Referred to as “shock wave” for more than a decade now, the PulseVet  technology uses high-energy sound waves – called pulses or shock waves – to stimulate and speed the body’s own healing process. These sound waves release higher energy and result in deeper penetration than an ultrasound or laser. The waves travel through soft tissue at different depths to a specific treatment area and begin healing.

The high-energy sound waves stimulate cells and release healing growth factors in the body that reduce inflammation and swelling, increase blood flow, and help bones form and heal and enhance wound healing.

Backed by more than a decade of clinical research, shock waves can be used to reduce lameness, increase mobility, and relieve pain in dogs with:

• Osteoarthritis
• Tendon/ligament injuries
• Wounds
• Bone fractures
• Back Pain
• Shoulder Instability
• Shock wave is noninvasive, so it can be used in these conditions as an alternative to surgery, instead of increased non-steroidal pharmaceuticals, or as part of a rehab plan.

Learn more about shock waves for arthritis and other indications that can be treated with shock waves in The Whole Dog Journal.

An average treatment is relatively fast and easy, typically 5-10 minutes total. With our new X-Trode handpiece, we are able to cover a much larger volume of tissue with a significantly reduced peak energy, which leads to a much more comfortable treatment. This means your pet will no longer need sedation for treatment with ProPulse. The veterinarian should shave/clip the dog so that the sound waves are not interrupted. From there, your vet will select the number of pulses for a specific area, apply the trode, and deliver the pulses in less than 3 minutes.

You can learn more about how ProPulse works and what treatment looks like on our Shock Wave Technology page.

It takes time for the biological responses in the body to take effect and begin healing. Your pet should not take part in any strenuous or high-impact activity during this period, even if it appears it is feeling better. The healing is not complete, so give your pet some rest. Many times 1 treatment is sufficient for long-term healing. However, your vet may recommend a second or third treatment a few weeks apart, depending on the indication.

Yes. Shock Wave, or high-energy sound wave therapy, is vastly different from laser therapy:

• Shock wave uses SOUND, whereas laser uses LIGHT energy.
• Shock wave is FDA-approved and backed by more than 10 years of veterinary and human medicine research. Please ask your doctors for studies to back up the treatment you are considering!
• Shock wave creates a higher-energy output and penetrates deeper than a laser can. Lasers are most beneficial for superficial indications that require a few millimeters in depth.
• 1-3 treatments provide long-lasting healing with shock wave, whereas lasers require 10-15 treatments for any given injury, and the healing has not been studied or proven to last long-term.
• There is no risk of burns with sound energy like with laser therapy, and no protective glasses are needed. In fact, no adverse effects have been reported with shock wave.

For information on finding a practice in your area, you can contact us or visit our Find a Vet page.

Shock wave healing is an affordable alternative to surgery, long-term use of anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals, and requires significantly fewer treatments than other modalities. One treatment ranges from $250-350, which may or may not include sedation and other tests/exams the veterinarian performs for effectively diagnosing the injury before treatment.