According to the American Animal Hospital Association, veterinary laser therapy has become more common in veterinary practices around the US in the past few years.

What is laser therapy and how can it benefit your dog, cat, or other companion animal?

LASER stands for light amplification of stimulated emission of radiation.  Lasers are used for a variety of purposes in human medicine.  Veterinarians most often turn to laser therapy for the management of pain and inflammation, as well as to aid in wound healing.

Many vets are utilizing laser therapy as an alternative to pain medications, especially for animals that do not tolerate pain meds well.

According to the AAHA, the most common veterinary conditions treated by laser therapy include:

• Arthritis
• Surgical incisions
• Tendon and ligament injuries
• Traumatic injuries

Laser therapy can have a variety of benefits for your pet, including:

• Release of endorphins
• Increase blood and oxygen flow (vasodilation)
• Muscle relaxation
• Decrease inflammation
• Faster healing and repair

Therapeutic laser treatment is not painful for pets.  Many pets experience a pleasant warming sensation during treatment.

Interested in learning more?  Our friends at the Drake Center for Veterinary Care have created a helpful video showing how they use laser therapy to treat their patients:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7cyqlYrFUY&w=560&h=315]