Laser therapy uses photons of light at specific frequencies to complement pain management treatments. It is a non-invasive and drug-free treatment. In Safari veterinary care center, we recommend laser therapy for dogs as a common treatment for pain relief. Pain relief for dogs is achieved by laser penetration of the injured areas causing pain. The injured cells are stimulated for healing via photobiostimulation, which causes the release of endorphins.
Cold Laser Therapy
Cold laser therapy is another name for laser therapy. It also has other names such as class iv level therapy and low-level laser. The laser light stimulates photoreceptors in the cells to produce more energy; thus, increasing protein, DNA, and collagen production, causing rapid regeneration of cells and healing. The cold laser can be used to treat the skin surface, while hot lasers use longer wavelengths to penetrate deep regions of the body.
However, they both reduce inflammation and stimulating healing. Your dog may feel warm sensations in the region where the laser penetrates, and it may feel like a soothing massage. Hence, your pet is calm and not fussy throughout the process, feeling improved almost immediately after the therapy is done. This implies that your dog is in safe hands and would not be hurt.
Conditions that require Laser therapy for dogs
Laser therapy can be used to treat the pain of different origins for dogs. A few of the conditions where laser therapy is required in dogs include:
- Back pain
- Arthritis or hip dysplasia
- Hot spots and open wounds
- Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
- Ear infections
- Post-surgical and soft tissue pain
- Anal gland infections
- Gingivitis
Pain Symptoms to look out for in your dog
Your dog may suffer from chronic pain and discomfort without your knowledge, but noting peculiar symptoms may help you stay alert and know when to call your local veterinarian. Some notable symptoms are restlessness, trembling, licking or biting a particular area, lack of appetite, and limping or struggling to walk, climb, lay down or stand up, and whining.
How Laser therapy benefits your dog
- Laser therapy improves recovery from injury or surgery.
- Laser therapy leads to the dilation of blood vessels, increasing blood flow and causing nutrients and oxygen to be available to the injured area while eliminating toxic chemicals and carbon dioxide. This reduces swelling and edema, improving healing and inflammation.
- Laser therapy on nerves slows nerve impulse conduction to the spinal cord and brain, resetting the pain threshold in damaged nerves. Pain is numbed when the nerve receptors of pain are blocked.
- For a dog with IVDD, damage to the spinal cord is eminent. Laser therapy, in this case, reduces degenerative changes in the neurons that might occur with the spinal cord. The protein myelin insulates the nerves, and laser application increases its production.
- Sedating your dog is not needed while the process goes on because it is soothing.
- It improves the quality of your dog’s life with no side effects.
