Laser Therapy for Pets
If the word “laser” brings to mind images of Star Trek, light sabers, and the movie Independence Day, Volunteer Veterinary Hospital is about to change your world. Just as in human medicine, lasers are being used with increasing frequency in veterinary medicine, too; and we are happy to be able to help our pet patients with our state-of-the-art K-Laser.
So, what is laser therapy for pets and what exactly does it do? Look no further for the answers…
Veterinary Laser Therapy
Laser therapy, often known as cold laser treatment, refers to the use of a laser unit to exert positive effects on a targeted area. Light energy in the form of photons is focused on the selected tissue, which then acts on individual cells in the area to influence positive changes to the tissue.
Laser light was recognized to have desirable effects about 40 years ago. Since that discovery, studies have been done showing the power of laser energy to treat and manage a variety of conditions.
While it has been used for quite a while in human medicine, laser therapy has recently become more accessible and is being used more and more to treat pet patients.
The Benefits of Laser Therapy for Pets
The photons focused on an area during laser therapy have been shown to have a variety of good effects on the cells in the area. Some of these include increased speed of healing, decreased swelling, decreased pain, and decreased infection.
These effects make laser therapy a very valuable adjunctive treatment for a wide variety of pet problems including:
- After surgery
- Arthritis or degenerative joint disease
- Soft tissue injuries
- Orthopedic problems like fractures
- Ear or skin infections
- Wound management
- Dental disease
How Laser Therapy is Performed
One of the best parts about laser therapy is how easy it is for us to perform, and your pet to experience. During a therapy session a hand-held probe is used to direct the light energy to the area of interest. Treatment sessions are often just a few minutes depending on the size and location of the areas being treated.
Because laser therapy does not hurt or make any noises, most pets tolerate treatment without sedation or heavy restraint. In fact, most animals appear to enjoy the process and the attention they receive during the treatment. Many pets will have noticeable results immediately after their treatment. Laser therapy is extremely safe and carries no known side effects.
Laser therapy is a great option for many of our pet patients and can be used as part of a multi-faceted plan to manage and treat many conditions. If you are interested in learning more about laser therapy for pets, please let us know. We are happy to help evaluate your pet’s condition and whether or not laser therapy is a good option for your pet.