Laser therapy — sometimes referred to as cold laser therapy — is a procedure that's been available to treat humans for decades. Only in recent years has it begun to be used to treat various conditions in dogs. But what is it, and is it safe for your dog? Read on to learn about cold laser therapy for dogs and how it might help ease your pooch's pain.

Laser Therapy for Dogs

Laser therapy is a procedure that uses a laser to promote tissue healing by stimulating cell regeneration and increasing blood flow, explained the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (AKCCHF). The word "laser" is actually an acronym that stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation," which means that a laser is a concentrated beam of photon radiation in the form of light, said Innovative Veterinary Care (IVC).

This type of laser therapy is sometimes referred to as cold laser therapy to distinguish it from surgical lasers, which use much higher frequencies to penetrate and reach deeper tissue. Laser therapy is non-invasive, which means there's no need to cut into your pet. Instead, veterinarians simply shine a low-frequency laser beam over the surface of the skin and fur to treat the tissue beneath the surface.

How Laser Therapy Works

Laser therapy helps promote healing of tissue and relieve pain through a process called photobiomodulation. Photobiomodulation is a photochemical process where light interacts with cells to cause biochemical reactions, said IVC. These reactions include increasing circulation at the cellular level, stimulating the immune system, reducing inflammation, and enhancing collagen production and the development of muscle tissue, all of which aid in the repair of damaged tissue.

Conditions Treated by Cold Laser Therapy for Dogs

Laser therapy for dogs is primarily used to treat the following conditions:

• Acute and chronic injuries
• Sprained or strained muscles
• Osteoarthritis and joint pain
• Spinal disc swelling
• Musculoskeletal issues
• Post-surgical nerve tissue repair

Safety of Laser Therapy

Cold laser therapy is a safe procedure. The frequency of light energy that's used has no risk of burning your dog. The biggest danger is retinal damage to anyone who looks directly at the laser beam. In order to prevent this, the laser operator wears protective glasses. Typically, dogs are either provided with protective goggles as well or their eyes are covered or directed away from the beam during the procedure.