CRYO FOR ANIMALS

K9 CRYO

EFFECTIVE CRYOTHERAPY FOR ALMOST ANY BREED OF DOG TO ENHANCE CANINE HEALTH AND EXPEDITE RECOVERY FROM INJURY OR SURGURY

We’ve been dog friendly since the beginning, so it only makes sense to extend our services to help make their lives better too!

K9 Cryo: Please call 661-829-7000 to make an appointment
Please keep your dog on a leash at all times
Owner will be expected to accompany K9 and tech during session
Please make sure your pup goes to the bathroom outside before entering the spa
Please clean up after your dog if necessary

Roscoe Story:Sadly, Roscoe is no stranger to pain. He began to limp on his front legs at 6 months of age. I was told multiple times by our family vet that it was just growing pains, he’s such a large breed this was to be expected sometimes. As he grew he didn’t appear to get any better so we went back to the vet. He was then diagnosed with Osteochondrosis Dessicans (OCD). This is much more serious than the growing pains we were lead to believe was the problem. Now, we’re dealing with an inflammatory condition that refers to abnormal development of the cartilage on the end of a bone in the joint. Before we even had a chance to figure out what to do about this condition he became completely lame on his back left leg. He wouldn’t bear any weight on it and I said, “That’s it. I’m not waiting to see if he “grows out of it” any more!” We took him in for full body x-rays to see what was really going on with my sweet boy and the x-ray results revealed a torn ACL on his hind leg and multiple bone fragments in both elbows. Both conditions required surgery and a total of about 16 weeks of extremely limited activity, rest, and recovery. He’s 2 and a half years old and fully recovered now, but still limps from time to time. I’ve begun bringing him to the spa for Locals whenever I notice he’s hurting or slowing down a little and they make such a difference. I can’t believe it took me so long to realize how much dogs can benefit from cryo just like we can!

IF YOU HAVE A DOG YOU THINK COULD BENEFIT FROM K9 CRYO DON’T HESITATE TO GIVE US A CALL TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT. WE’RE HERE TO HELP ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

We do Office Visits and Mobile Visits please call 661-829-7000 for details

Cryo for Horses

How Can It Help My Horse?

What is Cryotherapy & How Can It Help My Horse?

Cryotherapy basically involves using the very cold for short periods of time. It's very important to only use cold therapy for short amounts of time. As although it can be extremely helpful. Too much cold can have a negative effect.

How can Cryotherapy help my horse?

Cryotherapy has been used for years to help professional human athletes. For instance the use of ice packs is very common to help with sports injuries.

It's believed to have:

anti-inflammatory
pain relieving effects
hypometabolism effects. (This effectively means slowing the body's processes down. Why is this helpful? Well it reduce demands on injured tissues).

Cryotherapy is used to help horses with:

lameness
laminitis
dermatological issues, such as horses with sarcoids.

This type of therapy has been around a long time, and it is worth spending the time using it if your horse is suffering from laminitis, lameness, or other issues.

The application of cold water to living tissues results in three main effects; analgesia, hypometabolism and vascular response. Although this sounds complicated it’s not as bad as you might think.

Analgesia

Analgesia is essentially the reduction or eradication of pain. Cold water can potentially decrease nerve conduction velocity. This is a complicated way of saying that it can slow down electrical impulses. Electrical impulses are signals that travel from the site of the injury to the horse's central nervous system. These tell the horse that they’re in pain.

Hypometabolism

During cryotherapy cold water reduces the metabolic rate of the targeted cells. Basically, the cold decreases the amount of oxygen and glucose that the cells need to survive. This can sometimes help to prevent the effects of oxygen deprivation, known as hypoxic damage.

Vascular Response - Vasoconstriction

Vasoconstriction is a fancy way of saying narrowing of the blood vessels. This occurs when the smooth muscle cells that line the walls of blood vessels tighten. When the blood vessels are narrower less blood passes through them. This process can in some cases help to reduce excess bleeding and oedema.

The Natural Process

When a horse injures themselves the natural healing process commences. Damaged cells release a fluid made up of enzymes and proteins. This fluid provides protective cushioning to the injured area and attracts lymphocytes. Also known as white blood cells lymphocytes fight infection. This process also triggers the secretion of prostaglandins. These are the hormones responsible for pain. During this process extra fluid also known as oedema can build up. If this happens it can become difficult for healthy cells to get oxygen from the blood, leading to hypoxia. Hypoxia can cause the previously undamaged cells around the injury to die. The lack of oxygen in the area can also result in a longer healing process.

Using Cryotherapy

If your horse injures himself apply cold water to the area as quickly as possible. The application of cold water can cause the muscle cells lining the blood vessels to constrict. This makes the blood vessels less permeable, potentially limiting the build-up of enzymes and proteins. This sometimes prevents additional oedema, helping to ensure that the healthy surrounding tissue receives an adequate supply of oxygen. Additionally, cold water can help to decrease pressure caused by swelling and slow down the electrical impulses to the brain that signal pain.

When To Use

Cryotherapy is most effective within 36 hours of an injury or strenuous activity occurring. Cryotherapy is a great way to tackle injuries, which are related to tendons or ligaments. Examples of when it can be used include after kicks or bites, tendon injuries, splints or heavy road work. A good rule of thumb is to check the site of the injury or strain for heat. If the area is swollen, painful to touch and abnormally warm then cold therapy may be an appropriate treatment option.

When Not To Use

Cryotherapy should not be used if your horse is suffering from muscular soreness. If the strained area is muscular and has no abnormal heat or swelling the application of cold may cause more harm than good. In some respects, your horse's body is just like yours. If your horse's muscles are aching or tight they can be better treated using heat.