Gambit Pets: Summer 2018

ANIMAL SHELTERS

AND RESCUE GROUPS 4

PET PHOTO

CONTEST

WINNERS 3

LASER AND

SHOCK WAVE THERAPIES 10

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G A M B I T ’ S PETS • S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

G A M B I T ’ S PETS • S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

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Animal shelters and rescue groups

For a list of needed donations and supplies, visit each group’s website.

BY KANDACE POWER GRAVES

Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO) 271 Plauche St., Harahan, (504) 571-1900; www.animalrescueneworleans.org The no-kill shelter rescues abused, abandoned and homeless animals and finds them new homes. Adoption fees are $200 for dogs, $85 for cats and $100 for kittens. Adoption hours are 2 p.m.-6 p.m. daily.

La. D.A.W.G. 206 Goldenwood Drive, Slidell, (504) 710-1123 The no-kill organization for dogs accepts all breeds and seeks to find homes for them. Adoption fees are about $100. The organization, needs volunteers, toys, blankets, leashes, collars, towels and cash donations. Adoption hours are by appointment.

Humane Society of Louisiana (888) 648-6263; www.humanela.org The charity rescues abused and neglected animals, including dogs, cats, horses, goats, pigs, birds and other small animals and works with animal welfare agencies, law enforcement and citizens to find them homes. It also takes in animals from area animal shelters. Its TransPUPtation program takes adoptable pets to other communities.

Adoption fees are $125.

Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LA/SPCA) 1700 Mardi Gras Blvd., (504) 3685191; www.la-spca.org The animal control agency for Orleans Parish, the LA/SPCA houses surrendered and rescued animals and runs a low-cost veterinary clinic. Adoption fees are $200 for puppies younger than 6 months old and less than 20 pounds, $80 for dogs 6 months and older and more than 20 pounds, $80 for cats, $40 for additional cats adopted on the same day, $90 for kittens and $10 to $25 for small pets. Adoption fees are waived for active and retired military personnel, and seniors 65 and older can adopt an animal 5 years or older for $50. Adoption hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Sat. and noon-4 p.m. Sun.

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Humane Society of New Orleans (504) 322-3938; www.humaneneworleans.org The nonprofit agency rescues abused and neglected animals, gives them veterinary care and works with area shelters to find them homes. It also enforces animal-protection laws and provides humane wildlife removal services to residents. It does not take in stray or lost pets. Adoption fees vary.

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Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter 1 Humane Way, Jefferson, 504) 736-6111; 2701 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, (504) 349-5111; www.jeffersonspca.org The group, which has shelters in Jefferson and Harvey, saves vulnerable animals and provides medical care, adoptions and education programs.

Adoption fees are $67 for dogs, $25 for cats and $18 for kittens. Adoption hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Wed. and Fri., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thu. and 11 a.m.3 p.m. Sat. Kismet Pet Adoptions (504) 229-2466; www.kismetpetadoptions.com The nonprofit group finds homes for neglected, abused, homeless and displaced animals as well as those rescued from shelters. Adoption fees are $100 for cats and $150 for dogs.

Metairie Humane Shelter 6213 Airline Drive, Metairie, (504) 451-2822; www.metairiehumane.org The dog shelter was founded by Metairie residents and is run by an all-volunteer staff. Adoption fees are $200 for adult dogs, and $300$400 for puppies. Adoption hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Sat. NOLA Lab Rescue www.nolalabrescue.org The nonprofit organization rescues and finds homes for dogs that have been abandoned or are in overcrowded shelters in Louisiana, particularly Labrador retrievers and Lab mixes, senior canines and those with special needs. The group does not have a shelter. Adoption fees are $300.

Northshore Humane Society 20384 Harrison Ave., Covington,

(985) 892-7387; www.northshorehumane.org The nonprofit seeks to place neglected and abandoned animals on the Northshore in foster care or permanent homes. The group offers low-cost veterinary services, a shelter and spay/neuter programs. Adoption fees are $150 for puppies and $75 for kittens 6 months and younger.

Fees vary for adult dogs and cats.

Adoption hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mon.-Fri. and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. Plaquemines Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) 455 F. Edward Hebert Blvd., Belle Chasse, (504) 392-1601; www.facebook.com/paws2003 The no-kill shelter finds homes for stray and homeless animals and offers low-cost veterinary services.

