While still a relatively new treatment modality, laser therapy is becoming increasingly popular for various conditions in people and pets because it is noninvasive. Our Dove Mountain Veterinary team is pleased to offer laser therapy for pets. You may be wondering, however, what are lasers and how do they address pain and disease? We’re answering your questions surrounding this innovative technology. (Psssst! You don’t have to be a physicist to learn how it works.😉)

What is a laser and what type is used in pets?

Lasers are everywhere. From the grocery store checkout to pointing devices and some games, you commonly encounter lasers in everyday life. Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (laser) is a light form that emits a single, specific wavelength that is concentrated and collimated to produce a beam, allowing it to penetrate an object. During this veterinary medicine treatment modality, a laser beam penetrates your pet’s body at a specific point, producing helpful photochemical and photothermal effects when absorbed into the tissue. 

How can laser therapy help my pet?

When a therapeutic laser penetrates the skin and underlying muscle or joint, the light’s photons are absorbed, producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which are tiny energy molecules. When ATP production increases, energy and cell regeneration/growth also increase, promoting healing and decreasing inflammation. Because laser penetration’s effects are broadly beneficial across many superficial tissues, laser is considered an excellent adjunctive therapy for many pet ailments. 

Is my pet a good candidate for laser therapy?

Therapeutic lasers are extremely beneficial to joint and muscle conditions. Some common chronic problems, such as osteoarthritis, hip or elbow dysplasia, and intervertebral disk disease (IVDD), benefit from laser’s healing effects. Even acute tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries respond well to laser therapy as part of the treatment plan. In addition, because the first layer a laser penetrates is the skin, issues, such as allergic skin disease, lick granulomas, and wounds, are excellent reasons to consider cold laser therapy as part of a multimodal treatment approach. Ask a member of our veterinary team if laser therapy is right for your pet. 

What pets are not good candidates for laser therapy?

Because of this treatment modality’s excitatory effects, laser therapy encourages cell regeneration and growth. Therefore, patients with cancer or tumors should not receive this treatment, as it could potentially cause tumors to grow and cancer cells to spread. 

What is involved in a pet’s laser treatment?

Because our Dove Mountain Veterinary team offers laser therapy for your furry family member, you don’t have to travel far or hassle with a referral for your pet to experience laser’s healing benefits. A session is usually quick, around 15 minutes, and is most importantly a pain-free experience for your pet. While low-level lasers such as ours are generally very safe, they can cause harm if they make direct contact with the eye. Therefore, we require staff, patients, and others attending the session to don special glasses for their protection. Depending on the severity and chronicity of your pet’s condition, results may be evident after just a session or two, or the condition may improve gradually, over several weeks. More than likely, our veterinary team will recommend laser therapy as part of a multimodal plan along with medications, surgery, chiropractic care, acupuncture, or other integrative techniques. 

Where can I learn more about laser therapy in pets?

To learn more about the laser technology used in pets, check out this American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) write-up. For a more detailed explanation of photobiomodulation and veterinary laser therapy, see this journal article. You can also check out our team’s website to learn additional details about the specific laser we use for our patients. 

Our Dove Mountain Veterinary team is dedicated to helping pets become pain-free with the help of low-level laser therapy. Are you concerned your pet may be in pain? Or, are you looking for different options to address your pet’s diagnosis? We’re here for you. Contact us to schedule an appointment or to chat with our veterinary team.