There are many treatment options for small animals and equines suffering from chronic pain, wound healing, osteoarthritis, tendon and ligament injuries, and more. But most of those treatments are either surgical or require more downtime. Shockwave therapy is one exception backed by 43 years of clinical support and evidence. Shockwave therapy provides an alternate treatment that is non-invasive, non-surgical, and non-aesthetical.
This non-invasive treatment can be especially useful for animals that may be intolerant to invasive procedures or anesthesia. Shockwave treats horses and small animals in their most comfortable environment, with little time required for both patients and pets.
Shockwave Therapy and Treatments
The study, published in the National Library of Medicine in 2005, discussed the effectiveness of using shockwaves for the treatment of dogs with osteoarthritis of the stifle joint. Despite previous treatments, there was no change in pain levels, and it was leading to a stifling joint. The study was divided into two groups, with one receiving shockwave and one using a placebo treatment. Shockwave therapy was used three times to treat those dogs. Objective analysis, including peak vertical force (PVF), revealed that a higher proportion of treated dogs showed improvement compared to the control group, and the return of motion from the stifle joint showed greater improvement in treated dogs as compared to the control group.
Another study, published in the National Library of Medicine in 2009, highlights the biochemical and histological effects of shockwaves in treating horses suffering from osteoarthritis. Twenty-four two-to-three-year-old horses were divided into three groups after being arthroscopically induced into one middle carpal joint of each horse. After 14 days, one group was given a placebo, another PSGAG (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan – PSGAG), and the last one received a shockwave. The group treated with shockwaves saw significantly improved lameness compared to the placebo and PSGAG-treated groups.
Conclusion
The findings discussed above suggest that small animals and equines with chronic back pain may also see pain relief through shockwave therapy. Shockwave therapy also shows effectiveness in treating various musculoskeletal conditions related to muscles, joints, and bones.
Overall, the best outcomes were reported when small animals and equines were treated with shockwaves. By providing pain relief and promoting healing, shockwave therapy may help reduce the need for long-term medication use in some cases.
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