Laser therapy for dogs can help with pain and inflammation in dogs with arthritis or acute injuries. Laser treatments might be recommended if your dog is sore, has a pulled muscle, or has injured his back. The injury just needs to be close enough to the skin for the laser light to reach. Note: The term “cold” laser therapy may still be used but is outdated. Laser therapy generates heat in the body’s tissues.
Accelerated healing may be the most exciting thing that laser can do. It is safe to use on incisions immediately after surgery, and some veterinary facilities even do the first treatment while the dog is still under anesthesia. It is also great for superficial wounds and pressure sores. The laser light increases circulation in the area, speeding up the healing process.
If your dog has undergone orthopedic or back surgery, laser treatments will likely be part of his rehab plan. The laser will accelerate healing of the incision, reduce inflammation in the area, and provide some pain relief. It also helps resolve edema because of the increased circulation.
What Is Laser Therapy for Dogs?
Laser therapy is the use of light to change the body in desired ways. The formal term for this is “photobiomodulation.” Light enters tissue, interacts with parts of the cell, and causes changes.
Depending on the type of light used, the power of the beam, and the wavelength(s) present in the beam, photons affect receptors, enzymes, organelles, ion channels, or molecules within cells.
Laser light is special because a laser is a single wavelength in a targeted beam. This is why laser pointers are so precise, whereas a flashlight casts a wide cone of light. The targeted nature of a laser beam allows us to aim it in specific areas. Different wavelengths can penetrate deeper into tissue, so the location of the injury within the body will direct which wavelength needs to be used to get the desired effect.
What Laser Therapy Can Do for Your Dog
Laser treatments can help dogs in a variety of ways:
- Relieve pain
- Accelerate healing
- Reduce inflammation
Therapeutic, Healing Lasers for Dogs
The modern lasers used today in veterinary physical rehabilitation are Class 3B and Class 4 lasers. These devices are not “cold” lasers. They generate heat within the tissue. They do not cut like surgical lasers do, but they can still cause irritation and damage if used inappropriately.
Most dogs tolerate laser treatments extremely well, but dogs with pale or sensitive skin may develop a rash. For these dogs, tweaking the settings or lowering the dosage usually resolves the issue.
If your dog has a tattoo for identification or to indicate that she has been spayed, she will not be able to receive laser treatments in that area. The ink in tattoos heats up rapidly under the laser and quickly becomes painful.
While the phrase “cold laser” is still sometimes used to differentiate between therapeutic lasers and surgical lasers, the lasers used by vets today are higher powered and more effective.
There is one major limitation to what laser therapy can do: depth. Light can only pass so deep into tissue, and while some wavelengths can travel deeper than others, they still can’t get far. Laser is perfect for wounds and superficial joints such as the carpus or elbow but cannot reach deeper areas such as the hip joint.
When NOT to Use Laser Therapy for Dogs
Increased circulation is not always a good thing. Laser treatments are not a good choice in areas that have tumors or masses, or overactive infections. In both cases, the laser could be problematic and encourage spread of the infection or increased growth of cancer.
Laser also should not be done near the eye, as the laser beams can damage the retina and potentially cause vision loss or blindness. Your rehab practitioner will wear protective goggles and provide them for you if you are present during treatment sessions. Even with the special glasses on, do not shine the laser into your eye.
Protective goggles for dogs can be used if desired, but dogs are much less likely to look at the laser and don’t necessarily need goggles.
Tips for Canine Laser-Therapy Success
To ensure that your dog gets the most out of his laser treatments:
- Seek out a rehab practitioner who has a certification or other specialized training in sports medicine and rehab.
- Say yes to shaving. Hair absorbs some of the laser light, preventing those photons from reaching the target tissue. In some dogs, it may be possible to part the hair enough to access the skin, but shaving is often the best way to guarantee good penetration. He may have a weird haircut, but it will grow back!
- Keep your dog’s skin clean and dry. Like hair, dirt and moisture both absorb some of the light particles.
- If your dog doesn’t like to be still, try to find a facility with a Class 4 laser. These lasers have higher power capabilities than Class 3B, so your dog can get the same dosage in a shorter treatment time.
Research is ongoing to determine the best treatment settings and duration for various health problems in dogs. As we learn more, your rehab practitioner will continue to tweak your dog’s treatments to meet his needs and give him the most benefit.
Is Cold Laser Therapy a Hoax?
Nope! Therapeutic lasers do provide real benefits for our dogs. That said, laser is not a miracle cure-all. Laser light can only reach tissues close to the surface of the body and can be blocked by hair, moisture, and debris. Laser therapy is usually used as part of a larger treatment plan for your dog’s condition.
Your dog will also get the most benefit from professional-grade devices used by a trained veterinarian or veterinary technician. While over-the-counter laser devices are available for home use, they vary widely in quality and are not as strong. LED light devices do not have the same characteristics as lasers, and don’t give the same amount of control.
