Dr. Tara Hudye and Dr. Alexina Lebrecque received their needling and acupuncture training through various colleges and affiliates including the Atlantic Veterinary College, College of Integrative Therapy and Canine Rehabilitation Institute. Both doctors perform acupuncture on our patients to increase pain relief, increase healing rate and overall increase the recovery of our patients. Basically, we use acupuncture in any patient we feel would benefit from its healing and pain relieving effects. Most of our patients get very sleepy or even fall asleep during the treatment! Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years as a way to help treat different ailments. The needles are very small, in fact the dogs and cats rarely detect the needle placement. Specific points or sites are chosen that will result in pain relief, increase muscle and nerve function, and decrease inflammation. Our patients either receive acupuncture treatments as a sole treatment or often, it is added to our rehabilitation therapy as an added benefit to their recovery program. Acupuncture can help relieve many problems, such as: Arthritis Back pain IVDD (Intervertebral disc disease) Myofascial trigger points and pain Elbow and hip dysplasia Ligament problems Post operative and preoperative care Hind end weakness Degenerative myelopathy Vestibular disease Dental pain Nerve paralysis (radial nerve, brachial plexus avulsion) Benefits of acupuncture: Increased circulation and decreased inflammation Pain relief Better joint range of motion and mobility Prevention of injury Return of muscle function and memory All of our patients enjoy and benefit from acupuncture. We know we can help your pet as well!

Laser therapy uses light energy to reduce pain, increase metabolic activity, and facilitate healing. The light from the laser is absorbed by the cells within the tissue, which activates cell reproduction and growth. Laser treatments are painless and will increase circulation and stimulate oxygen, nutrients and water content of the body towards the damaged tissue in need of repairing tissue. This will result in optimal healing with decreased muscle stiffness, pain and inflammation. Benefits of Laser therapy - Accelerated tissue repair and cell growth - Anti-inflammatory - Enhances wound healing - Increased nerve function - Reduced scar tissue - Enhancing immune cells to combat pathogens - Drug free solution to pain relief When can Laser Therapy be used? - Tendon/ligament injuries - Arthritis - Muscle spasms - Inflammation - Bladder infection/ cystitis (Feline lower urinary tract disease) - Ear infection - Anal gland inflammation (anal sacculitis) - Post-operative care (incision site healing) - Wounds - Swollen joints - Capsulitis - Tendonitis - Burns - Insect bites - Fractures - Hot spots

Veterinary Rehabilitation is a therapeutic approach to help relieve pain and dysfunction in animals. Research proves that every and all patients can benefit from rehab. Dr. Tara Hudye, Dr. Corben Scherer, Dr. Alexina Lebrecque and Kristen Moore are all specialized in this field in addition to their veterinary and/or physiotherapy degrees. Each pet will have a unique and individualized treatment plan involving therapies to help regain function and relieve pain. These therapies can include: exercise, stretching, heat therapy, cold therapy, laser, therapeutic ultrasound, regenerative medicine, hydrotherapy (underwater treadmill), manual/myofascial therapy, joint mobilization, TENS/NMES, acupuncture and others. Rehabilitation is used for a variety of ailments including but not limited to: Pre and post-surgical recovery Musculoskeletal injuries (cruciate injury, iliopsoas strain, hip/elbow dysplasia, etc.) Lameness Joint injury Neurological conditions Performance problems in sport animals Weight loss management. Want to know more of our rehab team and what we can do for you? Visit our rehabilitation section on our website for more details!

Electrical stimulation is the application of electrical impulses to muscles, stimulating contractions. It aids in pain management and prevents muscle atrophy (muscle loss). Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) stimulates a target muscle or tissue using nerves. We will use this mode of therapy in cases where muscle loss is significant or nerve function is impaired, such as nerve paralysis patients or post operative patients. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a form of NMES and is mainly used to help alleviate pain or muscle spasms. Our first and foremost goal of all patients is pain control. We utilize TENS in many of our patients to give immediate pain relief. In many cases of chronic back pain and spondylosis patients, we teach owners how to use the machine at home so pain control can be managed at a constant level.

With advancements in technology, we are able to use the body's own cells to heal and regenerate damaged tissue in a way that other medical and surgical techniques may not be able to. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Platelets are a blood cell naturally found in the body and are important in wound healing and blood clotting. Platelets have two types of granules. In PRP therapy, we are interested in the granules responsible for wound healing and the growth factors. It is these growth factors that will stimulate other body cells to migrate to the injured area and start tissue healing. Platelets will also recruit and activate stem cells. This is all very important in the healing of tissue, cartilage, muscle, soft tissue, tendon, skin and ligament. Stem Cells (Bone Marrow Derived) Once the bone marrow is collected and processed in house from the patients bone, the concentrated stem cells are injected into the damaged joint, tendon or ligament. The stem cells will: 1. Activate surrounding resident cells 2. Release cell factors and growth factors to speed healing and tissue repair 3. Reduce and /or eliminate scar tissue 4. Modulate immune function 5. Differentiate into surrounding tissue type Injection site discomfort is the most common side effect reported. This typically resolves within 12-24 hours post injection. We will send your pet home with medication to help with this initial discomfort. Steroids and anti inflammatory medications are avoided immediately pre and post injection to avoid interference with the healing process. To optimize maximum healing and mobility potential, we always recommend a dedicated conditioning and post op rehab program alongside injection therapy. With every regenerative injection case we perform, follow up exercise therapy along with a home treatment plan and underwater treadmill therapy is included. Click on the video below to see how platelets work:

PEMF utilizes bursts of low level electromagnetic radiation to decrease pain caused from injury. It will increase the healing of damaged bone, tissue and muscle. This therapy is pain free and can often be prescribed for owners to use at home on a daily basis for chronic conditions. PEMF technology is one of our unique therapies utilized for our rehab and surgical patients to increase pain control. At our clinic, we utilize the Embrace PEMF systems. Both provide pain relief especially in chronic pain conditions such as arthritis. Ask us if you think your pet could benefit from an at home system that is affordable, easy to use and beneficial to their mobility and quality of life!

Ultrasound waves are produced by synthetic crystals that vibrate at a particular frequency which can then penetrate the skin. We have two types of ultrasounds in our clinic, therapeutic and diagnostic. The therapeutic ultrasound is used as a healing modality in our rehabilitation patients. The therapeutic sound waves are specifically targeted to penetrate the damaged tissue. The waves will reduce pain and inflammation, increase circulation and increase mobility of soft tissues. This will result in expediated healing. Ultrasound therapy can help with a variety of injuries. Please contact us to see if ultrasound therapy is appropriate for your pet. Common injuries therapeutic ultrasound is used: Cruciate tear Meniscal damage Arthritis Sprains and muscle tendinopathies (biceps tendonitis, infraspinatus tendinopathy, supraspinatus tendinopathy) Achilles tendon injury

Bodies are made to move, but injury and compensation can prevent this. With our knowledge of tissue repair, movement and kinematics, we will utilize specific movement exercises to strengthen and add flexibility to the spine and joints. Can you squat? Do yoga? High step? So can your canine friend! With our knowledge and expertise we can teach you tricks to entice your pet to do the same.