Welcome back to the Acoma Animal Clinic blog. Last time we provided you with the ins and outs for clicker training your pooch. This time we wanted to pivot back into our other area of expertise, medicine and treatments for your furry four-legged friends. We are constantly on the march, looking forward to new sciences and technologies that will allow us to do our jobs better, to treat your furry family better in any number of ways. This time on the blog we wanted to talk about just one of those new technologies. One of the things we have not gotten around to talking about but we are very excited over is our Cold Laser therapy services.
The process has a few names. Soft laser therapy, low power laser therapy, low level laser. We here refer to it as Cold laser. This is because the low powered laser we use is does not generate the heat normally associated with a laser. It is a pain-free, non-invasive, surgery-free and drug-free treatment for dogs or other domestic animals. Sounds great right? That’s why we are so excited about it!
How Does Cold Laser Therapy Work
Cold laser therapy is a laser treatment for dogs that utilizes light to induce photobiostimulation. That is a fancy way of saying causing biological reactions to light. Each session of the treatment will last roughly 3 – 8 minutes depending, and, being cumulative, each future treatment will improve the dog’s condition tremendously. Improvement can be seen often after just the first visit, but depending on the condition at hand the number of treatments will vary.
The pain relief brought on by the laser is due to reduction in inflammation. Through a process called vasodilation, swollen areas are soothed, and the swelling can begin to go down. This in turn decreases the amount of pain your pooch is in and signs of anxiety or agitation will almost immediately begin to disappear.
The process is completely pain-free, the only sensation a dog may feel is in a slight tingle or warmth as the laser works through their tissue. Often dogs find it to be very relaxing. There are no known side effects making it is a totally safe and effective tool for vets across the industry.
Wondering what conditions the cold laser therapy can help with? A number of issues can see drastic improvement through the laser therapy.
- Back pain
- Soft tissue trauma
- Post-surgical trauma
- Muscles, tendon, and ligament injuries
- Hot spots and Open wounds
- Arthritis
- Hip Dysplasia
- Degenerative disc disease
- Anal gland infections
- Ear infections
- Gingivitis
The list is massive! A large portion of the pets that see relief with cold laser therapy are older pets with some form of musculoskeletal problems. Common signs that your older pet may be experiencing these kinds of pains or discomforts include:
- Abnormal lying or sitting positions
- Circling before lying down
- Restlessness
- Vocalizations, whining or groaning.
- Lack of appetite
- Limping
- Trouble standing or lying down
This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are many signs that your animal is in distress, and it is important to note abnormal behavior.
If you believe your pet to be experiencing any sort of paint or complication, contact us now and together we can determine if cold laser therapy, or any of our other range of services are necessary in getting your pet their health back!
