Hydrotherapy rehabilitates patients

The patients at West Park Animal Hospital in Cleveland are getting on their feet faster, because practice owners, Drs. Kane Henderson and Borys Pakush, installed an underwater treadmill to expand rehabilitative efforts for dogs and cats. "Hydrotherapy cuts down healing time after surgery and eases joints for pets suffering from arthritis," says Dr. Henderson. "We also use the treadmill for weight loss and strength training."

Before they purchased the treadmill, owners attended symposiums to learn about hydrotherapy and had an employee certified in veterinary rehabilitation therapy.

A standard treadmill unit costs $28,000 to $29,000, and the price goes up as you add options. Drs. Henderson and Pakush paid $33,000 for their unit, including shipping and handling and a digital monitor.

"We're still fine-tuning our pricing," says Dr. Henderson. "For now, we're charging $49 for a 30- to 60-minute session. We also offer a package deal: For $500—a 15 percent savings—clients can purchase 12 sessions, or three months of therapy, which is what most of our clients choose to do." Dr. Henderson says they added another option: strength training for hunting or agility dogs. They charge $25 for a 20-minute session.

Drs. Henderson and Pakush's hydrotherapy rehabilitation system has been in place for more than two years now. And clients have completely paid for the system. "We think that's a good return for a service that helps our patients maintain or recover an active, healthy lifestyle," Dr. Henderson says. There are typically 20 to 25 patients enrolled in the program during the busier periods.

To spread the word about the treadmill service when they first offered it, Drs. Henderson and Pakush sent letters, brochures, and referral forms to veterinarians in a 50-mile radius of their practice and to breed, sport, hunting, and agility clubs in the area. Also, a couple of their clients worked for a local TV station and covered the service on their shows, and several newspapers interviewed the doctors.