What Is Laser Therapy?

 You may have heard a little about using laser therapy in both human and animal medicine to help with disorders like sports injuries and arthritis. But there is so much more to it than that. Laser therapy has been used in Europe since the 1970’s and was cleared by the FDA in the US in 2005. Laser therapy is used to help reduce pain, inflammation and promote healing of tissues. How does it do that? Laser sends photons (light energy) deep into tissues which is then absorbed at a cellular level to induce the cells to produce their own energy needed for repair. Increasing the energy production in cells leads to healthier cells/tissue and faster healing. Laser can be used in all sorts of conditions including arthritis, chronic pain, trauma, wounds, hot spots, ear infections, and used post-surgery and dental extractions. The therapy laser provides a sterile, pain-free, non-invasive, drug-free treatment option and some results can be seen with just one treatment! Therapy sessions are performed in the exam room so the owner can be with their pet and watch. Everyone gets goggles to protect their eyes, and in the approximately five-minute treatment you can actually see your pet relax and enjoy the laser which provides a mild warmth over the area being treated. For very acute conditions, like hot spots, often one treatment is all that is necessary. Other conditions that are more chronic, like with arthritis or hip dysplasia, then a treatment schedule would be set up. Typically, therapy would be initiated and given every two to three days for the first six to 12 treatments then, depending on the pet’s response, therapy would decrease to once a week and then however often needed to maintain comfort- usually once a month or so. Cinema Veterinary Centre is located at 23460 Cinema Drive, Suite L in Valencia. For details, call 661-253-9300.