Could Miracle Medicine Save Your Best Friend's Life?

At a time when many Americans are struggling to get basic health care, some privileged pets are getting gold-plated care - and surviving life-threatening medical problems. Bailey the cockpoo is one. Read on to hear his story, along with those of other lucky animals.

Puppy Pacemaker

This cockapoo is wired - literally. Bailey was nine when vets diagnosed heart blockage, a problem that slowed her heart rate and made her extremely lethargic. But the docs gave Bailey a pacemaker, and she's now as energetic as a pup.

Acupuncture

Matt Damon and Madonna are said to be fans of acupuncture. Yet there are plenty of dogs who benefit from the ancient Chinese healing art. This pup got acupuncture for pain relief at the Animal Medical Center in New York City.

Acupressure

Acupressure exploits the same "pressure points" as acupuncture, only without the needles. Here's a patient who seems pleased with the pain relief.

Ultrasound

What looks a bit like a hotdog in a bright blue bun is actually a pooch undergoing ultrasound - to see if there's something amiss inside his belly.

Chemotherapy

For cancer patients, chemotherapy can be life-saving - and that goes for pets as well as humans. Chemo saved Peanut, a bulldog with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. In this photo, Peanut gets a check-up at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Hydrotherapy

This little dog makes hydrotherapy look like fun. Vets say the therapy is particularly beneficial to canines just coming out of surgery, as well as elderly dogs.

Glory's Skin Cancer

Glory was unlucky to develop skin cancer - but fortunate that oncologists are working to save one of her nine lives. In this photo, Dr. Kai-Biu Shiu of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine measures the size of her tumor with a caliper.

Underwater Treadmill

You might think underwater treadmills would be reserved for top athletes, like baseball star Joe Mauer (who has one in his Minnesota home). But a few privileged pups use them too, including this yellow lab. The treadmills make physical rehabilitation more comfortable by relieving pressure on aching joints.

A New Shell

Think extreme plastic surgery is just for Hollywood stars? Think again. Ciyalana the tortoise was sunning herself in a New York City garden when teens attacked her with a rock and crushed her shell. She survived - but only because local vets painstakingly rebuilt her shell. Ciyalana has since retired to Florida. Can you blame her?

Dialysis for Kidney Trouble

Patients with kidney failure often need dialysis. And dogs as well as humans sometimes get the life-saving treatment. In humans, kidney failure is often a consequence of diabetes. Dogs often suffer kidney damage when they eat something poisonous.

9/11 Heroes

Many of the rescue workers who showed up at ground zero on 9/11 and in the weeks that followed came down with respiratory ailments and other health problems. That went for rescue dogs as well as humans. New York City's Animal Medical Center treated the dogs for smoke inhalation, eye problems and breathing difficulties.

Shockwave Therapy

Elite tennis players sometimes get shockwave therapy for painful musculoskeletal injuries. So do some dogs.

Electrical Stimulation

Serious runners sometimes use electronic muscle stimulation to ease painful cramps. Some dogs get their muscles stimulated too. Talk about lucky dogs!

Laser Therapy

Doctors say low-level laser therapy, or LLLT, is useful in relieving arthritis, neck pain, and other joint problems. It's mostly elite athletes who are on the receiving end of LLLT, but this lucky dog is probably well-deserving.

Reiki

Nicole Kidman is among the Hollywood glitterati who swear by Reiki, a Japanese method of stress reduction based on the "life force." This tiny Reiki recipient may or may not buy into the theory behind the TLC he's receiving, but he certainly looks relaxed.

Eye Surgery

Dogs might not wear glasses, but some - including this Doberman - get surgery for eye conditions like glaucoma and cataracts.

Root Canals and Bonding

Bonding for Bowser? Absolutely. Dogs get many of the same dental treatments humans get, including root canals, gum surgery, and, yes, tooth bonding to fix enamel problems. This patient is having his teeth examined by Dr. Daniel Carmichael, a veterinary dentist in New York City.

Kidney Transplants

Transplant surgery for pets? It's happening. Dr. Jon McAnulty (shown here) of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine has performed 90 so far. Cats seem to fare better than dogs. And the rule is that the owner of the cat that gets the new kidney has to make sure the donor cat is properly cared for.