Laser therapy is a modality that can be used for the treatment of pain in dogs caused by joint, nerve, and muscle injuries. It is a beam of non-visible light – a laser beam – applied to tissue through a handheld aperture. As the laser light hits the skin, some of the light is absorbed into body tissues. Like sunlight hitting a human’s skin and stimulating a response that results in a suntan, the absorption of laser light is hypothesized to stimulate blood flow and increase cell energy.

Before reaching for laser treatments, a full medical work-up should be completed by your pet’s veterinarian. Because pets can’t tell us exactly where or what type of pain they have, diagnostics are needed to understand why a pet is experiencing pain. In older dogs, lameness is often thought to be due to osteoarthritis, but lameness can also be caused by cancer. Therapeutic laser may be beneficial for osteoarthritis, but it should not be used if a pet also has cancer. The only way to know why a pet is in pain is to have a full veterinary work-up with diagnostics.

Once your veterinarian has decided laser therapy is the best option to treat your dog’s pain, there are other factors to consider before laser therapy begins.

How does laser therapy work?

The power of the laser matters and is defined by the class of the laser. Class 1 is the lowest level of laser energy. We use Class 1 lasers every day, for example, when we use a remote to open our garage door. The power needed for a laser to be therapeutic is Class 3B or Class 4. These lasers are the most studied for the treatment of pain (and other applications like wound healing). Common laser descriptions seen on the market such as “hot laser,” “cold laser,” and “red light” therapy do not define the effectiveness or power of a laser.

The beam of light from a therapeutic laser (600-900nm) is not visible. When applied to the skin, some of the light is absorbed, but some of it scatters and can be very harmful to the eye. When laser is applied, the eyes of the therapist, patient, and anyone in the direct vicinity should be covered with laser-specific eye wear (regular sunglasses will not block the laser light).

The color of a pet’s fur and skin changes the absorption of the laser. It’s like the difference between standing in the sun wearing a black shirt or a white shirt. The laser light will be absorbed by any tissue in its path, including fur! For pets with long, dark fur, the hair needs to be shaved (best scenario) or parted (an alternative to shaving) for the laser light to absorb into the tissues.

One of the most common questions clients ask about lasers is, “can I buy a laser to use at home?” Class 3B and Class 4 therapeutic lasers can be purchased for use at home but are expensive. Less expensive lasers ($2,500 or less), however, often don’t meet therapeutic laser parameters. Instead of buying a laser for home, invest in a comprehensive rehabilitation treatment plan to treat pain, address joint and muscle limitations, and strengthen your pet so they can return to their highest level of pain-free functional mobility.

If you’re interested in developing a comprehensive rehabilitation treatment plan for your dog, contact the Small Animal Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy service. Once your pet has a diagnosis from your veterinarian or a CSU veterinary specialist, our rehabilitation team will complete a mobility evaluation to develop a comprehensive treatment plan.