Laser therapy for dogs: what is it and which conditions can it treat?

Laser therapy is commonly used in human medicine, but did you know it can be used for dogs too? In fact, over the past decade, laser therapy has been used to treat a myriad of health problems in dogs, and very effectively too.

Laser therapy in a nutshell

Laser therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, refers to the process of using light energy to target areas of the dog’s body at cellular level. The light source is non-thermal, meaning that it doesn’t generate any heat; when it is exposed to the relevant body part, it essentially causes the cells that are needed for recovery – or other forms of healing – to grow or work faster than normal. Laser therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment that ultimately aids the body to repair itself.

How it works

When a dog comes into a practice for laser treatment, the vet or veterinary nurse will apply the treatment using a handheld device. The process is quick, especially once the dog gets used to it, and does not cause the animal any pain. Depending on how severe the dog’s condition is, they will return on a weekly basis for repeated treatments. We might recommend laser therapy in conjunction with other treatments such as acupuncture, and hydrotherapy.

Which conditions can laser therapy treat?

Laser therapy is most commonly used to treat pain, musculoskeletal problems and wounds. By increasing the growth of healing cells, it can aid recovery from conditions like:

• Surgical and traumatic wounds
• Muscle or ligament pain
• Back pain
• Arthritis
• Gingivitis or dental pain

Dogs will likely benefit from laser therapy more as they get older and become more prone to conditions like arthritis or other joint/muscle issues.

Risks: are there any dangers of laser therapy?

As laser therapy is designed to encourage cellular growth, it should not be used in cases where it could increase the growth of harmful cells, such as on tumours or other cellular mutations. Likewise, laser therapy should not be used to treat pregnant bitches. The vet or veterinary nurse and pet must wear protective goggles during a laser therapy session; if not, their eyesight can be put at severe risk.

What if my pet is on medication?

Laser therapy is a safe procedure that may be used in conjunction with conventional medicine and other therapies. In some cases, laser therapy can help to minimise the requirement for other medications. This can be especially useful if medications are producing undesirable side effects.

How long will laser therapy take?

Each session with will typically last between 15-30 minutes, depending on the size and depth of the area being treated. Improvement may be seen after the first visit, however, for most conditions, particularly those involving musculoskeletal areas, we recommend our 6-session treatment plan.

If you have further concerns or queries about laser therapy or wish to find out how it could benefit your dog, then please give us a call.