Specialty Services
Laser Therapy in Lake Geneva, WI
Laser Therapy is a drug free, pain free, surgery free treatment option. Laser therapy utilizes specific wavelengths of light to create therapeutic effects such as, improved healing time, pain reduction, and decreased swelling. This option is available to treat many issues, including osteoarthritis, soft tissue injury, and chronic wounds. Improvement is seen over a period of several treatments, although improvement seen with only one or two treatments is not unlikely. Patients typically express greater comfort and mobility within a day after receiving laser treatment.
Laser therapy treatment requires no patient sedation or restraint which creates a more relaxing treatment environment. Laser therapy is often used with other forms of therapy, including drug therapy and acupuncture. All laser therapy is performed by our K-laser certified technicians. Ask us to recommend a treatment plan that fits your pet’s needs!
Acupuncture
Acupuncture services are offered at our Lake Geneva office by Dr. Terri Schreiner and at our Walworth office by Dr. Kelly Roy. Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that may be used alone or in conjunction with Western medicine. Dr. Schreiner has found that it works well in patients who have trouble handling or cannot use pharmaceutical therapy. Both dogs and cats have benefited from the use of acupuncture.
Acupuncture involves using thin needles to stimulate the energy flow within the body. The basis of acupuncture is to regulate this flow of energy and maintain Chi throughout the body. Acupuncture medicine has been used for thousands of years and is often combined with herbal therapy to achieve improved results.
Commonly 10-20 microneedles are placed throughout the body based on the condition being treated. The animals then relax with their owners for 15-30 minutes with the needles in their bodies. Some neurologic and arthritic conditions also benefit from electrostimulation of the needles (similar to a TENS machine commonly used by physical therapists).
More often than not, the patients tolerate the treatment very well and are happy to return for another treatment. The number of visits necessary varies on the conditions. Most neurologic and arthritic conditions require 4-6 visits (weekly or twice weekly) initially and then follow-ups depending on the progress of the patient.
Conditions that we often treat with acupuncture include:
- Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
- Arthritis
- Soft tissue injuries
- Seizures
- Skin allergies
- Supportive care for cancer treatment
- Endocrine disorders
Stem Cell Therapy
Dr. Welch has performed a number of stem cell therapy treatments, providing relief for pets in pain with powerful healing cells. Innovated by MediVet, this advanced stem cell therapy uses your pet’s own stem cells for treatment. There are no ethical or moral concerns with the use of stem cells from one’s own body as these cells are adult and not embryonic. With this technological advancement, we are using the body’s own regenerative capabilities.
How it works:
Stem cells are powerful healing cells in your pet’s body that can become other types of cells. There are many adult stem cells in fat tissue, however, they are asleep. Stem cell therapy allows us to isolate stem cells from your animal’s own (autologous) fat tissue, wake them up, and reintroduce them directly into damaged areas. For example, in the case of arthritis, stem cells can become new cartilage cells and have natural anti-inflammatory properties, thus reducing pain and increasing mobility.
Stem Cell Therapy has been shown to provide about 18-24 months of relief after the initial treatment, and even longer when treatment is sought at earlier stages. Most pet owners choose to bank cells, so re-treatment is easy and cost-effective. If symptoms return, we retrieve a dose of cells from the bank and inject them. No surgery is necessary.
This treatment has been used to relieve osteoarthritis (hip dysplasia, degenerative joint disease, calcifications, common degeneration, and inflammation), soft tissue injuries (cruciate injuries, tears, ruptures, inflammation), or for accelerated fracture healing.
We also treat other cases under “compassionate use.” We know less about these conditions but are seeing some exciting results. Some of these conditions are degenerative myelopathy, feline gingivitis, end-stage renal disease, liver and kidney failure, allergy, auto-immune, inflammatory bowel disease, pulmonary fibrosis, IMHA, atopy, and spine trauma.
For more information, visit MediVet Biologics.