Adoption fees are $125 for dogs 6 months and older, $200 for puppies younger than 6 months, $40 for cats older than 6 months and $50 for kittens. Adoption hours are noon4:30 p.m. Tue.-Sat. and noon-2:30 p.m. Sun. The agency also offers free spay/neuter services for feral cats.

Pontchartrain Humane Society (985) 699-9040; www.pontchartrainhumanesociety.org The agency provides foster care for abandoned, abused and homeless animals and those in shelters in the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast region and finds homes for them. Adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $60 for cats. Pets can be adopted during adoption events or by appointment.

St. Tammany Parish Animal Shelter 31078 Highway 36, Lacombe, (985) 809-0183; www.stpgov.org/ departments/animal-services The Lacombe shelter provides adoption services for stray animals and unwanted pets. Adoption fees are $65 for dogs and $55 for cats and includes spay/neuter services, immunizations, microchipping and screening for heartworms and feline leukemia/

Slidell Animal Control Shelter & Animal Assistance League of Slidell 2700 Terrace Ave., Slidell, (985) 646-4267; www.myslidell.com/animal-control The Animal Assistance League of Slidell houses stray and homeless animals picked up by animal control officers, abused and neglected animals and surrendered animals. It also educates the public about proper animal care. Adoption fees are $90 for dogs, $80 for cats and $20 for ferrets, rabbits and other small animals. Adoption hours are 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. Southern Animal Foundation 1823 Magazine St., (504) 671-8235; www.southernanimalfoundation.org Southern Animal Foundation operates a low-cost veterinary clinic and rescues abused, neglected and homeless animals in Louisiana and Mississippi. Adoption fees are $150 for dogs and $100 for cats. Hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. SpayMart PetSmart, 209 Town Center Parkway, Slidell, (985) 718-3254; PetSmart, 1000 S. Clearview Parkway, Suite 105, Harahan, (504) 733-2016; 6601 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie (504) 454-8200; www.spaymart.org The nonprofit operates a no-kill shelter and foster care program for cats and holds adoption events. The adoption fee is $85 (waived for senior citizens). Adoption hours are 10 a.m.4 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Sat. in Metairie, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon. and Wed.-Sun. and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue. in Harahan and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily in Slidell.

Take Paws Animal Rescue (504) 914-4803; www.takepawsrescue.org This organization takes dogs from shelters and rescue operations and transports them to foster homes, adoptive homes and other shelters.

Adoption fee is $200 for dogs 1 year and older, $300 for dogs under 1 year old. Adoption hours are by appointment.

Villalobos Rescue Center 4525 N. Claiborne Ave., (504) 9484505; www.vrcpitbull.com The nonprofit rescues dogs and finds them adoptive homes. Adoption fees are $200. Adoption hours are noon-3 p.m. Tue.-Fri. and 11 a.m.2 p.m. Sat. Zeus’ Rescues 2520 Napoleon Ave., (504) 309-2144; www.zeusrescues.org The organization assists in finding permanent homes for dogs and cats from area shelters. Adoption fees are $125. Adoption hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.

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St. Bernard Parish Animal Control Shelter 5455 E. Judge Perez Drive, Violet, (504) 278-1534; www.sbpg.net/148/ animal-control The shelter is the animal control agent for St. Bernard Parish and finds new homes for stray and abandoned dogs and cats, reunites lost pets with their owners and helps residents with animal nuisance problems. It educates the public about animal care and hosts low-cost spay/neuter and vaccination clinics. Adoption fees are $20 for spayed/neutered animals and $80 for males and $90 for females that aren’t spayed/neutered. Adoption hours are 7 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri. There also are monthly off-site adoption events.

IDS. Adoption hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Mon.-Sat.

