Four-legged athletes get high-tech therapy at AU veterinary college

The scouting report says he weighs 37 pounds and can run like greased lightning. Another weighs 1,200 pounds and can out-muscle all competitors.

Have they signed anywhere yet? Probably not. These athletes are the four-legged kind utilizing physical rehabilitation and sports medicine at Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine. The programs make sure animals are fit and healthy, many times with the same equipment and principles that are applied to humans.

Orthopedic injuries such as torn anterior cruciate ligaments, arthritis and fractures are common in dogs. As in people, physical rehabilitation is part of the treatment offered by the orthopedic service of the veterinary teaching hospital.

"A vast majority of our patients are pet dogs"  said Dr. Ron Montgomery, professor of orthopedic surgery, "but we also work with canine athletes seen by the college's sports medicine program."

The physical rehabilitation facility is similar to a human physical therapist's office. Therapeutic ultrasound, e-stim, whirlpools, and other devices are used to help restore normal motion and minimize discomfort.

"Physical therapy has proven its effectiveness in humans over the last two to three decades," said Dr. Montgomery. "Now we are blessed to also be able to help man's best friend with physical rehab."

One unique piece of equipment at the facility is an underwater treadmill. The natural buoyancy of water supports a majority of the dog's weight, allowing it to walk and rebuild muscles in greater comfort.

"I expected some benefit, but have been surprised how much a couple of weeks of physical rehab speeds recovery," said Dr. Montgomery. "For some dogs, it makes the difference in how well they ultimately recover from their injuries."

The biggest goal for Montgomery is to teach veterinary students and veterinarians already in practice how to do physical rehabilitation. "We are glad to treat dogs here, but if veterinarians in communities across the Southeast learn how to do physical rehab then many more dogs can be helped," he said. "A two-day program is available where we teach veterinarians how to do physical rehab, and there is corporate funding for the first 25 veterinarians who attend."

Athletic animals also get back in shape through sports medicine. AU's Metcalf Veterinary Sports Medicine Program, named after donor Dorothy Metcalf of Oxford, Md., is specifically designed for sporting dogs and horses.

“We know when a human suffers an injury because he will mention the pain, but an animal is stoic and will keep from showing pain,” said Director Robert Gillette. “Prevention is best, but if an injury does occur, we can pinpoint the origin and treat it.”

Canine athletes include pointers, retrievers, hounds and racing dogs, as well as stock dogs and search-and-rescue dogs. Horses of interest are from racing, cross-country and competitive riding.

One way Dr. Gillette detects injuries is through motion analysis. This is done by placing reflective markers on the animal and digitally recording the animal walking or running. A computer then compares the motion with that of normal movement and analyzes it, picking up even the slightest differences.

Dr. Gillette also uses a special plate under a 10-meter pathway to determine ground force measurements. This tells whether a dog is putting too much or not enough pressure on one of its legs.

In the future he hopes to add a lameness diagnostic service where veterinarians or individuals could videotape their horse or dog and then send their tapes to the laboratory for a diagnostic evaluation. 

The research aspect of the program seeks to optimize performance and career longevity. Studies include animal-specific nutritional programs; therapeutic regimens to minimize downtime and diagnose performance-related problems; and proper exercise programs to prevent exercise-induced medical problems.

“Sports medicine directly benefits athletic dogs and horses, and in turn provides benefits to pets and farm animals that have the same type of injuries,” Dr. Gillette added.