TOPS Veterinary

TOPS Offers PiezoWave Therapy

PiezoWave Therapy (PWT) is an exciting treatment option for us here at TOPS. You may have heard of this therapy by other names, such as Acoustic Wave Therapy or Shockwave Therapy. Although PWT has been available for some time in the equine community, TOPS is one of the very few clinics in the midwest that have it available for small animal use, and perhaps the one that uses it the most extensively. PWT has been in use for years in human medicine for a number of conditions, and is used, amongst other places, at Johns Hopkins University, a variety of professional and amateur athletic organizations, etc. Its' use with animals started first in the equine world, where this therapy, as mentioned, is in more widespread use.

Early iterations of this therapeutic option in other devices required the use of sedation as it was uncomfortable for the small animal patients. Because of the more refined approach of the PiezoVet implementation, there is no sedation required as it is quite comfortable for the patient, as you can see in the video.

PWT can be a very effective treatment option for:

- Acute and chronic muscle pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Tendonitis
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Chronic back pain
- Disorganized or delayed healing of fratures

Click here to watch a video of a patient's first PWT treatment to see how well tolerated the treatment is for the patient.

Questions? Your TOPS veterinarian can advise you if PWT is right for your pet's situation.

Where do TOPS clients come from?

Naturally, most of TOPS clients come from the greater Chicago area. You may be surprised, however, at the number of clients that seek our services from out of state. Here is a current map of the location of TOPS' US clients. Not included below is the fact that we also have had clients from outside the US, including both Canada and Bermuda.

Why choose "TOPS"?

TOPS Vet Rehab's doors opened in August 1998 at a time when veterinary rehabilitation was practically unheard of. Since that time, TOPS has become one of the world's more recognized names in veterinary rehabilitation. As a result, TOPS clients come from literally all over the country, and some from outside the country.

If you choose TOPS, your dog will be evaluated by a licensed veterinarian, trained in rehabilitation, veterinary acupuncture and animal chiropractic. As well, while some treatments are performed by our veterinarians, and some are performed by our Treatment Specialists, the treatment plan will be developed and overseen by the veterinarian. This is critical in the case of geriatric dogs, dogs with additional medical conditions, or simply for peace of mind.

If you are looking for a veterinary rehabilitation center, we welcome you to call and get a chance to learn more about our services that the types of treatment options that may be able to help your pet.

Thought of the Day

"The force of any idea originates in the essential needs, perceiver preferences, and unconscious expectations of the people it is intended to serve; an idea has no force of its own."

- Michael E. Gerber

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Featured Case - "Reikar" Claussen

Meet "Reikar" Claussen. Reikar is an 8 year old Rottweiler, who first came to TOPS 4 years ago for rehabilitation following a Femoral Head Osteotomy of the right hip, and then again 2 years ago to rehab from a partial ACL tear along with his chronic hip osteoarthritis. Reikar did well with his rehab, and those two issues were well controlled with maintenance therapy.

Unfortunately, in February of 2016, Reikar suffered an acute injury.....

Click here to see the case study.

"Without TOPS I do not feel that I would still have my pet with me today. They are miracle workers."

TOPS' Hydrotreadmill First in the World for Canine use

When TOPS built it's pool and installed the world's first hydro-treadmill used specifically for dogs, we were sure it would be a big part of our rehab treatments. We just didn't know how big. In fact, when we expanded our facility in 2002, we included two underwater treadmills to keep up with the demand, which have been used tens of thousands of times since the first one was installed. These treadmills have played an enormous part in the success of each of our Walk of Fame cases. Numerous other facilities around the country have bought or are in the process of buying a treadmill. We're glad to see that more and more dogs across the country will be able to benefit from this type of therapy.