Hydrotherapy offered for dogs, clinic is making waves in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (KMTR) -- A new vet clinic is making waves on Main Street helping dozens of dogs improve their quality of life.
Doctor Lisa Iverson, DVM, hosts "See Spot Run," offering hydrotherapy for dogs.
The clinic inside of Veterinary Allergy and Dermatology Services on Main Street, is one of a kind. The only other underwater treadmill for dogs is in Corvallis.
Dog owner Victoria Doyle and her canine Sadie May visited the clinic Thursday morning. Doyle told NewsSource 16 she got the now 140-pound Saint Bernard when she was just five months old. At ten months old, Sadie May blew out her knee and had to get cruciate ligament surgery.
"There was a 50% chance she would blow out her other knee and sure enough at 16 months old, she blew out her knee," explained Doyle.
With another surgery under her belt, Sadie May lost a majority of her muscle mass. Doyle was not only giving her medications, but started driving to Corvallis from Springfield twice a week for hydrotherapy. The treatments only took about ten minutes.
"Between her supplements and treatments, I was probably spending between $300 and $400 dollars a month," said Doyle.
After a short break from the treatments, Doyle decided it was time again to get Sadie back on the underwater treadmill. Through Facebook and a friend of a friend, she found See Spot Run.
"We had to make sure the tub was big enough," she laughed.
Sure enough, the tub worked out and Sadie May has been getting in it ever since.
"The water provides buoyancy so they don't have to stand on their own and I can get in the treadmill and place their feet where their feet belong. It helps them remember how to walk," said Doctor Iverson.
Iverson said she is glad to have another resource available for dogs who either are recovering from surgery or can't get surgery due to financial issues or old age. She sees canines young and old, big and small, with all sorts of problems like arthritis, knee problems, disc issues and more.
"She's much spryer," said Doyle. "She's able to get up and down a lot more. She just doesn't seem as painful."
Doctor Iverson keeps the water temperature around 95 degrees to make the dog comfortable, more flexible but not overheated. Sessions are set accordingly to each dog. Sadie May, for example, goes two or three reps, each time being three minutes on and two minutes rest.
With her owner and Doctor Iverson cheering her on and, of course, giving her liver treats as rewards, Sadie May walked without problems Thursday. She also received laser therapy to help her muscles.
Doyle told NewsSource 16 the hydrotherapy has been a godsend to her family. With no kids, their dogs are their babies, including Sadie May.
"I don't know that we would still have her," Doyle said. "They said she might not live to about five years old and she's seven. We feel very grateful and we feel like what we've done is what has helped her."
To contact See Spot Run and schedule an appointment, call Doctor Iverson at (541) 514-5061 or go to www.SeeSpotRunRehab.com.
