When you bring home a dog, it means putting extra commitment, effort, and money on them. You want them to live the best quality of life they can. And when they feel pain, alleviating it to make them feel comfortable is more important than anything else.
In recent years, laser therapy has been one of the vet procedures getting attention since vet experts found its benefits to dogs. So, what is laser treatment for dogs, and how does it help improve your pets’ health?
What Is Laser Therapy for Dogs?
LASER is actually an acronym, which means light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Laser therapy is a non-invasive, non-toxic, non-pollutant medical treatment using a strong beam of light to burn, cut, or destroy tissues. Also known as “cold laser therapy,” both humans and animals receive health advantages from this procedure to treat and manage many diseases.
Experts studied and identified its mechanisms of action as an effective remedy for reducing pain and inflammation and healing of tissues. Unlike other surgical lasers that use higher frequencies to penetrate and reach deeper tissues, laser therapy doesn’t require vet surgeons to cut into your dogs. Instead, they simply shine a low-frequency laser beam over the skin or fur’s surface to treat the tissue underneath.
Your vet plays a crucial role in every procedure your dog goes through. That’s why it’s important to make sure that they’re highly experienced, especially in handling complicated surgeries. Make a list of your potential vet clinics and visit their website to know more about them and what they do.
Benefits of Laser Therapy for Dogs
During each treatment, laser energy boosts circulation, drawing oxygen, water, and nutrients to the damaged area. According to studies, here are the benefits of laser therapy for dogs:
- Decreases pain (acute and chronic)
- Helps reduce inflammation
- It helps promote muscle regeneration
- Improves circulation
- Accelerates wound healing
- Helps manage other conditions (tendon and ligament injuries, edema, lick granulomas, canine mammary tumors, osteoarthritis, otitis, dermatitis, decubital ulcers)
What to Expect on a Dog’s Laser Therapy?
Depending on your dog’s condition, they may have to receive more sessions than the others. For instance, arthritis sessions take longer that can last for about five minutes per joint. On the other hand, wound healing or management is quicker at one minute to three minutes. Many arthritis patients may start from one or two sessions per week for a month then can visit the vet as needed in the following months.
Since laser therapy is non-invasive, dog owners should not worry about side effects. In fact, there is no associated pain with the procedure, and dogs will relax during the process. In some cases, they may fall asleep during their sessions. For dogs in their golden years, consider taking them to the vet for laser therapy if they show these behaviors:
- Abnormal sitting or lying posture
- Restlessness
- Difficulty getting into car or downstairs
- Whining, groaning, or other vocalizations
- Limping or unable to get up or lie down
- Circling multiple times before lying down
- Lack of grooming
- Won’t wag their tail
- Licking or biting area
- Lack of appetite
- Trembling
Choosing the Right Vet Clinic for Your Dog
Not all vet clinics offer laser treatment, but only equipped ones like Miller Clark Animal Hospital. Ask your family and friends for recommendations. Online is also an excellent place to find a reputable vet clinic but ensure to ask for licenses and read testimonials and reviews from their previous clients.
Choosing a vet clinic near you is always a good idea to ensure you can get there in a short period during emergencies. To limit your search within your area, find “vet dentist near me” or “laser therapy for dogs near me,” depending on the services you need.
Because different pets and owners have different needs, consider visiting a few of your choices and observing if the facility is clean. Ask about their other services, office hours, and how they deal with emergencies. Veterinarians are like other people with different personalities, so find out if their attitude and philosophy match yours.
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