Rudy is a 12-year-old husky and long-time patient of the MSU Veterinary Medical Center. Over the years, Rudy has been a patient of many Hospital services, including Orthopedic Surgery, Neurology, Internal Medicine, and Emergency and Critical Care.

These days, Rudy makes his regular rounds with the Rehabilitation Service. Rudy receives treatments three days a week at the Dr. Elwood and Linda Collins Rehab Center to manage his progressive disc disease, which has caused him to lose muscle mass in his hind legs. Each morning, Rudy starts off slowly, usually with a gentle massage to warm up his muscles for the day. 

Next, it’s time for some exercises. Rudy gets his workout using the clinic’s new full-quad cart. To prepare for the cart, the team moves Rudy’s hind feet in a walking pattern to improve the range of motion in his joints. This is called gait patterning and it provides neurologic stimulation for Rudy.  

Then it’s time to get moving. Rudy is able to walk in the cart over smooth surfaces by himself. If the weather is nice, he can go outside and walk through the grass with the help of his team. Using the cart enables Rudy to exercise, but it means a lot of extra work for his front legs. To help balance this, the Rehab team gives Rudy a deep massage on his front legs.

After a nap, it’s time for either acupuncture or therapeutic laser. The laser provides pain relief and combats soreness, especially to Rudy’s spine and front limbs. If it isn’t a laser day, Rudy receives acupuncture for neurologic stimulation and pain control. The acupuncture Rudy receives is electroacupuncture, which means that low electric pulses are sent through the needles to provide extra stimulation for Rudy’s muscles.

Working with the MSU Veterinary Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Service is great for Rudy from the inside out. His body is able to better manage his condition and his spirits are kept high.