We are always learning new and better ways to treat our patients and are dedicated to using the latest veterinary technologies. One way we do this is by providing cold laser therapy for our patients.
Cold laser therapy is a state-of-the-art alternative therapy to assist with pain and healing. It can be used after surgeries to help increase blood flow to local areas, improving healing. For this same reason, it is also helpful for wound healing. Cold laser therapy can be used for chronic pain as well, helping to increase blood flow to those areas. We have also experienced great success in using this therapy for patients with arthritis.
Decades of research, clinical trials, and laboratory testing prove there are many beneficial effects of Class IV Laser Therapy. It has many indications including increasing the speed of open wound healing, analgesia, anti‐inflammatory effects and increased vascular activity.
Anti‐inflammation:
Lasers therapy causes vasodilation and subsequent activation of the lymphatics as well as reduction of pro‐inflammatory mediators. This reduces erythema, bruising, edema and arthritis inflammation.
Analgesia:
Laser therapy suppresses nociceptors, increasing the pain threshold, and releases tissues endorphins. This decreases patient perception of pain.
Tissue Repair:
Photons penetrate into deep tissue to accelerate cellular mitochondria and ATP. Laser also stimulates fibroblastic collagen development to repair tissue. Wounds close up to three times the normal rate.
Improved Vascularity:
Neovascularization, new capillary growth, is stimulated resulting in quicker wound healing and closure.
Reduction of Fibrosis:
Photons reduce scar tissue formation by reduction of inflammation.
Improved Nerve Cell Regeneration:
Compressed or damaged nerves in injured tissues regenerate quicker when cells are stimulated with photon therapy.
Immunoregulation and Antibacterial:
Therapy wavelengths effect stimulation of immunoglobulins and lymphocytes within the immune system. The wavelengths are also antibacterial for infections.
PROTOCOL
Each patient will have a unique protocol based upon their special circumstances. There are different protocols designed for arthritis, separate protocols for acute injuries and wounds, and even more protocols for post‐operative patients. The veterinarian your pet works with will help design a plan that is right for your pet. Laser therapy has an additive effect. For chronic conditions, expect to experience some improvement after 3‐4 sessions. With acute issues, improvement will be visible sooner. Some cases may require only one treatment, while other cases of a chronic nature, such as arthritis, will eventually be set up on a scheduled maintenance protocol to maintain the patient’s comfort level.