Managing Pain with Laser Therapy
for Dogs & Cats
in Plantation and Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Pets feel pain just as keenly as we do, and pain management is an essential part of their ongoing care. For cats and dogs, pain is not only uncomfortable; it can also affect the healing process. Therefore, mitigating pain means a faster, smoother recovery for our pets. At Central Broward Animal Hospital, we recognize that not all pets are able to safely take pain medications, and even healthy pets can develop side effects if they are on them for too long. That’s why we invested in laser therapy for dogs and cats, to round out our pain management modalities so that all pets can experience pain relief.
Think your pet would benefit from laser therapy?
Schedule a consultation!
What Is Pet Laser Therapy?
Laser therapy uses a process called photobiomodulation, which refers to the use of light energy to stimulate biological effects. The laser is a handheld device that our technicians will hold over your pet’s problem area. The light energy will penetrate deep into your pet’s tissue and stimulate the following effects:
- Increased cell production
- Improved blood circulation
- A release of endorphins
All these effects contribute to faster healing as well as pain relief.
Conditions Pet Laser Therapy Can Improve
Laser therapy for dogs and cats is versatile. It can be used for almost any condition that causes pain. The one instance we would not use the laser is if your pet has, or is suspected to have cancer because the laser could inadvertently promote cancer cell growth.
Common conditions we use laser therapy for include:
- Arthritis
- Joint injuries
- Old-age aches and pains
- Post-operative recovery
- Orthopedic conditions like hip dysplasia
- Lick granulomas and hot spots
- Wound healing
- Ear infections
- And more
How Often Will My Pet Need Therapy?
Depending on your pet’s condition, they may only require one or two sessions or they might benefit more from a series of sessions. For acute conditions like wound healing and post-op recovery, one session is often enough to do the trick. For more chronic conditions like arthritis and other orthopedic issues, a series of sessions is in order.
The good news is that laser therapy is cumulative, meaning that over time it becomes more effective, so your pet will require fewer and fewer sessions to get the full effect. Our veterinarians will work with you to develop a plan that suits your pet’s condition as well as your abilities.