You hate that your pet needs a procedure that will leave them hurting. Laser therapy is a drug-free, non-invasive treatment method that can help reduce your pet’s pain. Laser therapy, which uses light to penetrate the skin and tissue to open up blood flow and help accelerate the body’s natural healing process, can be used to relieve a wide variety of conditions. Our Milford Animal Hospital team answers your most frequently asked questions about this innovative tool and its powerful benefits for your pet. 

What is laser therapy for pets?

Laser therapy is used to stimulate the natural healing process so your pet recovers more quickly from an injury, planned surgery, or general health condition. The laser emits light energy deep into the tissue, the light is absorbed, and photothermal and photochemical reactions stimulate cell repair and increase blood circulation. The light wavelengths encourage the cells to repair themselves more quickly, and provide many therapeutic effects, including:

  • Wound healing
  • Reduced scar tissue formation
  • Improved nerve function and regeneration
  • Faster healing of surgical incisions
  • Reduced inflammation
  • Improved circulation

What are laser therapy benefits for pets?

Therapeutic laser is used to treat a myriad of conditions, and has no side effects, and therefore is an ideal therapy for use in conjunction with other treatment modalities. The most common laser therapy benefits include:

  • Pain relief — Therapeutic lasers can relieve your pet’s pain without drugs and offer an effective treatment alternative for aging pets suffering from chronic arthritis, hip dysplasia, or joint deterioration pain, and for pets who have a hard time metabolizing pain medication. Signs your pet may be in pain include:
    • Abnormal sitting or lying posture
    • Restlessness
    • Whining
    • Limping
    • Difficulty getting into the car or up and down stairs
    • Lack of grooming
    • Licking or biting a specific area
    • Lack of appetite
    • Trembling
  • Reduced inflammation — Therapeutic lasers increase blood flow to injured areas, which helps to remove toxins, clears the way for cell regeneration, and reduces inflammation. 

What pet conditions can be relieved with laser therapy?

Laser therapy can be used to aid in wound recovery, reduce pain and inflammation, and promote the healing of many body tissues, including skin, ears, gums, muscles, and tendons. The therapy alleviates a variety of acute and chronic conditions in pets, such as:

  • Acute and chronic ear infections
  • Degenerative joint disease
  • Dermatologic disorders
  • Fractures
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Periodontal disease
  • Sprains and strains

Is laser therapy safe for pets?

Therapy laser is a highly safe and effective treatment, and most pets find the experience relaxing. Some pets become so relaxed from the warmth of the laser and the pain relief that they fall asleep.

How long is a pet’s laser therapy session?

The length of a single laser therapy session depends on the power density of the laser unit. Sessions usually last 15 to 30 minutes, with the number and frequency dependent on the condition. The higher the laser’s power, the less time required to deliver the light energy into the tissues. During a session, a handheld laser wand is slowly moved back and forth over the damaged tissue, producing a warm, relaxing sensation for the pet.

How long does laser therapy take to improve a pet’s condition?

Laser therapy varies in time and complexity, with every treatment depending on the patient and their condition requiring treatment, whether their problem is acute or chronic, and the type of laser used. Most pets improve after the first few treatments. Laser therapy can also be safely used with other natural treatments, such as acupuncture and chiropractic treatment, or combined with pharmaceutical therapy. 

Our Milford Animal Hospital team is proud to offer our patients this state-of-the-art, therapeutic treatment modality that is non-invasive, pain-free, surgery-free, and drug-free, and accelerates your pet’s healing. If you would like to discuss a condition in your pet that may benefit from laser therapy, contact our team to schedule an appointment.