Laser Therapy to Reduce Pain and Speed Up Healing  

Laser therapy has become one of the fastest-growing veterinary treatments in the world. It is often recommended for dogs recovering from surgeries, as well as pets experiencing chronic inflammation or debilitating pain. Laser therapy is a type of non-invasive therapy that involves directing a special light at the affected skin or tissue to stimulate blood flow and accelerate the body’s natural healing process.

When Is Laser Therapy Used?

Canine laser therapy is a holistic treatment designed to relieve pain and speed up healing in dogs. During treatment, penetrating beams are directed at the affected area to alter cells and the surrounding tissue. This action stimulates the targeted cells and speeds up healing. The process is completely painless and can help older dogs, post-op dogs, and dogs living with chronic conditions like arthritis live the best life possible.

Laser therapy can be used to treat a wide range of acute and chronic health conditions, such as the following:

• Inflammation
• Arthritis
• Skin conditions and infections
• Burns and lacerations
• Sprains and strains
• Fractures
• Osteoarthrosis and hip dysplasia
• Tooth extraction and gingivitis pain
• Post-surgical pain
• Wound healing

Laser therapy can be particularly useful in situations where pets have limited medical treatment options. For example, when a geriatric pet has diminished organ function or when a pet with liver disease is unable to take oral medications.

What Type of Laser Is Used?

The term ‘laser therapy’ can be confusing as there is more than one type of laser used in the health industry. One type is a surgical laser that can safely cut through tissue and is often used as an alternative to surgical scalpels during modern surgeries. The other type is referred to as ‘cold laser therapy’ and is used to reduce inflammation and pain in patients.

Cold laser therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy, delivers a beam of light deep into the tissues without causing damage. Unlike a surgical laser, a cold laser beam does not generate heat in the tissues. Light is delivered through a hand-held probe placed directly over the treatment area. The most commonly used therapeutic lasers in veterinary medicine are Class III or Class IV.

How Often are Laser Treatments Performed?

The length of canine laser treatment is dependent on a number of variables, such as the condition being treated, the extent of the illness or injury, and the overall health of the dog. For chronic conditions like osteoarthritis, which can cause ongoing pain that slowly progresses, treatment usually involves three phases.

1. Induction Phase

During this initial phase, treatment is generally performed every other day until the dog begins to show clinical signs of improvement. On average, this can take about four weeks but can vary from two to eight weeks, depending on the pet. After pain and inflammation have been significantly reduced, the dog can transition to the next phase.

2. Transition Phase

The frequency of treatments is gradually reduced during the transition phase. Treatments will usually slow to three times a week, then to twice a week, and then weekly. This will usually occur over a four-to-12-week period.

3. Maintenance Phase

During the maintenance phase of laser therapy, treatment is repeated at a frequency that aims to maintain the improvement achieved during the induction and transition phases. This can vary from dog to dog but treatment is generally recommended every three to four weeks.

The length of each treatment session can vary depending on the treatment size and the overall size of the dog. For example, a larger dog may require 20 minutes of treatment to heal a moderately-sized area, while smaller dogs may only need 10 minutes. Large dogs that have multiple affected joints may require up to 45 minutes of treatment.

What are the Risks of Laser Therapy?

One of the best things about laser therapy is that there are virtually no risks. Laser therapy can be used on nearly any part of the body safely, apart from the eyes. To keep the eyes safe during treatment, your dog will wear goggles.

The frequency of light energy used during laser therapy does not pose a risk of burning your pet. However, it is important that this equipment is used properly by a professional to ensure a satisfactory outcome. Veterinary staff will wear protective goggles during treatment to keep themselves safe from permanent retinal damage.

What are the Benefits of Laser Therapy?

Many canines respond positively to laser therapy. This popular form of non-invasive light therapy can help with the following:

• Traumatic wound healing
• Surgical wound healing
• Immunoregulation
• Increasing the metabolism of certain tissues
• Improving nerve regeneration and function
• Speeding the healing of infections
• Reducing the formation of scar tissue
• Releasing of painful trigger points

Laser treatment is an effective way to provide pain relief to your furry friend. It can help reduce inflammation by opening up the blood vessels and activating the lymphatic drainage system.

Lasers can also stimulate nerve cells that prevent pain signals from traveling to the brain. Laser therapy can be a useful tool post-surgery and can be used directly on affected or injured areas. Speak with your vet about laser therapy to determine if your dog is a good candidate for this procedure.