A central component of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) Expansion and Renovation is the relocation and enhancement of our Small Animal Physical Rehabilitation Service. A key tool in a variety of cases, physical rehabilitation can be used as routine intervention before, after, or in lieu of surgery, depending on the diagnosis. Beyond recovery from a significant injury or surgery, it is also often utilized to enhance the quality of life for senior dogs struggling with mobility issues. The plans for the VTH expansion feature the rehab service in a new suite at the front of the hospital. Not only will this new suite have more space for treatment and state-of-the-art equipment, such as our new underwater treadmill, but its location at the front will be more accessible for mobility-impaired patients.
As a first step towards this goal, we ask for your help to fund new equipment and research for the rehab service. Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) is a treatment method with growing interest in the veterinary field as it helps with healing, has anti-inflammatory effects, and reduces pain. Our service currently uses PEMF loops for this treatment, and while these loops provide great treatment, they have some restrictions. The required wait time between treatments is two hours and you can only treat one area of the animal at a time. This necessary delay can elongate the sessions, particularly if a patient needs treatment on more than one area, which requires an extra investment of time for our technicians, clinicians, and clients.
The PEMF loop lounge, a whole-body PEMF mat, is the solution to the restrictions of the PEMF loop. One single full-body treatment on these mats only takes 15 minutes, making visits more comfortable and less stressful for clients. The ease of use of these mats has allowed the rehab team to start a research study that integrates these mats into cat carriers to determine the effect PEMF has on arthritic pain in cats.
Your support today can aid in the purchase of these mats and fund research projects for the Small Animal Physical Rehabilitation Service, improving the quality of life of companion animals in our community.
Donors who give at least $50 will be recognized as bronze member donors and will receive a bronze member thank you packet.
Donors who give at least $100 will be recognized as silver member donors and receive a silver member thank you packet.
Donors who give at least $250 will be recognized as gold member donors and receive a gold member thank you packet.
Donors who give at least $750 will be recognized as platinum member donors and receive a platinum member thank you packet. A gift of $750 will fund the entire purchase of a small PEMF mat or half the purchase of a large PEMF mat.