See Spot Run – Again

In December 2001, Bo, a nine-year-old golden retriever, was in sorry shape. He had sustained bilateral cruciate ligament ruptures and developed osteoarthritis. As a result, he was slower, overweight, and reluctant to engage in formerly favored activities. So his owner, Joy Patton, began bringing Bo, twice a week, to pet physical therapist Sandy Brown. Eight months later, in a session at Brown's Therapet clinic, we watched as Bo slowly maneuvered through an obstacle course, picking up steam as he went through uphill and downhill runs, and then raced toward his favorite part of the therapy – the pool. Wearing a safety flotation vest, Bo engaged in walking, sit-to-stands, step-ups, and resistance exercises.

"When we first started, Bo couldn't even go 15 minutes in the tank," says Patton. "Now he can go for 50, and he doesn't want to get out at the end. We've really seen him change; he's even better than he was before the illness, and he's lost 14 pounds."

Currently, there are around two dozen veterinary physical therapists practicing in the United States as well as some in Canada, Europe, and elsewhere. Brown operates Therapet out of two Kansas locations: Bradley Animal Hospital in Lawrence and Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center Hospital in Overland Park.

From Entertainer to Therapist

When Brown started studying physical therapy, it marked quite a career change. Before deciding to switch to a job that was less intensely physical, the petite, outgoing woman had spent 20 years as a professional juggler, traveling worldwide to entertain American troops.

As she neared the completion of her Master's degree, she attended a symposium on rehabilitation and physical therapy in veterinary medicine. Inspired by what she learned, she enrolled in a new certificate program in small animal physical rehabilitation – the only program of its kind in the country – at the University of Tennessee, in Knoxville.

To enroll in the program, a student must be a physical therapist, physical therapy assistant, veterinarian, or veterinary technician. The certificate program contains five weekend courses (such as animal behavior and anatomy) that are taken at various sites throughout the country as well as clinical practicum hours, case studies, and written and practical examinations. (Brown did her practicum at the Alameda East Veterinary Hospital, in Denver, Colorado. Alameda is home to Animal Planet's TV show The Emergency Vets.

Brown will be writing the program's first examination in June 2003. But as of February 2003, she has already been practicing as a pet PT for 25 months, while simultaneously working on a per diem basis as a people PT at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, in Lawrence, Kansas.

Helping Pets Get Back in the Game

Brown sees dogs with arthritis, cranial cruciate ligament tears, and spinal cord injuries. She even sees dogs that have had total hip replacements. She had her first feline patient recently, one with spinal cord deficits due to a dog attack. The patients that progress most rapidly are those that make frequent visits and have owners who are compliant and involved. "Because dogs are so stoic and instinctively hide pain, the problem is often holding them back to prevent overuse or re-injury. You know how some older patients are fall risks? Well, my patients are play risks."

Brown thoroughly assesses each animal and formulates goals. The goals may include pain management, improved range of motion, muscle strengthening, improvement of gait, and proprioception. Treatment modalities employed may include massage, heat, ice, ultrasound, or TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation). Therapeutic exercise, including hydrotherapy, therabands, and props play an important role as well. Brown is particularly excited about her new underwater treadmill – a state-of-the-art unit: "It focuses on several deficits at one time and enables the animal to weight-bear without loading of the joints."

Brown designs individualized programs with the client's time or money constraints in mind. She normally charges US$115 (C$182) for a 60 to 75 minute session that includes an initial evaluation and treatment, plus an outline of a home exercise program. A 30- to 40-minute treatment session costs US$50 (C$79). Brown involves the owner of the dog in the therapy process as much as possible.

"The human-animal bond exists on many levels," Brown says. "My heart and my passion are really here. My patients wag their tails; what could be better than that?"

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