The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

UW-Madison News Release--Spinal therapy for pets

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12/03/2004

CONTACT: Tania Banak, (608) 263-6914, banakt@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu



SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE OFFERS SPINAL THERAPY FOR PETS



MADISON - It's not a replacement for traditional veterinary care, but spinal manipulative therapy for animals can relieve pain and restore normal function following trauma, surgery or chronic medical conditions such as arthritis. This treatment modality now is available at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.



Dawn Mogilevsky, a veterinarian who already provides acupuncture service to clients at the veterinary school's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, has recently become certified in veterinary spinal manipulative therapy. She took 210 course hours at Healing Oasis Wellness Center, Sturtevant, Wis., which is certified through the Wisconsin Education Approval Board. 



The program is intensive, providing participants with considerable hands-on experience with cats, dogs, and horses.



"I focus on joints of the body that are not moving properly," says Mogilevsky. "I work with the joints in the spine and extremities. If joint alignment is altered in any way, it affects the body, and that in turn alters motion and function."



If movement is restricted in one area, the rest of the body must compensate, which often leads to problems in other parts of the body. During a manipulation, the veterinarian feels the joints to determine if they're moving properly. If not, the joint is "adjusted" with a gentle, controlled thrust. 



Generally, patients return a week or two after the initial appointment. After that, visit frequency depends on the problem. If the adjustments were targeted at helping the patient recover from surgery, no additional treatments are needed once normal motion is restored.  Other types of problems, such as compensations due to hip dysplasia or arthritis, may require ongoing treatment.



Performance animals - such as hunting, agility, flyball, or search-and-rescue dogs - that use their bodies more actively than the average pet, can also benefit.



To make an appointment for a pet, call the UW-Madison Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at (608) 263-7600 or 1-800-DVM-VMTH. An adjustment is $55. 



Mogilevsky is a member of the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, and plans to take their certification examination in May 2005. To date, there are only 18 AVCA certified veterinarians in Wisconsin.



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