Year of the Dog Shines Light on Man’s Best Friend

The spotlight is on man’s best friend as the start of the Lunar New Year ushers in the Year of the Dog.  Our furry friends don’t ask for much. Some food, shelter, a little outside time and some friendly pets on the head can be enough to make them happy.  But Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) would like pet owners to know about some of the lesser known treatments offered at the hospital that can be just as beneficial.

Owners aren’t the only ones who can suffer a slight injury when running around a park with Fido. Dogs can also suffer injuries and need surgery, and just like humans, dogs might need physical therapy after such a traumatic physical experience. The therapy program at Purdue has been around for more than three years, offering dogs and other animals the treatment they need.

“Just like in human medicine, we want our animals to have a good quality of life,” said Jessica Bowditch, RVT, CCRP, physical rehabilitation and neurology technician. “Dogs, just like humans, start physical therapy the day after a surgery. They can have physical therapy for muscle issues, to help them learn how to use their legs again, and just for exercise.”

The physical therapy room in the Small Animal Hospital offers an underwater treadmill for easier workouts or for resistance and cardio training; balance boards; physioballs; electric stimulation; and many other resources to help dogs get healthy.  Click here to view a short video that includes an interview with Jessica about the Physical Rehabilitation service.

Physical therapy is commonly recommended for post-operative and medically managed orthopedic patients, post-operative and medically managed neurological patients, patients suffering from muscle strains, obese patients, and dogs that want to improve and maintain agility.  Click here for more information.

The VTH also offers other innovative medical services, including hemodialysis for patients who have ingested poisonous toxins; a behavioral clinic for animals with dangerous or stressful behavioral problems; dental services for animals of all shapes and sizes; and exotic animal care for more unusual patients, such as sugar gliders, guinea pigs, chinchillas, fish, birds, and reptiles.

Writer(s): Megan Huckaby, Purdue News Service | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we are highlighting Scott Fix who is the Lead Facilities Manager in the Department of Veterinary Administration.

Remembering Zeus: A Legacy of Loyalty and Love

We continue our series of articles about animals and their owners who’ve found help and healing at the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital by sharing the story of a beloved dog named Zeus. For Amy Fitzsimmons-Blaising, Zeus wasn’t just a dog, he was her spirit animal and best friend. A proud Giant Schnauzer bred in Bedford, Indiana, Zeus had been the heart of Amy’s home for 11 unforgettable years. Then, in October 2024, Zeus’s health challenges began, when he started coughing and showing signs that looked like seizures. After rushing him to a local veterinary urgent care facility, Amy learned he was in congestive heart failure, and she turned to the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital for help.

PVM Scholar Receives Purdue WGHI Pilot Grant Aimed at Advancing Women’s Health

Purdue University’s Women’s Global Health Institute (WGHI) has announced six pilot research grant awards aimed at solving critical problems in women’s health and quality of life, and one of recipients is Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty member Viju Vijayan Pillai. Dr. Pillai is assistant professor of anatomic pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology.

The universal socket set of vaccines: Innovative technology heralds more effective, more efficient vaccines

You fight fire with fire. And Purdue Veterinary Medicine vaccine expert Suresh Mittal fights viruses with viruses. Using innovative techniques, Dr. Mittal, Distinguished Professor of Virology in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology, develops novel vaccines for viral infections including avian influenza.

PVM Shows Pacers Pride!

In celebration of the Indiana Pacers’ amazing run in the NBA playoffs, Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty, staff and students were well represented in a group photo in front of Lynn Hall this morning, just hours before the start of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, which takes place tonight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.