Laurie's Blogs.

There is a problem out there (in the veterinary world) whereby ‘magic’ has the potential to make a bad name for all of us engaged in animal rehab!I am speaking, of course, about the use of laser (magic wand) and underwater treadmill (magic dishwasher) without sound reasoning behind the use of either!

I hear so many stories about this, it simply makes my head spin.One vet that interned with me said that another local vet in her area had told her that she didn’t have much success with laser.She had one, and it didn’t really seem to make a difference with animals.This particular vet had no rehab training, and as such, when cases she had lasered (that didn’t respond) were referred to the rehab vet – who made a physical therapy diagnosis – and it turned out that the other vet wasn’t lasering the proper area!

We just had a recent case at my clinic.A dog was referred to ‘assess and treat’.The vet had been using laser but wrote on the referral that the dog was nippy and would no longer even let him re-evaluate.My associate saw the dog, found him to be pleasant, did her assessment, made a physical therapy diagnosis and treated the dog (with, among other things, laser).What had being going on?How was the vet using his laser that would have caused the dog to react in such a way?

I have another patient that came to me after a one-year episode of an unresolved toe pad crack/cut.Many inappropriate therapies had been prescribed.Including underwater treadmill.Why?Why use UWT for a toe pad crack… when you’re not addressing the toe pad?2 months after starting therapy with me, we had the toe healed up… However the year of walking incorrectly resulted in interphalangeal joint arthritis and a contracture of the flexor tendons in the one toe – that won’t go away.

At my clinic we’ve had referrals for underwater treadmill only.No assessment and no rehab-therapy.We don’t ever take on those cases.Unless the dog is coming for fitness and conditioning, it’s in the dog’s best interest and the clinic’s best interest to know exactly what’s going on with the animal and to advise adjunctive therapies (home exercises, and/or laser, etc) to help.

So, I’m beginning to rant… but how are we, as rehab professionals, going to get our message out:“It’s not just about the toys!”There needs to be a physical therapy assessment and a physical therapy diagnosis (pathofunctional Ax & Dx) before we use the magic wand or the magic dishwasher!

I have two points to make:

• 1)   Let us all make sure that we are not contributing to the problem.  Make sure you have a rationale for why you are lasering an area and ensure that you are clear on the benefits of the UWT before prescribing it – simply because you have one!
• 2)   What can we ALL do – Collectively – to spread the message, that rehab is not just about the toys?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject!!Drop me a line at Laurie@FourLeg.com

Cheers!

Laurie