You’ve probably heard about using lasers to perform a wide range of innovative surgical and medical treatments. Laser technology has rapidly advanced in recent years and has been revolutionizing many industries, none more than health care. And now Pets Aloud Veterinary can offer your pet the benefits of pet laser therapy.
Veterinary laser therapy is most commonly used for pain management, although it can be used for many other beneficial purposes. It has been used for pain alleviation and promotion of healing for animals who are recovering from serious injuries or surgical procedures. It has also been proven to be effective in alleviating pain in pets that suffer from acute arthritis and cellulitis, and other painful disorders and conditions. For some types of pets, including cats, exotics, and those with certain physical conditions, it’s the only type of pain management that can safely be used. Pet laser therapy is a safe, painless, and non-invasive procedure that only takes a few minutes per treatment. Your veterinarian in Mahwah, NJ, is fully trained and qualified in pet laser therapy and is ready to help your pet back to being healthy and pain-free.
How Pet Laser Therapy For Cats And Dogs Works
Lasers emit a concentrated beam of light energy in the form of photons. They are classified according to the specific wavelength of light energy that they emit. Therapeutic lasers operate on a wavelength slightly above those used in laser pointers, so they aren’t nearly intense enough to cause burns or damage. When laser light energy is applied to living tissue, it causes a reaction in the cells known as photobiomodulation.
Although science isn’t exactly sure how this light stimulation works to alter cells, it has been likened to the process of photosynthesis in plants. This reaction causes several good things to occur in the damaged tissues, including:
- Cell growth and regeneration
- Release of pain-relieving endorphins
- Improved blood circulation
- Cell oxygenation
- Reduced inflammation
- Muscle relaxation
All of these effects contribute to faster healing and lessened pain and inflammation. Veterinary laser therapy also reduces stiffness and swelling in the limbs, giving your pet greater mobility and flexibility. Pet recovery laser therapy can also help to increase nerve function and reduce scar tissue formation.
Conditions Commonly Treated With Animal Laser Therapy
Veterinary laser therapy can assist with:
- Osteoarthritis
- Tendinopathies
- Joint pain
- Edema
- Pulled ligaments
- Muscle strains
- Puncture wounds
- Post-surgical pain
- Post-traumatic injury
- Back and neck pain
- Hip dysplasia
- Burns
- Post-orthopedic surgery
What Happens During The Laser Therapy Session
When you bring your pet into our clinic for a pet rehabilitation laser procedure, either canine laser therapy or feline laser therapy, your pet will be made comfortable on an exam table and you can stay with them to comfort them if you’d like. Everyone in the room, including your pet, will wear special glasses to protect their eyes from the laser light.
Your vet will use a handheld pet laser therapy device to apply the light energy to the areas requiring treatment.
People who have had the treatment describe it as a warm and pleasant sensation. Most pet pain management laser sessions take just a few minutes and some conditions require just one session to bring relief from pain. More serious wounds and conditions may require multiple visits to be effective. After the procedure, your pet can go home and enjoy lessened pain and stiffness and increased comfort and mobility. The majority of pets treated with pet recovery laser therapy show signs of improvement within 24 hours. There are no known side effects from veterinary laser treatment.
If you would like to speak to your family vet in Mahwah, NJ, about laser therapy for dogs and cats, contact Pets Aloud Veterinary to schedule an appointment.
