In spite of what you may be thinking, laser therapy for pets is not some made up thing out of Star Wars or Doctor Who. Instead, veterinary laser therapy is quickly becoming recognized as a fast and effective choice for healing, wound care and pain management for of a wide variety of acute and chronic conditions in our pets.
Laser Therapy 101
While the word “laser” may bring certain images to mind, laser therapy is really not so scary. The basis of this technology is the delivery of light energy in little packets called “photons” to selected tissues. The photons are able to elicit changes to the tissue on a cellular level. Some of these changes include increased blood flow to the area, dilation of lymphatic vessels, decreased delivery of pain messages from the nerves, and the discouragement of bacterial growth. This results in faster healing, decreased swelling, decreased pain, and control of infection.
During a treatment, the photons are delivered to a certain area using a handheld probe. This does not hurt, and quite a few pets even seem to enjoy the warm tingling sensation felt in the treated area. Most treatments take only a few minutes, although some conditions may require a series of treatments, if the approach is to be effective.
How Laser Therapy for Pets Can Help
So what types of conditions are we able to treat using laser therapy? Pretty much anything that causes pain, inflammation, or needs healing. Some of the more common applications include:
- Arthritis
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Post-surgical healing and pain relief
- Skin conditions
- Ear infections
- Wound healing
Many times, laser therapy is a great tool to use in conjunction with other therapies, such as physical therapy, acupuncture, or pharmaceuticals. If you think your pet might benefit from laser therapy, or if you have any further questions, be sure to give us a call. We are happy to set up a consultation to develop a treatment plan for your individual pet’s needs.