Vibration Therapy for Pets…our experience as pet parents.
I have written about our Sam in the past, particularly the success we have had treating him with stem cell therapy. Bret and I know very little about the first 4+ years of Sam’s life…in fact all we know is that he clearly didn’t have enough to eat and for some reason the majority of his joints are badly deformed (perhaps Rickets when he was a puppy but who knows for sure). He has been ours for over 10 years now and he is a wonderful companion.
Sam’s arthritis has been an issue since we adopted him. Three years ago we thought we were at the end…he could no longer walk more than a few steps. Stem Cell Therapy changed that and gave Sam renewed legs. In the last year he has started to slow down again. We heard about vibration therapy for arthritis and decided to give it try. Vibration therapy is just what it sounds like…sitting still on a metal plate that vibrates.
We tried it the first time at our veterinarians office and Sam instantly laid down and fell asleep on the plate (so did Luna). I did some reading on this form of therapy and ordered our own Theraplate. I am not an expert on canine physiology so I won’t attempt to explain the science of how vibration therapy works. I can only tell you what we have experienced and direct you to the research on the Theraplate website.
Sam was the reason we purchased the Theraplate…when Luna was alive she was on it every day as well. After the first few sessions on the plate…Sam started going to the plate on his own…he would lie down and bark for me to come turn the plate on for him. Certainly…vibration therapy is not a cure for a dog in Sam’s condition…but clearly it has provided comfort for Sam’s terrible arthritis. When I tell him…”time for therapy”…he gets up and trots over to his plate. After Luna passed away I started curling up on the Theraplate with Sam…it has become our time together to relax. Sam loves to be brushed and get belly rubs while he does therapy…these are moments I will cherish forever.
I have bulging discs in my neck…for years they have been a nagging source of discomfort. So I thought…why not try…its helping Sam. I started on the Theraplate at least once a day. It has provided significant relief from chronic neck pain for me. It also afforded me the ability to start running again last fall. As soon as I finish a run I lay down on it for 10-15 minutes…the therapy helps keep the aching of my old lady hips and knees at bay.
We also put Snoopy on the Theraplate while he was recovering from his amputation. Snoopy would doze off and relax almost immediately…not bad for a rambunctious puppy.
We purchased our Theraplate directly from the company. It was just under $2,000 with shipping and arrived within a week of ordering. There are other versions of the Theraplate on the market. My parents ordered a small device from Walmart.com and I know Nordic Trac makes a version too. We are pleased with the investment we made in ours…I will always have at least a few older dogs in my home…it will never be unused.
All of our pets like the Theraplate (even the cats). With the exception of Sam…who immediately got on the plate on his own with no concern…I introduce my pets to it by laying them on my belly while I am laying on the Theraplate. I move them directly on to the plate after a few sessions and only for a short time until they are acclimated.
Vibration therapy started its popularity in the equine industry…to help horses heal faster from injuries. It quickly spread to small animal therapy and also for humans. Vibration therapy has many claims; increasing bone density, soothing pain, reducing inflammation, improving balance and more. For us…(us being me and the dogs) it has provided significant relief from pain and has been well worth the investment.
If you would like to read more about our experience with stem cell therapy…follow this link: Sam’s Stem Cell Therapy.
I am a full time rescue mom and artist. My art helps support my family of pets and allows me to do something more for other animals still waiting for their forever homes. I sell my art and cards at my ETSY shop.
Rescue On!
Nancy
Thank you so much for your post on stem cells for arthritis. I am thinking about it for our 9 year old chocolate lab who has painful joints. It’s scary making the decision to try a largely unstudied treatment but reading your post, seeing that your boy is still doing relatively well 3 years after his stem cell therapy has me considering a consultation.