Laser therapy in veterinary medicine

Laser therapy is a treatment modality that has been utilized for decades, but is finally finding its place in mainstream veterinary medicine. Interest in the application of therapeutic laser for the treatment of various conditions has grown dramatically as anecdotal reports, clinical case reports, and systematic study results have become available. Therapeutic laser has been incorporated into treatments that address diverse conditions including:

*Skin wounds

*Tendon and ligament injuries

*Trigger points

*Edema

*Lick granulomas

*Muscle injuries

*Nervous system injury and neurologic conditions

*Osteoarthritis

*Post-operative incisions and tissues

*Pain

Applying therapeutic laser to dogs and cats

The optimal wavelengths, intensities, and dosages for laser therapy in pets have not yet been adequately studied or determined, but this is sure to change as studies are designed and as more case-based information is reported. To maximize laser penetration, the pet’s hair should be clipped. When treating traumatic, open wounds, the laser probe should not contact the tissue, and the dose often quoted is 2 J/cm2 to 8 J/cm2. When treating a post-operative incision, a dose of 1 J/cm2 to 3 J/ cm2 per day for the first week after surgery is described. Lick granulomas may benefit from therapeutic laser once the source of the granuloma is identified and treated. Delivering 1 J/cm2 to 3 J/cm2 several times per week until the wound is healed and the hair is re-growing is described. Treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs and cats using therapeutic laser is commonly described. The laser dose that may be most appropriate in OA is 8 J/cm2 to 10 J/cm2 applied as part of a multi-modal arthritis treatment plan. Finally, tendonitis may benefit from laser therapy due to the inflammation associated with the condition.