Arthritis on Penguin Treated with Laser Therapy
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Applications of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in an Aquarium Setting Including Treating Head and Lateral Line Erosions (HLLE)
IAAAM 2012
Donald W. Stremme Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
A chronically limping African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) had been limping for several months. The penguin was doing best on a combination of Metacam® (Boehringer Ingelhiem), omega-3 and tramadol, but still had a major limp. She was presented to the university for CT scanning and repeat x-ray. The radiologist diagnosis was degenerative joint disease of the stifle.
Dr. Stremme started treatment at a cautious low energy level and saw no change. The Joules (J) and size of area treated were then increased. After just two weeks (and 4 treatments) at this higher energy, she was walking almost normally. She was soon on a maintenance treatment schedule of about once a month. Treatment plan included weaning of the medications, first tramadol, then omega-3, then Metacam®. Even as these were removed there was no limping. She has been maintained on laser treatments about once a month and no medications. If treatment is delayed, the limping returns.