Enhanced Healing & Pain Relief With Veterinary Cold Laser Therapy
Cold laser therapy uses low-intensity lasers to help relieve pain, stimulate and enhance cell function, and improve healing. This non-invasive treatment can be used on its own or in conjunction with other medical care as part of a multi-modal plan addressing a variety of symptoms and issues simultaneously.
During the procedure, your veterinarian will move a handheld wand slowly over any damaged tissue. Along with benefits like tissue repair and wound healing, the light emitted by the wand will create a warming effect on the skin during the procedure. The frequency and required number of visits for this therapy will depend on various factors like the condition(s) affecting your pet and their severity.
Several conditions have been shown to improve with the use of laser therapy, including muscle and joint pain, arthritis symptoms, and muscle spasms.
Uses for Laser Therapy
Veterinary laser therapy has many different applications and can be particularly helpful when used in conjunction with other treatments and traditional medicines.
Laser therapy may help to encourage cell regeneration and increase circulation, benefiting the following conditions:
- Increases wound healing
- Reduces inflammation and associated pain
- Enhances the formation of new blood vessels
- Increases the flow of blood
- Reduces edema (swelling)
- Encourages bone healing
FAQs About Cold Laser Therapy
Read answers to our most frequently asked questions about cold laser therapy at Smith Veterinary Hospital.
- Are all therapeutic lasers the same?
Therapeutic lasers are not all the same. The two classes of therapeutic lasers in common use are class III and class IV. Class III therapeutic lasers are lower-powered and typically use shorter wavelengths.
Class IV therapeutic lasers are higher powered and use longer wavelengths. Different powered lasers will take different amounts of time to deliver the treatment dose of light energy.
A higher-power laser translates to a shorter treatment time overall.
- Does my pet have to be shaved to receive a therapeutic laser treatment?
Therapeutic lasers do not require shaving the hair over the area to be treated.
- How long does a therapeutic laser treatment session last?
The length of a therapeutic laser treatment depends on the total dose of light energy to be delivered and how quickly the laser can deliver that energy.
For instance, a class III laser might require treatment lasting 20 minutes or more, while a class IV laser might only require a few minutes.