Pet Laser Therapy

Laser therapy is a newer modality that we have to help manage your pet’s chronic pain issues or to help with healing after surgery in the short term. We offer this service for cats and dogs.

What is therapeutic laser therapy for pets and what are the benefits?

Laser therapy works by stimulating an increased circulation to focused areas to help carry inflammatory mediators away from the area. In the case of wound healing, the increased circulation helps to reduce swelling. Laser therapy is particularly useful for pets who are unable to tolerate most commonly used pain medications.

Are lasers dangerous for pets and are there any side effects?

The laser we use is not dangerous to pets unless they look directly at the beam of light. For this reason, they wear darkened goggles during their laser treatments.

What kind of lasers are used on pets?

The type of laser we use is called a class IV (4) cold laser and does not burn like a surgical laser. If you could ask our patients, they would tell you it’s like a heated massage!

How often does laser therapy need to happen to be beneficial?

Laser therapy for most post-operative conditions will only be the day off and potentially 1-2 days after surgery. For chronic conditions such as arthritis or back problems, laser treatments are often done 2-3 times a week for the first week or two and then once every 1-3 weeks. Some pets may experience longer intervals. A typical laser therapy session lasts 20 minutes but for more complex problems can last 30-45 minutes.

If you are unsure if laser therapy is the best option for your pet, the friendly staff at Kingston Veterinary Clinic would be happy to provide you with more information!