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P R O M O T I O N

ACE

ALLISON

Jefferson SPCA East Bank

Take Paws Rescue

P R E S E N T S

2018

PET-ADOPT-A-THON T W E N T Y

Sponsored By:

SYLVIA HARBIN

MARY LEBLANC

BEAR

ANGELLE

AUDREY

BABY

BAKA

www.la-spca.org

LA/SPCA

Jefferson SPCA West Bank

Jefferson SPCA East Bank

Jefferson SPCA East Bank

Jefferson SPCA East Bank

Sponsored By:

PEGGY WHITE

Sponsored By:

SYLVIA HARBIN

CHARLES BERTHOLD III & DOROTA KRAKOWSKA

DANNY ALBERT

ELIZA ALLEN

GIRLFRIEND HAYDEL

BETHANY

BOOMER

BOWIE

BROCCO

BUDDY

CAROLINE

Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO)

www.la-spca.org

LA/SPCA

Zeus’ Rescues

Looziana Basset Rescue, Inc.

Jefferson SPCA East Bank

Sponsored By:

METAIRIE SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL

SYLVIA HARBIN

GRACIE

Zeus’ Rescues (504) 309-2144 zeusrescues.org

Sponsored By:

G A M B I T ’ S PETS • S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

Sponsored By:

takepawsresuce.org Adopt@takepawsresuce.org

AMBER

504-368-5191

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E I G H T E E N

504-736-6111

504-349-5111

www.AnimalRescueNewOrleans.org adopt@animalrescueneworleans.org

Sponsored By:

504-736-6111

Sponsored By:

504-368-5191

504-736-6111

Sponsored By:

(504) 309-2144 zeusrescues.org

504-736-6111

Sponsored By:

METAIRIE SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL

METAIRIE SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL

SYLVIA HARBIN

Sponsored By:

Sponsored By: PETIT PET CARE PET SITTING & DOG WALKING

CHARLIE

COSMO

DAISY

EMMA

GIBSON

SpayMart

Jefferson SPCA West Bank

Take Paws Rescue

Jefferson SPCA West Bank

Spaymart.org 504-454-8200

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504-349-5111

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CECILE GORDON

Take Paws Rescue

takepawsresuce.org Adopt@takepawsresuce.org

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Sponsored By:

LITIGATION PROJECTS, INC.

SYLVIA HARBIN

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Take Paws Rescue

takepawsresuce.org Adopt@takepawsresuce.org

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504-736-6111

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SpayMart

504-349-5111

Spaymart.org 504-454-8200

Sponsored By:

In memory of:

SYLVIA HARBIN

SONNY

HANA

HAPPY

JEFF

JOJO

LA/SPCA

Jefferson SPCA West Bank

www.la-spca.org

LA/SPCA

Take Paws Rescue

www.la-spca.org 504-368-5191

504-349-5111

Sponsored By:

504-368-5191

LA/SPCA

www.la-spca.org

www.la-spca.org

504-368-5191

504-368-5191

In honor of:

GINNY FISHER & PUPPY PICASSO

LISA EYMARD

GIRLFRIEND HAYDEL

TRACY LOVELL-ROCHA

Sponsored By:

Sponsored By:

KENNY

KING

LANEY

LEIGH

LILA

LILY

Jefferson SPCA East Bank

Jefferson SPCA West Bank

Take Paws Rescue

Jefferson SPCA East Bank

504-736-6111

504-349-5111

Sponsored By:

Take Paws Rescue

takepawsresuce.org Adopt@takepawsresuce.org

SYLVIA HARBIN

SYLVIA HARBIN

LINDA & TIM SALANSKY

Sponsored By:

LYN HEADLEY-DEAVOURS & CY DEAVOURS

KAREN MILLER

LIVIE

LOTTIE

LUCY

MARY JANE

MARY JANE

MUNCHKIN

Take Paws Rescue

Take Paws Rescue

Take Paws Rescue

LA/SPCA

Take Paws Rescue

Sponsored By:

Sponsored By:

504-736-6111

Take Paws Rescue

takepawsresuce.org Adopt@takepawsresuce.org

MARY LIND

CY DEAVOURS & LYN HEADLEY-DEAVOURS

takepawsresuce.org Adopt@takepawsresuce.org

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takepawsresuce.org Adopt@takepawsresuce.org

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LA/SPCA

JUNIPER

DEXTER & STRIPES

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Sponsored By:

takepawsresuce.org Adopt@takepawsresuce.org

JUNIOR

takepawsresuce.org Adopt@takepawsresuce.org

takepawsresuce.org Adopt@takepawsresuce.org

www.la-spca.org 504-368-5191

504-368-5191

Sponsored By:

Sponsored By:

LUCY BOX

SYLVIA HARBIN

SYLVIA HARBIN

SYLVIA HARBIN

MURPHY

NINA

POE

PUFF

REY

RILEY

Love A Pit Foundation

www.la-spca.org

LA/SPCA

Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO)

SpayMart

Looziana Basset Rescue, Inc.

