfort, amputation was suggested. Instead, I chose to try Shockwave.

Calvin was treated with six Shockwave treatments approximately two weeks apart. A radiograph taken after he completed the treatments showed the traumatic break had healed. Because Calvin was a growing dog at the time of his Shockwave treatment, the stem cells being stimulated likely helped speed the rate of healing. The bone is still slightly shorter than it was, but he is not in any pain and uses his injured leg very well.

We have been using Shockwave in our veterinary practice for two-and-a-half years now and have been extremely pleased with the results. With increased awareness about this treatment, we hope more dog owners may consider it as an option to help their dogs heal.