Country Valley Veterinary Clinic has expanded our services to include laser therapy for your pet. Laser therapy is a pain-free, surgery-free, drug-free, noninvasive modality that can alleviate a variety of conditions, improve healing time, reduce pain and inflammation, and increase circulation. Laser therapy can be an alternative treatment for pets who can’t take medications, and is a helpful adjunct to traditional medicine or surgery.

What is laser therapy for pets?

The term “laser” is an abbreviation for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.” Therapeutic laser is the application of light energy to body areas to stimulate healing, whereas a surgical laser is designed to cut tissues. Laser light emission—a single wavelength, with photons that travel in the same phase and direction—is unique. The wavelength influences the therapeutic laser’s biological effects and determines the depth of penetration into body tissues. A laser focuses the power of photons to a restricted area, leaving nearby tissues unaffected. Physiologic activities are triggered when cellular molecules, such as hemoglobin, proteins, and amino acids, become activated by absorbing light photons. This mechanism is known as photobiomodulation, and initiates the orchestration of tissue healing and repair. 

How can laser therapy benefit my pet’s health?

We have added laser therapy to our Country Valley Veterinary Clinic services because it can provide a wide range of health-enhancing benefits for your pet, including:  

  • Reduced pain, inflammation, and swelling
  • Faster wound healing and reduced scar formation
  • Muscle relaxation
  • Improved nerve function and regeneration
  • Stimulation of endorphin release, blood flow, and immune-regulating cells

What specific conditions in my pet can laser therapy help?

If your pet is suffering from any of the following, adding laser therapy can be beneficial:

  • Acute conditions — Trauma such as abscesses, burns, and snake and spider bites can pop up suddenly, but can be resolved quickly with laser therapy. Laser therapy can also enhance healing of bacterial and viral infections.
  • Chronic conditions — Regular laser therapy can improve arthritis, chronic pain, and urinary tract disorders.
  • Musculoskeletal conditions — Adding laser therapy to help repair damaged cells can significantly decrease inflammation and pain from soft-tissue damage, ligament injury, sprains, strains, and bone or muscle disorders.
  • Neurological conditions — Laser therapy can enhance nerve function and regeneration for intervertebral or cervical disc disease.
  • Surgical conditions — A standard treatment for many surgical procedures, laser therapy can improve incisional healing, post-operative pain, and swelling following surgery.
  • Skin conditions — Ear infections, hot spots, feline acne, lick granulomas, and pyoderma resolve more rapidly when laser therapy is used in conjunction with traditional medicine.
  • Dental conditions — Laser therapy can reduce pain and swelling following tooth extractions or other oral surgery procedures. Inflammation due to stomatitis, gingivitis, and feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions is also responsive to therapeutic laser treatment.
  • Medication restrictions — Laser therapy is a safe option that can be particularly useful for pets whose medication use is restricted because of diminished organ function or lack of species-approved products.

How many laser therapy treatments will my pet need?

For acute conditions, your pet may benefit from a single laser treatment, but may need a series of treatments during the first week or two of the healing process. Long-standing conditions may require multiple visits, but once your pet is comfortable, and depending on their condition and therapy response, we may suggest periodic “tune-up” laser treatments to ensure continued comfort.

What happens during my pet’s laser therapy session?

Laser therapy is a pain-free and comfortable experience for our patients. Your pet does not need to be shaved for a treatment, and the laser probe is directed on specific body areas for short durations, with a typical session lasting 15 to 20 minutes. Your pet will feel a gentle and soothing warmth, or a tingling sensation from the laser probe, and may start to relax as pain and inflammation decreases. Protective goggles are worn during a laser session to avoid eye damage.

Is laser therapy safe for my pet?

The beauty of laser therapy is the minimal negative side effects and many positive benefits. Laser therapy is not recommended for actively bleeding areas, testicles, cancerous tumors, bone growth plates, and during pregnancy.

If you believe your pet could benefit from laser therapy, contact the Country Valley Veterinary Clinic team to schedule an appointment and discuss treatment options.