Veterinarian technician Nina French and Dr. Jacqueline Davidson eased Nick into the water tank for his aqua therapy session, gingerly handling his right hip that recently underwent surgery. Meanwhile, Caroline flopped her long ears and bayed for attention as Niles lounged in front of a fan drying his caramel-colored fur.
Since Hurricane Katrina, the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is the only place in the state that offers therapy to animals. The therapy ranges from aqua – where water increases resistance and helps animals build muscles when exercising in a water tank – to ultrasounds – which heat and relax injured muscles. Animals like Niles, a pug who underwent back surgery two years ago, also run on a treadmill, the only animal treadmill in Louisiana, to strength train.
The Vet School has been offering animal rehabilitation, which is mostly found at surgical and specialty veterinary medicine practices, for about two years, said Davidson, clinical associate professor of veterinary surgery. The Vet School bought the rehabilitation equipment in 2003 and charges pet owners $36.75 per hour for its use.
There was a clinic in New Orleans that offered rehabilitation services, said French, a registered veterinarian technician and associate clinical specialist, but it has been closed since Hurricane Katrina hit the city.
Aqua therapy takes the weight off an animal’s injured joint and can strengthen damaged or weakened muscles and tissues, French said.
Nick, a St. Bernard, had a section of his hip joint removed because his leg bone was painfully rubbing against his hip, which was barely covered by cartilage causing arthritis. From rehabilitation, Nick’s body is able to create a false hip as scar tissue and muscles form around the new surface of the bone.
French said the Vet School’s rehabilitation services, which are similar to human rehabilitation, benefit injured animals.
“It increases the heart rate and works muscles,” French said. “The water is kept at 90 degrees to increase blood flow – anything hotter is dangerous because animals get hot while exercising. The viscosity of water and water jets increase resistance.”
Caroline, a five-month-old blue tick hound who has been at the clinic for 10 days of therapy, was hit by a car when she was three months old and suffered
several pelvic fractures.
French said the goal of Caroline’s therapy is to convince her to balance her weight and strengthen her back legs.
“Scent hounds keep their noses to the ground and carry all their weight on their front ends,” French said.
Niles, who also has a distibular disease that causes his head to permanently tilt to one side of his body, carries most of his body weight on his front legs, French said. Niles’ therapy is a combination of aqua therapy and treadmill work.
French tempted Niles, the perky pug scampering in circles around the clinic, onto the treadmill, which helps his back muscles strengthen so he can carry more weight on his hind legs.
French said working with animals can be difficult because animals, unlike humans, cannot voice their pain and identify their health problems.
“A lot of animals are very stoic, so we have to look for little signs,” French said. “Caroline barks even louder.”
French said there are many rehabilitation options for animals.
“A lot won’t walk on the treadmill, and others are afraid of water,” French said.
Some animals exercise through gate training, which includes jumping, and others do exercises that work specific joints.
“Some people don’t believe it works … like voodoo,” French said. “It’s becoming much more commonplace though.”