If your pet is experiencing pain from an injury or medical condition then you may be interested in veterinary rehab to get them feeling great again. Our Egg Harbor Township vets talk about the use of veterinary laser therapy for dogs and how animal physical therapy and rehabilitation can help.
Veterinary Laser Therapy
Veterinary laser therapy is a newer type of treatment that focuses on helping to manage pain, inflammation, and wound healing for your pet throughout your dog's physical therapy.
The term laser refers to the focused emission of light that is capable of penetration. There are three forms of light that these lasers emit:
- Monochromatic: Light that is emitted in a singular wavelength as opposed to multiple.
- Coherent: Photons, which can be made up of light or electromagnetic radiation that travel in the same direction.
- Collimated: Photons that continuously travel in a single straight beam of light.
Coherence and collimation allow the laser to provide treatment to a specific target area without affecting the nearby tissues.
There are four classes of lasers currently identifiable based on their wavelengths:
- Class 1 lasers: are safe for daily use such as scanning devices.
- Class 2 lasers: produce visible light and are commonly used in laser pointers.
- Class 3 lasers: most common application is therapeutic lasers.
- Class 4 lasers: commonly used in surgical lasers that can cut and cauterize tissues.
How can laser therapy help with your dog's rehabilitation?
Therapeutic lasers use light waves of a specific wavelength to alter the physiology of the affected tissues. The light emitted by these lasers throughout treatment will help to stimulate the cells within the tissues and allows for faster cellular regeneration.
The wavelength of the laser used will determine the tissue that can be affected. Most commonly used lasers emit near-infrared light with the use of lower wavelength lasers becoming more common. Low-wavelength lasers are used to treat areas near and involving the skin while the higher wavelength lasers are able to focus on deep tissue repair.
Some of the benefits that your dog may experience with veterinary laser therapy for dog rehabilitation include:
- The release of endorphins
- Vasodilation can increase blood flow ultimately increasing oxygen and speeding up the healing
- Allowing the muscles to relax
- The ability to decrease inflammation
- Speed up healing and repair
What are the benefits of dog physical therapy with veterinary lasers?
When it comes to dog physical therapy, there is a variety of conditions and symptoms that veterinary laser therapy can help with, including:
- Chronic arthritis
- Surgical incisions
- Tendon and ligament injuries
- Traumatic injuries
There are some pets that experienced limitations that are unable to receive traditional treatment and may benefit from pet physical therapy in Egg Harbor Township including laser treatments, such as:
- Pets who suffer from liver disease leaving them unable to take commonly used medications
- Cats that are only able to use specific pain management medications
- Exotic pets that may not be able to have medications administered normally
- Older pets that are unable to be medicated due to decreased organ function
What can be expected during laser therapy treatments?
Pets typically find veterinary laser therapy to be relaxing as it involves the slow movement of a warm laser over the affected area. Each session may be roughly a half hour or less on average and the frequency and recommended number of treatment sessions will depend on the symptoms and severity.
Will my dog feel any pain from the laser used for treatment?
Provided the veterinarian performing the dog physical therapy is trained and experienced in administering laser therapy and the treatment is performed correctly, there should be no pain involved for your dog.
You may find that the feeling of warmth over the affected area can be quite pleasant for your dog.
During a session, all veterinary staff and patients must wear protective goggles, as laser beams directed at an eye are capable of causing permanent damage to both human and canine retinas.
Will I need to bring my dog back for more treatments?
Over time, the effects of cold laser therapy are cumulative. For best results, laser treatments for animal physical therapy should be completed at the frequency recommended by your veterinarian.
How long can I expect the benefits of laser therapy to last?
The length of sessions varies depending on the area being treated and how much energy is being delivered through the laser. A typical laser therapy session for dog rehabilitation may last between 5 and 20 minutes.
Before treatment, your vet will likely perform a full physical exam, in addition to taking X-rays if required, to determine whether cold laser therapy is the right treatment option for your pet.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.