Laser Therapy

What Is Laser therapy?

Laser therapy utilises multiple wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to achieve therapeutic goals - reduction in pain and inflammation and stimulation of healing. There is more in depth pathophysiology information at bottom of page.

Is Laser Therapy the same as Red Light Therapy?

No, the laser we use provides high intensity laser therapy (HILT). Other terms incorrectly used include red light therapy, cold laser and low level laser therapy (LLLT). Therapeutic veterinary lasers are much stronger and more focused than these modalities, which enables wavelengths to penetrate deeper tissues and achieve therapeutic outcomes. 

How much does it cost?

• Laser therapy during consult - $77

• Laser therapy only - $120 + travel

• 6 session package - $550 + travel

What to Expect

• Your pet and staff will wear protective eyewear which filter laser wavelengths. Owners may be present if enough goggles are available

• A handheld laser probe is applied to the treatment area in a scanning motion

• Most animals find laser relaxing and comfortable

• Sessions typically last 5–20 minutes, depending on areas targeted

• Some pets show improvement after one or two sessions. Chronic conditions typically require an induction phase (see below)
  
  

Treatment Frequency

Acute or severe conditions and post surgery: 

• 2–4 times per week initially then tapered based on progress

• Severely painful conditions can be treated every 12 - 24 hours initially

Chronic conditions (eg arthritis): 

• Induction Phase - 2 - 3 times per week for 1 - 3 weeks 

• Transition Phase - 1 - 2 times per week

• Maintenance Phase -  once every 3 – 6 weeks
  
  

Precautions & Safety Information

Laser therapy is considered very safe when used by trained professionals, but precautions are required.

• Eyes — Protective eyewear will be worn

• Known or suspected tumours – Laser is not recommended for treatment of cancer. It may be used for palliative treatment of painful tumours. 

• Pregnancy – Studies have not yet established pregnancy safety. Use on a pregnant animal where beam is not directed towards abdomen is considered safe

• Growth plates in very young animals – Used under clinician discretion, depending on condition
  

Possible Side Effects

Side effects are rare when properly administered.

Possible, but uncommon:

• Temporary soreness after treatment

• Mild fatigue
  
  

Laser therapy does NOT:

• Cause discomfort

• Produce ionising radiation

• Require sedation (in most cases)

• Result in burns when correctly used

Common Indications for Use

Laser therapy is used in both acute and chronic conditions, often alongside your veterinarian’s medical or surgical plan. It can benefit many soft tissue, musculoskeletal, neurologic, dermatologic, and internal conditions.

In order to achieve treatment goals a diagnosis must first be made. In some cases this can be from physical examination or a history from your regular vet, other cases may be requested to undertake further testing such as ultrasound, xrays or CT scans to pinpoint the area of treatment prior to therapy.

Musculoskeletal & Orthopaedic

• Osteoarthritis / Degenerative joint disease

• Pain related to conformational defects - hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation

• Cruciate ligament disease (pre- and post-operative support)

• Lumbosacral pain syndrome

• Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) recovery

• Fracture healing

• Tendonitis and ligament injuries

• Muscle strains and sprains

• Back pain and muscle spasms

• Spondylosis / degenerative spinal conditions
  
  

Skin, Soft Tissue & Wound Healing

• Post operative wounds to reduce pain and accelerate wound strength and healing

• Superficial incisions and deeper tissue healing eg. cystotomy, enterotomy, muscle tears, exploratory laparotomies etc

• Acute wounds, burns and abrasions

• Infected wounds

• Slow-healing wounds to stimulate tissue repair

• Skin flaps and graft healing

• Lick granulomas

• Hot spots and other wounds or swelling associated with allergic dermatitis

• Otitis externa (ear infections)

• Ear tip vasculitis

• Interdigital furunculosis

• Anal furunculosis / perianal fistulas / Anal gland abscesses / infected anal sacs

• Insect bite reactions

• Feline Acne

• Cellulitis

• Mastitis
  
  

Neurologic Conditions

• Degenerative myelopathy

• Discospondylitis

• Nerve injury recovery

• Peripheral neuropathies

• Chronic pain syndromes

• Meningitis

• Old dog encephalitis

• Traumatic facial nerve paralysis

• Traumatic brain injury

• Laryngeal paralysis – to reduce acute swelling

Respiratory Conditions

• Asthma

• Bronchitis

• Rhinitis / Sinusitis

• Infectious Tracheobronchitis (kennel cough)

• Smoke or chemical inhalation

• Collapsing trachea

• Laryngeal Paralysis - stabilisation prior to surgery

• Pneumonia

• Pulmonary contusion
  
  

Abdominal conditions

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

• Feline idiopathic cystitis (FLUTD/FIC)

• Acute and chronic kidney disease

• Pyelonephritis

• Pancreatitis

• Peritonitis
  
  

Oral Conditions

• Post-dental extraction sites

• Feline stomatitis

• Chronic ulcerative periodontal stomatitis (CUPS)

• Severe gingival inflammation prior to and after dental procedure

• Oral chemical or electrical burns
  
  

Large Animal and Equine

• Tendon and ligament injuries

• Muscle strain

• Spinal pain

• Joint inflammation and arthritis

• Laminitis

• Hoof Abscesses

• Tendon sheath inflammation 

• Wound healing

• QLD itch - to aid in healing of open lesions

• Cellulitis

• Mastitis

How Does It Work? (For the nerds - like me)

• Increased Cellular Energy Production - Light absorption by mitochondria boosts ATP (cell energy), accelerating repair and regeneration.

• Reduced Inflammation - Laser light decreases inflammatory mediators (IL-1, TNF, cox-2, PGF2a), reduces the number of inflammatory cells and inflammatory exudate, and enhances lymphatic drainage.  It also promotes macrophages to differentiate preferentially in to the M2 phenotype (anti-inflammatory and tissue repair), rather than the M1 phenotype (pro-inflammatory)

• Improved Tissue Oxygenation - Laser light stimulates vasodilation, angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation) and haemoglobin to release oxygen molecules. This increase in blood flow, oxygen and nutrient delivery supports healing.

• Pain Modulation - Laser treatment slows nerve conduction involved in pain pathways and reduces inflammatory mediator release. It also stimulates endorphin and encephalin release (natural pain killers that bind to opioid receptors)

• Acceleration of Tissue Repair - Fibroblast stimulation leads to increased collagen production. This increases tensile strength and accelerates wound healing. Laser therapy also increases cell survival and promotes cell migration and mobility required for wound repair. For fractures and osteotomy sites (eg. TPLO) osteogenesis and mineralisation is stimulated to accelerate bone repair. Microbial load in infected wounds is reduced through disruption of fungal and bacterial cell walls, disruption of biofilm and enhanced immune function to fight infection. 

Result: Reduced pain, decreased swelling and enhanced tissue repair

For more information on laser therapy visit:

companionanimalhealth.com/pet-owners-laser

https://www.aaha.org/resources/laser-therapy/