Sports Medicine specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating injuries related to participating in sports and/or activities. Its function is not only curative and rehabilitative, but most importantly, preventative. At VOSM, we believe both medical expertise and sport-specific knowledge are necessary to manage and treat issues unique to the canine athlete or working dog. Our team consists of specialty veterinarians, surgeons, rehabilitation therapists and a sports trainer and this unique combination allows us to help canine athletes and working dogs from identification of injury to treatment, recovery, re-training and conditioning.

Orthopedic Consultation: Our specialists focus on injuries that arise in the skeleton and its attachments, the muscles, ligaments and tendons. A thorough examination and state-of-the-art diagnostics are utilized to identify illness/injury. If surgical intervention is necessary, feel confident in knowing our board-certified surgeons have the skill and experience to successfully treat your canine athlete or working dog.

Rehabilitation Therapy: Our therapists offer a variety of services to assist with recovery from injury or surgery as well as maintenance of the canine athlete or working dog. Our focus is to relieve pain, retain movement, restore function, and promote health and wellness.

Working and Performance Dog Consultation: Dr. Zink, Veterinary Sports Trainer and VOSM's Sports Medicine Consultant, evaluates canine structure and locomotion and can design individualized re-training programs following injury or recovery from surgery as well as conditioning programs for canine athletes and working dogs.

Gait Analysis: Gait analysis is the study of animal locomotion and is used to help athletes move more efficiently and to identify movement related problems. The study encompasses quantification and analysis of measurable parameters of gaits. Our state-of-the-art system helps our team in identification of movement related issues/injury and evaluation of progress through rehabilitation and re-training following injury or surgery.

Orthopedic Conditions Most Diagnosed in the Canine Athlete and Working Dog:

Shoulder Conditions:

Medial Shoulder Instability (MSI) - Also known as Rotator Cuff Injury

Bicipital tenosynovitis

Supraspinatus tendinopathy

Infraspinatus contracture

Teres major/minor strains

Elbow Conditions:

Traumatic fragmented medial coronoid process (jump down syndrome)

Carpal and Tarsal Injury:

Carpal and Tarsal sprains, luxations, and fractures

Carpal hyperextension injury

Hind Limb Strains and Sprains:

Iliopsoas strains

Gracilis contracture/myopathy

Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injury (Part 1); (Part 2)

Achilles tendon injury

Tarsal injury