Laser Therapy Heals Dogs -- Research Summary | Medical News and Health Information

     My favorite story this week is about dogs, of course. Don’t miss our report from Florida’s Coral Springs Animal Hospital where veterinarian Elizabeth Rawson, DVM, tells us about a new cold laser treatment called ‘photo-biotherapy,’ which owners of dogs say helps lower the pain of arthritis in their canine companions. I might try it for Ms. Plum who’s a 14-year old Sheltie. Take a look below for pictures of my dogs.

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Laser Therapy Heals Dogs | Medical News and Health Information

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Laser Therapy Heals Dogs -- Research Summary | Medical News and Health Information

Laser Therapy Heals Dogs -- Research Summary

BACKGROUND: There are two broad categories of pain that are useful to think about because treatment options vary pretty significantly between them. Acute pain is suddenly occurring pain in response to an injury that disappears as the injury heals. Chronic pain is pain that persists after an injury has healed or that persists due to a damaging process that also persists, such as arthritis. (Source: VetInfo.com)

NEW THERAPY: Lasers are used by veterinarians to treat acute and chronic injuries, pain and inflammation, and are becoming increasingly popular. They are also being used after surgical procedures to speed up the healing process. (Source: Veterinarypracticenews.com)

The cold laser therapy is a noninvasive procedure that uses light to stimulate cells and increase blood circulation. At the correct laser wavelength, pain signals are reduced and nerve sensitivity decreases. The procedure also releases endorphins, or natural painkillers, but it is not recommended for animals that have cancer because the device can stimulate blood flow to cancer cells.

The procedure is based on the idea that light is absorbed into the cells. The process, known as photo-biotherapy, stimulates protein synthesis and cell metabolism, which improves cell health and functionality.

The therapy can take as little as eight to 10 minutes on a small dog or cat, or about a half hour for bigger dogs. (Source: ABC news)