Sometimes we get aches and pains with accidental injuries or chronic conditions. We seek out treatments to help heal or make our pain more manageable. Our pet friends rely on us to help them with pain. Keep in mind, dogs and cats often hide chronic pain from their owners. They may hide, become less active, get up slower, hesitate to jump up or down, eat less and lose weight over time. With careful observation you can detect chronic pain too and discuss these observations with your veterinarian.

Depending on the source of pain, there are a variety of different drugs that veterinarians can use judiciously to relieve pain. Recently, other options have become available for us to recommend: physical therapy, joint supplements, natural anti-inflammatories, chiropractic treatment, acupuncture, prescription diets, and laser therapy.

It is the use of laser therapy that I want to tell you about. The laser therapy units have many settings for multiple injuries or conditions we treat. Basically, anything that is painful, swollen and inflamed can benefit from laser therapy with one exception – it cannot be used if cancer is suspected.

We use it on incision sites to promote faster healing. Laser therapy can treat acute and chronic ear infections, bladder inflammation, anal gland abscesses, perianal abscess, wounds, arthritic sites, vertebral injuries, hotspots, lick granulomas, ear hematomas, and periodontal disease. Depending on the ailment, laser therapy can be used as a single treatment or twice a week for several weeks. Laser therapy is safe and non-painful using the body’s own cells’ mitochondria to motivate the cells to heal faster.

So next time you bring your pet to the clinic for treatment of a painful condition, ask your veterinarian about the use of laser therapy. It never hurts to try!

Courtesy – Dr. Carla Edwards