So what’s laser therapy?
Don’t be confused, this isn’t laser surgery. This is therapy.
You may have heard it called “cold laser” or something like that. It’s sometimes called cold laser since it doesn’t cut.
We’ve had laser therapy here since 2008. I’ll admit I was a skeptic. Things that sound too good to be true tend to be just that. A machine that provides pain-free, surgery-free, drug-free treatments for injuries, disc swellings, skin conditions, orthopedic disease and pain??? Come on.
So, we had the company come by and arranged for a bunch of our older, very painful patients to get a demonstration. They all seemed to enjoy the therapy. The staff used it on themselves. It wasn’t until the next day when owners were calling and saying, “If you don’t buy that thing, I will!” and ” She played with a toy last night! A toy! She hasn’t done that in 3 years!” and “I could touch him today without him wincing. It almost made me cry.” and my personal favorite, “Can I schedule a session for myself?” that we knew we really had something.
Since then, we’ve been treating post-surgery patients, terrible gums, skin conditions, and bulging discs without surgery. It’s relaxing and warm for the pet. We usually do the treatments in our “Spa Room” with the owner present. The treatments take 5 minutes or more, depending on how many areas we’re treating. We have time to chat. It doesn’t feel like medicine.
So how does it work? Laser therapy is the only course of treatment that actually stimulates the body to heal from within. Non-thermal photons of light are administered to the body and absorbed by injured cells. The cells are then stimulated and respond with a higher rate of metabolism. This results in increased circulation from the body, an anti-inflammatory reaction, relief from pain and an acceleration of the healing process.
The relief can be fast, sometimes by the time it’s over. There are no side effects (we just can’t use in around eyes or on things that might be cancerous). There’s no shaving or sedating.
We’ve also got 3 smaller lasers that can be rented for home use. And one that does laserpuncture (for the needle averse).
But how does it really work?
Are you nerdy like me? I’m so glad you asked! Check out the nerdy “How it works” video: