Companion Laser Therapy
November 2014
The Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc. is excited to announce the purchase of a class IV laser therapy unit. We recently agreed to purchase this unit, which will be incorporated into many of the treatment plans that we currently utilize. Laser therapy is one of the newest therapy modalities in the veterinary profession. It uses infrared laser light to stimulate healing and blood flow to injured areas. The possibilities for use as endless. The best part is that this technology is non-invasive, so your pet can experience the treatment with no discomfort. Many veterinarians report that their patients actually relax a lot during the treatment.
So, how does this technology work?
- Laser therapy works to decrease pain and inflammation. The infrared light affects the nerve endings and the surrounding tissue to decrease the sensation of pain.
- Laser therapy generates increased blood flow to the region of the body that is being treated. This allows for a greater supply of oxygen, as well as the removal of various waste products (toxins, inflammatory mediators, etc).
- Laser therapy also encourages the red blood cells to release more hemoglobin in the treatment area. This increased release of hemoglobin results in increased oxygen to the tissue. Since oxygen is the "nutrition" for cells, these cells are healthier and repair themselves at a fester rate.
- Laser therapy also works at the level of the cell. The oxygen from the hemoglobin is picked up by the cells at an increased rate. In addition, the mitochondria (the portion of the cell that turns oxygen into energy) speed up their rate of function. This causes faster and more efficient creation of energy (ATP) for the cell.
- Laser therapy causes dilation (making the tubes bigger) of the lymphatic system. It is easiest to think of the lymphatic system as the sewer system of the body. Lymphatics help to drain fluid and other materials from body tissue. The increased size of the lymphatics makes this removal process faster and more efficient.
- Laser therapy results in better collagen formation and faster healing. This limits the amount of scar tissue that forms.
So, what conditions can be treated using laser therapy?
- Skin Infection
- Arthritis
- Back conditions
- Injured joints
- Soft tissue injuries (muscle, ligament, tendon, etc.)
- Bite wounds
- Chronically infected ears
- Post-surgical wounds
- Burns
- Infected and Inflamed gum tissue (gingivitis)
- Lick Granulomas
- Anal sac inflammation
- Hip Dysplasia
- Many, many more
As of the publishing of this article, we do not have the laser therapy unit in house. It is on order and we are eagerly anticipating the arrival. We will then begin using it, rotating the unit between our three locations in Orrville, Seville and Barberton.
