"I am a small ruminant practitioner, specializing in camelids. I never thought I could use Shock Wave Therapy with camelids. Unlike horses and dogs, camelids are not handled much nor in the same way. Based on use with horses, I had several cases that I thought would respond to KEPE therapy. The noise, which is minimal, was accepted very well by animals that normally startle at any loud noise. Camelids, particularly alpacas, in general do not like to be touched or manipulated in any way. They tolerated the touch and sound of the KEPE much better than anticipated. One particular alpaca that had bilateral patellar luxation normally cushed (laid down) when examined previously. This is pretty typical behavior for him and many camelids when they object to an interaction. He also vocalized and acted in a typical annoyed “squirrely” alpaca way during earlier exams. I was “blown away” by how well he stood and allowed the KEPE treatment. During another treatment, this time on an alpaca that had chronic scar tissue from a surgery when he was younger, the alpaca actually extended his leg during the process to allow better access to the target area. Normally he would resent the leg being extended. After the KEPE treatment, I observed that he walked back to his stall without any lameness. On a more fractious alpaca I anticipated the need to use sedation. But once acclimated to the minimal sound and touch, accepted the KEPE much better than expected with no sedation. All the restraint that was used for any KEPE treatment was a holder at their head and sometimes another person at their hip. This is the only restraint that is needed for most procedures I perform. I have worked with camelids for 20 years and never had a therapeutic device that made noise be so readily accepted. I have scheduled follow-up sessions for these alpacas for treatment with the KEPE. ”

Pamela G. Walker, DVM, MS, DACVIM-LA, Camelid Care Veterinary Services, Ohio