Therapeutic Ultrasound in Dogs

Therapeutic ultrasound is a physiotherapy technique that aims to speed  up the healing of damaged muscles, tendons, or ligaments by reducing inflammation and the amount of scar tissue laid down. 

Therapeutic ultrasound is a very high frequency sound wave that when applied to tissue via a probe head, causes the molecules in its path to vibrate at a microscopic level. This has various beneficial effects including increasing the blood circulation to the area (which brings in healing cells and helps disperse natural toxins), decreases swelling, and speeds the rate of healing. 

Therapeutic ultrasound requires repeated visits, but the patient does not usually need sedation for this therapy.

Therapeutic ultrasound is not painful and in most calm animals can be undertaken without the need for sedation, indeed many patients find the therapy pleasantly warming. However, there does need to be good contact between the head of the ultrasound probe and the skin, which means that in most cases fur needs to be clipped away. 

The clinician applies a water-based ultrasound gel over the area, which improves the conduction of the ultrasound waves into the deeper tissues. The probe is applied for 10 - 20 minutes at a time, usually with the probe moving in gentle stroking sweeps or a small circular movements over the affected area. 

The therapy is repeated two to three times a week, until the desired improvement in the movement of the joint or muscle is achieved. Therapeutic ultrasound should only be undertaken under the direction of a veterinarian, thus referral from the vet to the physiotherapist is necessary. 

Used in the human field for rehabilitation as well as the treatment of sports injuries, therapeutic ultrasound is a respected physiotherapy method. It has the major advantages of being drug-free and comfortable enough to use without sedation. Whilst it will not produce miracles, when used correctly it is unlikely to worsen a condition and highly likely to benefit it. 

It is important only take the advice of a vet, as to whether therapeutic ultrasound is appropriate for your dog or not. There are some contraindications where the effects of this type of ultrasound are either not known or there is a chance of complications. The conditions for which it is not advised include: 

Pregnancy: The effects of prolonged exposure to therapeutic ultrasound during pregnancy are not known, therefore any risk is best avoided

Cancer: The increased blood supply to an area could encourage the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body.

Metal Orthopedic Implants: The pins, plates, or screws used to repair a fractured bone may heat up under prolonged exposure to therapeutic ultrasound. This will cause discomfort and pain, and is undesirable. 

A dog that needs therapeutic ultrasound will likely be under the care of a vet or veterinary physiotherapist. Whilst the treatment itself has minimum short-term impact on the patient, it's likely they will need to adhere to a specific exercise or physiotherapy regime as part of the recuperation process. 

How swiftly the patient sees a benefit depends largely on the nature of a problem. For example, clinicians passing a therapeutic ultrasound probe over the incision from a routine ovariohysterectomy find even a single treatment speeds up wound healing. Whereas a joint that has seized up as a result of an old injury may could take multiple weeks of therapy to show a satisfactory improvement. 

You may need an initial assessment by a veterinary physiotherapist. Costs vary, but around $66 to $125 for a 60-minute assessment is common. Subsequent sessions cost $35 to $100 each, depending on the type of equipment used and the experience of the operator. 

Remember, this cost is per session, so for a dog that needs three treatments a week for a couple of months this can amount to a sizeable cost. 

Therapeutic ultrasound is about encouraging a natural process - repair - to proceed in an orderly way so that inflammation, pain, and scar tissue are kept to a minimum. When the correct patients are selected (ie those that don't have cancer or metal implants) then there is very little risk attached to the therapy. 

However, it should be noted the therapeutic ultrasound will most benefit the patient when used as part of a protocol that may also include therapeutic massage, hydrotherapy, or rehabilitation exercises. This takes considerable dedication on the part of the owner, if the dog is to derive maximum benefit. 

Avoiding the need for therapeutic ultrasound hinges on healthy joints and warming the dog up before vigorous exercise to reduce the risks of sprains and strains. Creating healthy joints starts even before you acquire the puppy, by doing research into responsible breeders and sourcing a puppy that is from parents screened and passed as clear for conditions such as hip dysplasia.

In addition, for large breed dogs they should be fed as puppies on a large breed growth diet. This reduces the risk of the dog's bones growing too quickly, which predisposes them to damaged cartilage or weak joints. 

Other sensible precautions include not over-exerting the dog during exercise, until they are finished growing. To this end, dogs should not attend agility classes until they are 12 to 18 months old (depending on size and breed). 

When a dog is lame, seek prompt veterinary treatment. Using anti-inflammatory drugs at an early stage can reduce inflammation of the delicate cartilage lining the joints and protect it from being chipped or torn. In addition, for breeds that are prone to joint problems, starting a nutraceutical product containing chondroitin and glucosamine could be a beneficial investment in long term joint health.