Is Laser Therapy Right for Your Pet?

Is Laser Therapy Right for your Pet?

               Lasers tend to conjure thoughts of futuristic images and Sci-Fi movies.  But in reality, lasers are being used every day in both human and veterinary medicine, and have been since the 1960’s.  Did you know, Patton Veterinary Hospital offers therapeutic laser sessions? But what is laser therapy and who might benefit from it? 

               LASER is actually an acronym meaning “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.”  There are surgical lasers that cut and cauterize tissue but there are also “cold” lasers that do not emit heat. Cold lasers instead use specific wavelengths of light to activate a cellular “fuel” called ATP within cells. By increasing cellular ATP, normal cell function is enhanced, tissues receive increased blood flow, inflammation is reduced and cellular repair and healing is improved.  Lasers are used to reduce swelling and bruising, to provide pain relief and to stimulate tissue repair and regeneration. The only contraindications are that laser treatments should not be used directly in the eye, should not be used on joints that have been injected with medication for at least 7 days post-injection and should not be used directly on tumors though no research has shown any indication that lasers are a direct danger to cancer patients.

               So, what conditions benefit from laser therapy? Lasers can be used to treat painful conditions such as arthritis, fractures and back pain, skin conditions such as hot spots and ear infections, and they can be used to promote wound healing, to increase healing time of post-surgical incisions, and to reduce inflammation in internal organs such as the bladder or pancreas.  Laser treatments are safe and non-invasive and laser therapy does not cause any discomfort during treatment.

               For pets with arthritis who cannot take traditional pain relievers which are usually aspirin-like drugs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) due to liver or kidney disease or other health issues or for which medications alone do not provide enough relief, laser therapy can be highly effective in reducing pain and improving mobility.  Cats and pocket pets or exotics are especially good candidates for laser therapy since drug choices are often limited in these species. Laser therapy can also be used in conjunction with traditional medical therapies to improve pain control. We have had several patients with severe arthritis who have shown marked improvement after receiving laser therapy.

               How many treatments does a pet need, how long does a session take, and how soon should we see a positive effect?  The effects of laser treatments are cumulative and they are typically administered daily to every other day for acute conditions such as for a wound and usually weekly for chronic conditions. A typical schedule for treating arthritis is a 3-2-1 protocol: the patient receives three treatments the first week, two the second, then one session per week until the condition is resolved or as long-term maintenance. Depending on the number of areas being treated, a session may only take a few minutes but some sessions last 15-30 minutes if multiple joints or areas are being treated. Approximately 90% of patients should see improvement within the first three to four treatments. As with any therapy, individual responses may vary. If your pet does not seem to respond after four treatments, re-evaluation of his or her condition is warranted.

               Laser therapy may also help to speed wound healing in large or infected wounds and may also improve surgical wound healing.   We offer laser therapy treatment to all surgical patients except those undergoing tumor removal.  Laser therapy has been shown to reduce pain and inflammation and improve blood flow to wounds and incisions.  Patton Veterinary Hospital is proud to offer this as an additional or alternative therapy to our patients for a variety of conditions.

               This blog brough to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.