What is Laser Therapy?​

Laser therapy uses a beam of light able to penetrate deeply into tissues and induce chemical changes in cells. This is called photo-bio-stimulation.​

What does it do?​

The particles of light or photons penetrate damaged cells and stimulate healing and pain relief within those tissues. Therapeutic lasers have no effect on normal cells. They are not simple heat treatments, but rather a method of increasing cellular metabolism. This speeds up and facilitates the healing process.​

Can it hurt my pet?​

Therapeutic lasers are not the same as cutting lasers used in surgery. They will not burn but will create warmth in the treated area.​

What can laser therapy treat?​

Most conditions that are associated with inflammation, wounds or pain can be treated.​

• Post-surgical pain, wound healing and swelling​
• Chronic inflammatory and/or painful conditions such as arthritis, nerve entrapment, joint or muscle pain/swelling​
• Non-healing wounds​
• Laser treatment Improves nerve function following injury​
• Lasers can be used as “needleless” acupuncture point stimulation​

Can laser therapy be used on people?​

Laser therapy was discovered in Hungary in 1967 and used in the Soviet Union and China during the 1970’s-1980’s. In 1993 research on laser treatments at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton lead to the effort to compile data to comply with FDA regulations and in 1998 the North American Association for Laser Therapy was established.​

How long are treatments?​

Treatment sessions can be as short as one minute if one small area is involved and up to thirty minutes for multiple joints in the case of severe arthritis.​

How many treatments are needed?​

The frequency of treatments is as important as the number of treatments. We usually advise six treatments for most cases, sometimes more for acute conditions. Generally, we treat three times the first week, twice the second week and once the third. The effects of laser therapy are cumulative and therefore not as successful if many days pass between initial treatments.​

Please call Companion Animal Medical Center at (559) 625-9920 for more information on how a Class IV Laser can help your pet.