Is Cold Laser Therapy Right for Your Pet?

We at Animal Doctors are proud to offer cold laser therapy to our patients! Our therapy laser can be used to manage pain and speed healing in a wide variety of situations. You may have heard of laser therapy before. There are studies going back almost 40 years documenting the positive effect laser light has on different types of cells, tissues, and disorders. However, only recently have advances in technology and manufacturing allowed this technology to come to veterinary clinics. We decided to integrate laser therapy into our practice because of the potential to help a large number of our patients heal faster and experience less pain. I hope this article can answer your questions and let you know if laser therapy could benefit your pet.

What conditions is laser therapy recommended for?

Laser therapy can aid in a wide range of situations. It can speed healing after surgery, help clear up skin conditions, and relieve pain from arthritis, to name a few. Many conditions that involve any type of pain or inflammation would benefit from laser therapy. Some of these could include ear infections, hip dysplasia, fractures, allergies, hot spots, periodontal disease, and wounds.

How does it work?

The cold therapy laser system uses a powerful class-4 laser to send photons deep into tissue without damaging it. The photons are absorbed into the cells, inducing a chemical change, and inspiring the production of ATP in the cells. ATP is the energy cells need to repair themselves. Impaired or injured cells make ATP at a decreased rate- slowing the healing process. Increased ATP production leads to healthier cells, healthier tissue, and healthier animals. The treatment also increases blood flow to the area- which speeds the healing process and reduces painful inflammation.

What’s involved with treating my pet?

Laser treatment is not painful or stressful. The laser light is delivered through a non-invasive handpiece to treat the affected area. Your pet with feel a gentle and soothing warmth. As the treatment progresses most pets relax, much like we do during a massage. The almost immediate relief of pain should allow your pet to relax comfortably and let go of anxiety. Also, you can be with your pet throughout the entire treatment if you so choose. The amount of time each treatment takes depends on the depth and size of the area being treated, and if we are treating multiple areas.

Some conditions only require one or two treatments. Chronic conditions, such as arthritis, require multiple treatments to get the best results. Most pet parents will see a noticeable improvement in their pet after three to four treatments, and significant improvement after six to eight treatments. After the pet has reached the desired comfort level, they are usually put on a maintenance schedule. Pets on a maintenance schedule receive treatments much less frequently, such as once weekly or monthly.

We hope that if you have a dog or cat that could benefit from laser therapy you’ll give us a call. We are excited to have this tool to help us meet our goal of helping your pets feel their best! If you want to see how much laser therapy can improve quality of life give us a call for more
information.