Sponsored By:

CRESCENT CITY VET HOSPITAL

Sponsored By:

METAIRIE SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL

504-368-5191

Sponsored By:

SHARON ST. PIERRE

www.AnimalRescueNewOrleans.org adopt@animalrescueneworleans.org

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METAIRIE SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL

Spaymart.org 504-454-8200

Sponsored By:

CRESCENT CITY VET HOSPITAL

Sponsored By:

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G A M B I T ’ S PETS • S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

SYLVIA HARBIN

takepawsresuce.org Adopt@takepawsresuce.org

Sponsored By:

LA/SPCA

www.la-spca.org

DEBORAH MCDONALD

Take Paws Rescue

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takepawsresuce.org Adopt@takepawsresuce.org

Sponsored By:

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ROCCO

ROCCO

ROCKY ROAD

ROSIE

RUDI

Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO)

Take Paws Rescue

Jefferson SPCA East Bank

Zeus’ Rescues

SpayMart

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takepawsresuce.org Adopt@takepawsresuce.org

Sponsored By:

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504-736-6111

RUSTY

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Spaymart.org 504-454-8200

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LA/SPCA

www.la-spca.org 504-368-5191

METAIRIE SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL

CRESCENT CITY VET HOSPITAL

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CRESCENT CITY VET HOSPITAL

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SpayMart

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GAIL COX GOD BLESS!

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VALENTINE CONNOLLY

METAIRIE SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL

JACK PETERSON, M.D.

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METAIRIE SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL

2018

PET-ADOPT-A-THON S P O N S O R E D

LA/SPCA

www.la-spca.org 504-368-5191

Sponsored By:

Zeus’ Rescues (504) 309-2144 zeusrescues.org

Looziana Basset Rescue, Inc.

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METAIRIE SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL

(504) 309-2144 zeusrescues.org

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Sponsored By:

G A M B I T ’ S PETS • S U M M E R

2018

MARY LIND

Zeus’ Rescues

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G A M B I T ’ S PETS • S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

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Shock and ahhh

Laser and shock wave therapies relieve pain, promote healing in pets

BY KANDACE POWER GRAVES

G A M B I T ’ S PETS • S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

Veterinarians in New Orleans are using two high-tech, noninvasive, drug-free therapies to relieve pets’ pain from arthritis, injuries and surgeries while also amping up their bodies’ natural healing processes.

Laser therapy uses light energy to penetrate deep into the tissues and joints of a cat or dog to reduce inflammation and increase blood flow. Shock wave therapy uses an electrohydraulic shock to stimulate blood vessels and circulation, cell growth, bone healing and lymphatics in dogs.

Becki Francis, a laser therapy technician at Metairie Small Animal Hospital (101 Metairie Road, Metairie, 504-835-4266; www.msah. com) frequently uses laser therapy not only for pets with arthritis and mobility problems, but also to kickstart healing processes for animals

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who have suffered snake bites, have open wounds, have been hit by a car or are recovering from surgery.

The therapy is simple. A technician uses an instrument that resembles an ultrasound wand with a ball on the end of it. A dog or cat is brought into a therapy room and “doggles,” tinted sunglasses, are put on them. The animal lays on a bed with the owner present, and light from the wand penetrates through the coat, skin and muscles all the way to the bone or joint. The animals don’t have to be shaved beforehand, and therapy sessions last a maximum of 30 minutes.

“It’s a treatment that helps the body heal itself,” Francis says. “It uses light energy that penetrates deep down into the tissues, and it helps to reduce inflammation and increase blood flow.

“There are rece eptors in our cells that are activated by the light (energy).

It’s kind of how plants go through photosynthesis — they receive sunlight and that process causes the tissues to make more energy. It’s using the light energy to stimulate the tissues to heal themselves.”

Inflammation is a major cause of pain and can make it hard for pets to move easily. Francis says laser therapy has a cumulative effect in which full results can be achieved in six sessions, though not all animals experience the same results.

P H OTO C O U R T E S Y M E TA I R I E S M A L L A N I M A L H O S P I TA L

Gizmo, a 17 year old cat, receives laser therapy to alleviate pain from arthritis at Metairie Small Animal Hospital.

“We’re definitely seeing improvements by three to four sessions and by six sessions — that is our pinnacle, or the best we can expect for them,” Francis says. After that, the pets are scheduled for maintenance treatments once a week, every two weeks or once a month, depending on their needs. “We’ve had dogs that have been 17, 18, 20 years old that are still receiving the therapy and it really improved their quality of life,” she says.

In addition to arthritis and joint problems, Francis uses laser therapy on animals being treated with pain or infection medications where swelling deters the effectiveness of those treatments, or the animals are on the maximum dosage recommended and still suffer symptoms.

“A lot of the dogs when they first come to see me … have already been on medications but they’re not quite seeing the results the owners would like to see for them,” she says. “The laser therapy itself does not have any interaction with the medications, so we can use it no matter what the pet is on.”

An animal with a chronic ear infection, for instance, may have so much swelling in the ear canal that the ear can’t be cleaned and the topical medication can’t reach the affect-

ed spot. Reducing the inflammation allows those actions.

“Another really neat thing about the laser therapy is that it’s comfortable,” Francis says. “It doesn’t hurt them … and in fact it feels pretty soothing to a lot of them. As the laser light travels through the hand piece it warms up this glass ball on the end of it, so it’s like they’re getting a warm massage.

Of course, if they just had surgery or if they have an open wound, we wouldn’t physically touch them with the wand.”

In addition to reducing inflammation, improving circulation and stimulating cell growth, the therapy releases endorphins, which are produced by the pituitary gland and can make animals (and humans) feel better and experience a sense of euphoria. The treatment also promotes lymphatic drainage, which is how the body rids itself of toxins.

“It helps to speed up what the body normally would do,” says Francis, adding that it works the same on cats as on dogs.

“I just don’t have as many feline patients as canine patients,” Francis says. “I think the reason is that by their nature, cats are better at disguising when they are in pain, so you don’t realize they are suffering from arthritis or having trouble getting around

until they start doing things like maybe urinating outside the litter box or becoming more aggressive or not eating.”

Spark gap electrohydraulic shock wave therapy works differently but can be used for some of the same conditions — but on dogs only, says Dr. John Mauterer, a veterinarian at Veterinary Specialists of Greater New Orleans (1937 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 504-510-3300; www. gnovetspecialists.com), which also offers laser therapy.

Application involves using a fluid-filled plastic probe or wand.

The handle triggers a spark that produces an energy wave that moves through the water and out of the wand to stimulate blood vessels, the lymphatic system, bone healing and remodeling, cell growth and circulation.

“It seems to dull nerve endings for a while, too,” Mauterer says. “We get pain relief from it pretty quickly.”

Dogs normally only need one or two treatments and the results can last six months to a year before they need to be repeated.

“The down side,” he says, “is the dog has to be knocked out because (the treatment) doesn’t feel good.

But since it’s so quick, it can be just enough (anesthesia) to knock them out for five minutes.” The dog also must be shaved if it has a long coat because a conductive gel must be applied to the skin.

“It’s not a miracle cure,” he says, “but I’ve seen it do some remarkable things for some dogs,” especially those with arthritis or elbow, shoulder, spinal and lumbosacral pain, as well as agility issues.

Mauterer says shock wave is a therapy option that competes with results from laser therapy and acupuncture. “Some dogs it works on and some it doesn’t,” he says. “The benefits, as opposed to the laser, is it only needs one or two treatments.

It’s a little more expensive than laser therapy, but less than acupuncture.”

The therapy isn’t new. It’s been used to treat pain, osteoarthritis, hip and elbow dysplasia, tendon and ligament injuries and more in horses since 1999. Because it involves electrodes that fire very high and very fast charges, it cannot be used in an area with an organ, since it would shatter it, he says.

Veterinary Specialists of Greater New Orleans is one of only two area vets who offer the treatment, Mauterer says. The other is Natural Pet Care in Metairie.

G A M B I T ’ S PETS • S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

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