LASER THERAPY

A small brown dog lying on a white fluffy surface wearing black goggles for laser therapy, with a person adjusting the sunglasses' strap.

COLD LASER

Laser therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation therapy (PBM), is a non-invasive treatment modality that uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate healing and reduce pain and inflammation. This is not the same as red-light therapy. In animals, laser therapy can be used to treat a variety of conditions by promoting tissue repair and reducing discomfort.

Laser therapy helps tissue repair by causing the following:

  • Endorphin release

  • Vasodilation, which increases blood flow to bring in oxygen and cells involved in the healing process

  • Muscle relaxation

  • Decreased inflammation

  • Faster healing and repair

A gray tabby cat with goggles lying on a white fluffy rug while receiving veterinary care. Someone is holding the cat's paw, and a laser device is positioned over the cat's body.

The main clinical benefits of laser use in pets include decreased inflammation, decreased pain, and improved wound healing.

The effects of LLLT are not thermal but photochemical reactions in cells, termed photobioactivation. LLLT produces its physiological and therapeutic effects by applying enough energy to disturb local electron orbits, initiate chemical change, disrupt molecular bonds and produce free radicals at the cell membrane to control the inflammatory response, promote healing and pain relief.

Dr. Ksenia uses the PTX Companion Therapy Laser (Class IV) and the MultiRadiance ActiVet(Class I). She can also rent lasers to you for home use depending on the case.

“Because class IV lasers have a higher output power, there are some additional safety considerations that should be followed when using a class IV laser. Eye safety is the most important consideration and the laser light should not be directed into an eye. The practitioner and patient should wear approved safety glasses for further protection from inadvertent beam reflections. It is important to note that the Companion lasers not only have higher power, but a larger beam area. This makes them more capable of delivering a therapeutic dose to larger treatment areas.”

“With 50 W of Super Pulsed Laser power, the MR5 ACTIVet PRO provides more power and faster treatment times without raising skin temperature, making it the safest high powered laser on the market. The blue LED light accelerates wound repair and reduces bacteria in wounds, providing your pet with a safe, fast and drug-free recovery.”

Studies on efficacy:

A vet wearing protective eyewear and dark blue shirt is examining a brown and white dog while holding a laser therapy device on the dog's back. The dog is lying on a fluffy white blanket on a table.
A smiling vet with brown hair and laser protective sunglasses holding a brindle French Bulldog with doggles. They are sitting on a bed with cream-colored bedding in a room with light-colored walls and hardwood floors.
A person's hand operating a laser therapy device labeled 'Pegasus' with a digital control panel, set on a black carrying case, in a room with a wooden floor.