Pain and inflammation often underlie pet health conditions and hold pets back from the activities they enjoy. Laser therapy is a drug-free treatment that is making waves in veterinary medicine by providing pets with quick, non-invasive relief from various issues. The Aloha Veterinary Hospital team explains laser therapy, how it works, and how it can improve your pet’s quality of life.

What is laser therapy for pets?

Laser therapy (i.e., photobiomodulation) uses specific light wavelengths to penetrate tissues and stimulate cellular activity. Laser can reduce pain and inflammation, and speed up healing in various pet health conditions, all without side effects or discomfort. Human medical providers have used laser technology with good results for many years, and now the modality is available to help pets.

How does pet laser therapy work?

Therapeutic lasers use specific light wavelengths and colors to penetrate various tissues. Mitochondria, the cell’s energy producers, absorb light photons, which stimulate ATP production. This increased energy leads to a cascade of positive events in the treated tissues, ultimately improving the pet’s condition.

Therapy lasers are also known as cold lasers, which distinguishes them from carbon dioxide surgical lasers that can cut and coagulate tissues. Low-level light therapy provides more profound change by penetrating beyond the tissue surface.

Laser therapy benefits for pets

Laser therapy is a painless, non-invasive, drug-free addition to treatment plans for various pet health conditions, with benefits for your pet that include:

  • Pain relief — Many conditions, including bone, joint, nerve, and soft tissue disorders, are painful. Laser helps reduce nerve sensitivity and promotes the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers.
  • Reduced inflammation — Inflammation damages tissues and is the root cause of many health issues. Laser therapy reduces inflammation by increasing blood flow, blocking inflammatory mediators, and bringing oxygen and nutrients to damaged areas.
  • Faster healing — Laser therapy can speed up healing of injuries, surgical excisions, dental extraction sites, skin wounds, and infections by stimulating tissue repair and regeneration. Shorter recovery times allow your pet to get back to normal activities faster.
  • Improved mobility — Reduced pain and inflammation and faster healing often equal improved mobility for pets with musculoskeletal issues, such as arthritis or hip dysplasia. 
  • Safe treatments — Laser therapy is noninvasive, painless, and requires no anesthesia or recovery time. Laser is ideal for pets with multiple health conditions or on medications, because the therapy has no side effects and does not interfere with other treatments.
  • Versatile treatments — Laser therapy can treat skin diseases, orthopedic problems, ear infections, soft tissue injuries—any condition involving pain or inflammation.
  • Enhanced post-operative recovery — Laser therapy can help reduce pain and inflammation following surgery, promote faster incision healing, and minimize complication risks.

Your pet’s laser therapy sessions

Our veterinarians evaluate your pet before formulating a laser therapy protocol, which includes differing light intensity, duration, and session number. During a laser session, your pet will sit or lie comfortably, often in an exam room with you present. Everyone in the room must wear safety goggles to prevent accidental retinal damage. A trained team member applies the laser, which they move slowly over the target treatment area, avoiding heat buildup in any spot. Sessions last only a few minutes, and most pets tolerate the treatment well and will actually relax under the laser’s gentle, soothing warmth.

Laser therapy is revolutionizing how our Aloha Veterinary Hospital team manages pain, inflammation, and healing in pets. The noninvasive and effective nature makes laser therapy an excellent addition to any pet’s healthcare regimen. Contact us to schedule a laser therapy consultation if your pet is struggling with chronic pain or recovering from injury, disease, or surgery.