Laser Therapy for Dogs – Why Its Necessary?
Laser therapy has great importance in veterinary medicine as veterinarians have unleashed its wonder in their field. Laser therapy aka low-level or cold laser therapy, is a painless treatment that can trigger specific points and provide musculoskeletal comfort.
Laser therapy for dogs also helps to block the nerve receptor to decrease pain. Laser therapy has several benefits and can be used alone or with other treatments or therapies like medication or surgery.
How does laser therapy work to affect the pet’s tissues?
Laser therapy for dogs is a photobiomodulation process that uses light with a particular wavelength. This process alters cellular and tissue physiology.
The cellular components absorb the laser light, stimulate electrons, and allow the cell’s activation to encourage growth, migration, proliferation, and repair.
How does a tissue respond to laser therapy?
The depth and form of tissue depend upon the type of wavelength used. Mostly red and near-infrared light is utilized in laser therapy with a wavelength of 600-1070nm.
The laser therapy with a higher wavelength penetrates deep into bone tissues. Laser lights with lower wavelengths (blue, green, and violet light) are absorbed by superficial skin tissues.
Laser therapy; conditions on which it works
- Muscles, ligament, and tendons injury: Laser therapy helps treat soft tissues and increases collagen formation by penetrating light deep into tissues.
- Laser therapy is effective use against intervertebral disc disease IVDD
- Post-surgical wounds: laser therapy can be applied to treat surgical incisions and wounds for only 1-3 minutes.
- Laser therapy is effective against gingivitis: The black pigmented bacteria grow in dogs’ gums. Laser therapy helps to kill these bacteria.
- An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear
- Laser therapy reduces pain and swelling in neutered or spayed dogs.
- Anal gland infection
- It can help to treat acute pain. If your dog is suffering from a wound just after surgery, laser therapy will give relief from pain.
- Ear infection (swollen ear canal)
- Back pain
- Urinary tract infection
- Spinal disc swelling
- To get rid of gastrointestinal disorder
- Laser therapy is also used in chronic conditions
- Laser therapy is effective in curing neuropathies (nerve damage)
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Hip dysplasia/arthritis: a deformity of the hip joints. Laser therapy helps to decrease pain and swelling due to quieting of nerve response
Laser therapy; how it works in pain relief?
Laser therapy is an excellent treatment to give comfort from pain by reducing inflammation. Laser therapy for dogs produces endorphins that help counteract the dog’s pain.
Laser treatment helps decrease pain and swelling through the vasodilation process, which involves opening blood vessels and activating the lymphatic drainage system.
Laser therapy inhibits the pain signals from transmitting to the brain by stimulating nerve cells (block pain), reducing nerve sensitivity, and the dog will bear minor pain.
Laser therapy; a quick recovery from surgery and injury
Laser treatment helps to recover the wounds right after the surgery and improves the functions of the infected tissues.
Laser therapy works directly on the affected area with a particular wavelength and allows healing at an accelerated pace. It provides strength to the muscles, mobility, and quality of life.
Laser therapy; a savior for dogs who have limited medical options
- Older or senior dogs with diminished organ functions.
- Pets with liver disorders therapy and cannot take medications can be treated with laser.
Laser therapy for dogs is a short-duration treatment
A laser therapy session may usually last for 5-20 minutes. The period of the session is different in various conditions. For example, injury or post-surgical wounds take a short time in superficial tissues. But in the case of arthritis, each joint may take 5 minutes.
The dogs need around 7-20 sessions in the complete course of treatment. In chronic issues, the dog is treated weekly, but open wounds or surgical incisions need daily treatment.
Laser therapy is a safe and risk-free treatment
Laser therapy is a safe, pain-free, and effective treatment. Dogs feel muscle relaxation and soothing warmth.
Laser therapy releases any tension and anxiety and provides comfort immediately. The low-level laser therapy with proper low power frequency has no chance of skin burn.
The dog owner can also use a laser therapy device in the comfort of their home. The low-power laser has no side effects like class 1 and 2 laser therapy. The dog may feel more stress among strangers at the clinic.
Precautions
- Laser therapy has no known side effects, but protection is more important while using laser therapy. Class 3 and class 4 laser therapy are powerful; your pet needs to wear protective goggles. The point of laser light directly into the eyes is hazardous and can affect the retina.
- Avoid the use of laser therapy on the tumor site. Laser treatment can increase tumor growth.
Laser therapy should not be used on the pregnant uterus of dogs.
source https://www.petcarestores.com/laser-therapy-for-dogs/