What Is Veterinary Laser Therapy?
Veterinary laser therapy is an innovative treatment that has gained popularity in recent years as veterinarians discover its benefits for pets. Used similarly to acupuncture, massage therapy, and other alternative therapies, laser treatment can be used in conjunction with, or instead of, medication to manage pain, inflammation, and wound healing.
"Laser"-an acronym for "light amplification of stimulated emission of radiation"-refers to a unit that emits focused, penetrating light beams in three forms:
Monochromatic: Light that is a single wavelength (as opposed to natural light, which is emitted as a range of wavelengths)
Coherent: Photons (i.e., tiny particles of light or electromagnetic radiation) that travel in the same phase and direction
Collimated: Photons that travel in a single straight beam
Coherence and collimation give a laser penetrating power to a restricted area so that nearby tissues are unaffected.
How does laser therapy affect my pet's tissue?
Therapeutic lasers use light waves of a specific wavelength to cause photobiomodulation, or the alteration of cellular and tissue physiology. Light absorbed by cellular components stimulates electrons and activates cells to promote growth, proliferation, migration, and repair.
The type and depth of tissue that responds to laser therapy depends on the wavelength of the light that is delivered. Most therapeutic lasers use red or near-infrared light, which has a wavelength of 600-1070 nanometers, although units with green, blue, and violet light, which have lower wavelengths, are becoming more popular. Laser beams of lower wavelengths are absorbed by superficial tissue, such as the skin, whereas beams of higher wavelengths penetrate deeper to muscles and bones.
Laser therapy helps tissue repair by causing the following:
Endorphin release
Vasodilation, which increases blood flow to bring in oxygen and cells involved in the healing process
Muscle relaxation
Decreased inflammation
Faster healing and repair
The main clinical benefits of laser use in pets include decreased inflammation, decreased pain, and improved wound healing.
Who can benefit from laser therapy?
Laser therapy is used for many veterinary medical conditions, including:
Chronic arthritis
Surgical incisions
Tendon and ligament injuries
Traumatic injuries
Laser therapy is particularly useful for pets with limited medical treatment options, such as:
Pets with liver disease who cannot take medications
Cats, for whom only a few pain-control medications are approved
Exotic pets for whom medication administration is difficult or impossible
Older pets with diminished organ function
How are laser treatments administered?
During a treatment session, the handheld laser wand is slowly moved back and forth over the damaged tissue, producing a warm, pleasant sensation that most pets seem to enjoy and find relaxing. Sessions usually last 15 to 30 minutes, with the number of sessions and frequency of treatments dependent on the injury. Chronic conditions may be treated weekly, whereas surgical incisions and open wounds often require daily treatment.
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