Cold Laser Therapy for Pets. What?

By Dr. Dawn Mehra
Reader Contributor

Cold laser is a noninvasive procedure that uses light to increase blood circulation. At a specific wavelength laser light stimulates cells to “do” things quicker than normal, like decrease pain and inflammation and speed up healing. Cold laser therapy treats the surface of the skin without burning it, while hot` laser treatments go deeper (and often burn or cut tissue).

Often called Class IV laser therapy, it’s been around for over 40 years, tested successfully on humans, and now about 20 percent of the nation’s companion animals are benefiting from the treatment. Therapy covers a wide variety of conditions: acute and chronic injuries, sprains, and strains, arthritis, ear, skin and back problems. Really, patients who suffer from any combination of pain, inflammation or slow healing wounds benefit from laser therapy. Interestingly through the release of endorphins, cold laser treatments also decrease stress.

Laser therapy appointments often provide a relaxing affect, perhaps the patients actually enjoy the treatment — laser emissions reduces stress by producing endorphins. At North Idaho Animal Hospital, we use a room large enough for the family to gather and often a mat/ blanket is provided for the patient to lie/stand on. A typical session lasts between three to 20 seconds. The appointments usually take between 15 to 20 minutes and are affordable. Freshly closed incisions often require a mere single treatment. Other laser applications for chronic conditions treat diseases like ear infections, skin bruising, back pain, arthritis and neurological problems. Some require multiple treatments, depending on the severity and chronicity (how long the disease has been around). We often base the number and interval of therapy sessions on how our patient responds.

Of course the symptomatic relief and healing response is primary, but laser therapy’s secondary effects are numerous and include medication reduction. Besides the stress relief, the treatments themselves are pain free. It’s not really alternative therapy, instead we consider it a type of integrative approach.

Cold laser therapy can “beam up” our patients to a higher quality of life, as well as the life of their surrounding family!

Dr. Dawn Mehra is a veterinarian at North Idaho Animal Hospital. Contact her at Drdawn@idahovet.com.