Thank you for your interest in our Pain Management Program. We offer a large range of services which complement our routine veterinary services that can help improve your pet’s comfort, wellbeing, and quality of life. Please read through the following information about our veterinarians and the different services we offer. Next, please fill out this survey so we can gather more information about your pet, review their medical records, and our booking coordinator will reach out to you to set up your first appointment with one of our pain management practitioners. To provide the best outcome, the veterinarian that does your first appointment will set out a treatment plan that may involve visits to our other team members.
Dr. Ilana Smolkin
Dr. Smolkin was trained in Spinal Manipulation by the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Center. She also has received training in Animal Normalization Techniques, a type of osteopathic technique to further her manipulation skills. Dr. Smolkin trained in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Acupuncture with the Chi Institute and is certified in acupuncture as well as in Chinese herbal therapies. Dr. Smolkin has training in Western herbals as well. For more information on traditional Chinese internal veterinary medicine, please click here.
Dr. Sherry Ekstrom
While enjoying many aspects of veterinary medicine, Dr. Ekstrom has developed a keen interest in internal medicine, dentistry, dermatology and pain management. In December 2018, she became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner and has applied this special skill set not only to post-operative patients, but also dogs and cats with acute and chronic orthopedic and neurological issues. Seeing her patients improve and get back to doing what they love is something Dr. Ekstrom will never get tired of.
Dr. Renee Fleming
Dr. Fleming received her cVMA (certified veterinary acupuncture) from the CuraCore Institute. She then continued and was successful at achieving her CVPP (Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner). Dr. Fleming’s areas of interest are perioperative pain management, and chronic pain management.
Our Pain Management Services
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique that has been in practice for thousands of years, and is now commonly used in western medicine, especially for pain control. Here at Guelph Animal Hospital, we offer both acupuncture from a western viewpoint as well as traditional chinese acupuncture. Acupuncture is the act of needle placement in specific locations that stimulate the nervous system to give a desired effect. In some cases the needles are connected to electrodes to give an even stronger signal, called electro-acupuncture. For pets that don’t like to hold still or for some locations, we also can inject liquid into an acupuncture site to stimulate it, called aquapuncture. As mentioned, pain and mobility is the most common use of acupuncture, however it can also be used for all sorts of conditions to provide immune support, help with digestion, help with allergies and stress relief.
Manual Therapy
Manual therapy is a combination of spinal manipulation and animal normalization, known in the human medical world as chiropractic therapy. The techniques are used to address dysfunction in the muscular, skeletal and/or nervous system. As you would feel better after visiting a chiropractor for an adjustment, animal manual therapy may help reduce pain, minimize injury, increase range of motion, restore proper biomechanics, improve joint function and quality of life and enhance performance for your pet. Although pain and arthritis are the most commonly addressed issues, other conditions such as bladder incontinence, anal gland problems, and digestive issues can be aided by adjustments.
Therapeutic Laser
The therapeutic laser is a helpful tool for providing pain control and reducing inflammation. The light therapy is administered at a controlled dose to affected areas to promote healing. Laser therapy can be beneficial for acute and chronic pain including post-surgical healing, intervertebral disk disease, osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease, wound healing and much more. Our doctors will prescribe specific treatment plans utilizing laser therapy to benefit your pet. This is a very well tolerated, minimally invasive treatment which provides excellent results.
Rehabilitation
Veterinary rehabilitation includes a broad range of physiotherapy techniques, exercise therapies,and veterinary advice. The programme of care is tailored to suit the lifestyle of each patient and owner. Dr. Sherry will provide a customized rehab plan that may include at home exercises as well as third party referrals for water treadmills.
Stance Analyzer
This is used to review the way your pet holds their weight as they are standing. Shifting weight is a good indicator that there is discomfort in one or more areas of the body. Analyzing the stance of your dog will allow us to better locate pain and devise a plan for correction or pain control. The Stance Analyzer is great for early detection of pain. This allows for prompt intervention. Data collected by the Stance Analyzer can be used in comparison at recheck visits to assess progress of a patient’s mobility and comfort.
Medical Pain Management
Veterinary medical pain management is a crucial aspect of ensuring a pet’s well-being, focusing on alleviating discomfort and enhancing quality of life. Our veterinarians use a multimodal approach to assess and manage pain, combining various medications tailored to the pet’s specific needs. This comprehensive strategy often involves anti-inflammatories, analgesics, and other supportive therapies to effectively control pain. For pets on long-term pain medication, routine blood work is essential to monitor their overall health and ensure the medications remain safe and effective over time. Regular check-ups allow for adjustments in treatment, helping to maintain optimal pain relief.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy is a regenerative medicine treatment that harnesses your pet’s natural healing abilities to accelerate recovery and improve overall well-being. Modern technology allows us to concentrate platelets and white blood cells from your animal’s blood, and induce growth factors that we inject directly into injured tissue. By enhancing the body’s natural healing capacity, the treatment may lead to a more rapid, more efficient, and more thorough restoration of the tissue to a healthy state. PRP is a good option for early arthritis, joint inflammation, ligament sprains, muscle tears, wounds and other painful conditions.
Supplements, Herbals, and Dietary Support
Our pain management team will guide you through choosing the most appropriate diet and supplements for your pet’s unique needs. This includes veterinary diets, weight management, over the counter supplements and CBD advice.
Before Your First Visit
Ahead of your first appointment, we ask that all pets coming in for a pain management consultation have up to date bloodwork and heartworm and tick testing. Bloodwork should have been done in the last 3-6 months, and a heartworm and tick test should be performed annually. Some tick-borne diseases cause lameness and other mobility concerns, so your vet can rule that out ahead of time. We offer in house bloodwork if your pet does need updated testing, some blood profiles are sent out to an external lab depending on the recommended testing. Routine blood monitoring is essential for pets on long term pain medication to screen for any changes internally.
If your pet is on any supplements that you do not purchase from your regular veterinarian, please bring them or send our booking coordinator photos of the packaging ahead of time for our medical team to review.
If your pet is nervous or anxious at veterinary appointments, please speak to your veterinarian ahead of time to ask for some calming pre-visit medication. Light oral sedatives can help calm anxious and fearful pets, and may be required for certain treatments or procedures.
What to Expect During Your First Visit
Our pain management program is designed to provide comprehensive care tailored to your pet’s specific needs. The initial consultation and assessment cost $240.85 plus HST, which includes a thorough evaluation of your pet’s condition and the development of a personalized treatment plan. This one-hour session ensures that we understand your pet’s pain management needs fully. Follow-up visits are $165 plus HST and last approximately forty minutes. These visits may include therapies such as acupuncture, laser therapy, and manual therapy, all of which are included in the cost. These therapies are non-invasive and well tolerated by most pets.
For more advanced treatments like Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, there is an additional cost. PRP therapy is done under light sedation, meaning your pet will need to stay with us for part of the day. This therapy is highly effective for certain conditions and is recommended based on your pet’s individual needs.
Please note that medications, herbals, supplements, dietary products, and any necessary laboratory testing are additional costs. We accept Debit, Cash, Visa, Mastercard, Amex, e-transfers to info@guelphvet.com, and Scratchpay. Payment is due when services are rendered, and a deposit may be required for special orders.
