Shock Wave technology – the power behind feeling sound

2-year old Golden Retriever – Tendon healing

• Owner heard "pop" while playing ball
• On physical exam: intermittent lameness, thickening of the distal Achilles tendon
• Ultrasound: severe gastroc tendon tendinopathy
• Treatment: pain medication, splint, and wrap
• 3 treatments of shock wave 3 weeks apart
• 800 pulses 5 mm trode on E5

Follow-up:

• Normal palpation of Achilles at 10-week recheck; no evidence of fiber distruption on ultrasound.

6-year old Labrador Retriever – Shoulder and elbow Osteoarthritis (OA) 

• Pain/lameness evaluations and Quadruped Biofeedback System (QBS) showed only 8% of total body weight vs. normal 30% on front limb
• 2 treatments of shock wave 3 weeks apart
• 600 pulses total on elbow (medial/lateral) with 5 mm trode on E3
• 800 pulses on shoulder with 20 mm on E5

     Owner testimonial/Follow-up:

1. 1 week following treatment, owner reported huge improvement in lameness.
2. QBS measured at 19%

Courtesy of Deidre Chiaramonte, DVM, ACVIM, Animal Medical Center, NY

9-year old male neutered Weimaraner – Wound healing

• Presented for routine exam
• Owner concerned about excessive licking of a granuloma on left dorsal carpus
• Topical steroids unsuccessful
• 2 treatments of shock wave 2 weeks apart.
• 500 pulses total (200 medial, 200 lateral) with 5 mm trode on E2

     Owner testimonial/Follow-up:

1. No need for third treatment at 3-month follow-up.
2. Owner reported no further licking/irritation of the lesion and complete hair regrowth

Courtesy of Pam Nichols DVM, CCRP, K-9 Rehab Center, Utah