November 2025

Dear Clients, 

We would like to congratulate Dr. John Humbert for his latest certification as an AVCA certified veterinary chiropractor. Also Dr. Stephanie Badge has completed her coursework and testing as a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. Please join us in congratulating them for their hard work!

Can you believe it’s November already?!?!? It’s almost time for the weather to get cool and sometimes this cool weather can cause our pets to get the morning zoomies but they may also wake up more stiff. Let’s chat about a few tools we have for osteoarthritis and new drugs that have been on the market.

Thankful

Osteoarthritis is treated based on the stage your pet is in.

Stage 0-1: Preclinical disease. Your pet may have underlying dysplasia or participate in high impact sports but is not showing any clinical signs of pain.

Stage 2: Mild disease. Occasional lameness is noted with some evidence of arthritis on radiographs and physical exam.

Stage 3: Moderate disease. Persistent lameness with obvious evidence of arthritis on radiographs and physical exam.

Stage 4: Severe disease.  Severe lameness causing difficulties with movement and transitions on a daily basis.

We will begin supplements and preventative strategies in early stages of disease, but as the progression worsens we will intervene more with pharmaceuticals as well modalities and rehabilitation techniques to improve pain management and mobility.

Shockwave on the Elbow Joint

Shockwave therapy is one of the tools we have to treat osteoarthritis. Its the use of high energy sound waves for musculoskeletal injuries.  These sound waves elicit a mechanical disturbance in the tissue and stimulates the body’s own healing processes.  Shockwave is very well researched for positive outcomes in bone healing, tendinopathies, pain control, and arthritis management.  

We use the Piezowave machine, which uses piezoelectric crystals to produce a focused high energy sound wave.   

Once the area has been identified for shockwave, we will start with weekly treatments.  Sedation is NOT needed and the patients are comfortable during administration of the pulses.  The stimulation of the bodies healing processes could cause 24 hours of soreness, but most pet parents report that their pet had immediate relief after the sessions with no soreness. 

The shockwave is boosting the body’s own response to injured tissue, there by eliciting an ongoing healing process, so the effects may be both immediate and long term. 

For osteoarthritis conditions, shockwave has been shown to stimulate cartilage growth which are the protective cells of the joint thereby increasing the release of more lubricating fluids such as hyaluronic acid.

Please email us if you or your vet have any questions or concerns.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Peace and Love,

Dr. Lisa Mason