The Benefits of Laser Therapy

Warmer weather is just around the corner. Warmer weather means more time to play outside, throwing the ball, long walks, runs, swimming, and overall enjoying more activity. All of that activity means more chances to pull a muscle, sprain a wrist, or hurt a knee! One thing we tend to forget about for our pet companions is they will benefit from physical therapy just as much as their pet parents do. As someone who recently underwent shoulder surgery, I first hand know just how important long-term physical therapy can be!

Laser therapy is used to help with a variety of issues, including chronic arthritis, tendon and ligament injuries, traumatic injuries, and surgical incisions. Laser therapy can help release endorphins, help promote blood flow with vasodilation, decrease inflammation, and help with faster healing and repair. Laser therapy sessions can be done for acute injuries and long-term ailments. These sessions can last from 15 to 30 minutes and tend to be soothing for the patient.

Redhood (please see photograph of an actual patient) has been undergoing physical therapy with Gaines School Animal Hospital for the past two years. He suffers from IVDD (​Intervertebral disc disease)​ ​, and although his pet parent does everything to help prevent flare-ups, he is a young happy pup that can’t seem to understand he isn’t allowed to jump around without hurting himself. Instead of treating each flare-up, Redhood undergoes a monthly preventative treatment with cold laser therapy. His pet parent can see a big difference in the months he isn’t receiving his therapy. Redhood enjoys wearing his doggles for the procedure and loves the extra attention he gets each month with our assistants. More than anything, we love seeing Redhood not having to experience pain over his troublesome back!