No one wants their pets to be in pain, but many veterinary treatment options are invasive, expensive, and require recovery time post-treatment. Veterinary laser therapy is a technician-driven treatment that provides real results for painful, hard-to-treat-conditions. Laser treatments are non-invasive, drug and surgery-free, and take 10 minutes or less. The best part? You get to watch your pet’s pain melt away in real-time.
What is veterinary laser therapy?
Laser therapy, or Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, emits light energy to the target tissue, resulting in decreased inflammation and pain—and accelerated healing. This doctor-prescribed, technician-driven treatment method can be effective for a wide variety of conditions. Veterinary laser therapy can be used for dogs, cats, horses, and other species.
How does it work?
Laser therapy stimulates cellular activity in your pet, encouraging and speeding up the healing process. After treatment, the increased cellular activity can reduce inflammation for up to 24 hours afterward. Keep in mind that, since each pet and condition is unique, results are dependent on the individual.
What conditions can be treated with veterinary laser therapy?
Laser therapy can effectively reduce pain and inflammation associated with a variety of acute and chronic conditions in pets, including:
- Acute and chronic ear infections
- Degenerative joint disease
- Dental procedures
- Dermatologic disorders
- Fractures
- Hip dysplasia
- Infections
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Periodontal disease
- Sprains and strains
What are laser therapy treatments like for my pet?
As your vet or tech moves the handheld laser tool across the affected area, your pet will feel a warm sensation. It’s instantaneously pain-relieving and soothing, so many pets display relaxed body language. The treatment is over in less than 10 minutes, and you can stay by your pet’s side for the duration of the session. Fortunately, laser therapy does not cause any adverse side effects for pets.
Proven results
Veterinary laser therapy has been used for the last 40 years or so. A study published in Lasers in Medical Science observed that low-level laser treatments (LLLT) were effective in protecting and tissue cleansing joint structures in rats—thereby accelerating tissue repair, especially at lower doses. Another study, published in The Journal of Small Animal Practice, found that low-level laser therapy, in combination with surgery, decreased the time to ambulation in dogs with T3-L3 myelopathy secondary to intervertebral disk herniation.
Laser therapy at Live Oak Animal Hospital
Live Oak Animal Hospital now offers laser therapy for your pets at both our 98th & Slide and 113th & Indiana locations. Our state-of-the-art lasers are manufactured by Companion Animal Health. The laser, called the CTS-DUO, is powered by up to 25 watts of energy for photobiomodulation treatments. The CTS-DUO also features the Empower-IQ and the new XL Deep Tissue Applicator, so our vets are able to effectively treat chronic conditions with painless, non-invasive therapy.
At Live Oak, we pride ourselves on providing the best possible veterinary care for your pets. In addition to providing excellent medical care, we strive to offer unmatched customer service. We’re proud to add veterinary laser therapy technology to our treatment repertoire—feel free to contact us with any questions.
