Laser Therapy for Pets

WHY MIGHT MY PET NEED LASER THERAPY?

Laser Therapy for Pets has proven to be highly effective in reducing pain and swelling as well as improving healing time and increasing circulation.

Your pet may have been recommended for Laser Therapy to help manage:

• Wound Healing
• Osteoarthritis / Lameness
• Oedema and Congestion
• Ligament & Tendon Conditions
• Nerve & Spinal Cord Problems
• Bone & Cartilage Repair
• Muscle Sprains
• Neck and Back Pain
• Chronic Wounds
• Pain Management
• Burns
• Post Surgical Pain and Healing
• Post Orthopaedic Surgical Recovery

LASER THERAPY FOR PETS

The painless application of laser energy promotes increased circulation by drawing oxygen and nutrients to the affected area. This creates an optimal healing environment to reduce swelling, inflammation, muscle spasm, stiffness and pain.

As the injured area returns to normal, pain is relieved and function is restored. 

WHAT IS LASER THERAPY?

Laser Therapy is non-invasive treatment using specific wavelengths of light (red and near-infrared) to create therapeutic effects. These effects include improved healing time, pain reduction, increased circulation and decreased swelling.

Laser Therapy has been widely utilised in the human field by physiotherapists, doctors and nurses as far back as the 1970’s and has recently been approved by NICE.

We were so impressed with the results of our trials that we have now made it available for your pets.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

During each painless treatment, laser energy increases circulation, drawing water, oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasm, stiffness and pain.

The infra-red laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level and metabolic activity increases within the cell, improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is relieved.

WILL IT HURT MY PET?

There is no unpleasant sensation during treatment and the area being treated will feel a little warm. Occasionally your pet may feel a little sleepy.

WHAT IF MY PET IS ON MEDICATION? 

Laser Therapy is a safe procedure which may be used in conjunction with conventional medicine and other therapies. Laser Therapy may help to minimize the requirement for other medications. This can be especially useful if medications are producing undesirable side effects.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? 

There is no patient sedation or restraint required and the experience is usually pleasant and comforting to them. Each session will, typically last between 15-30 minutes, depending on the size and depth of the area being treated.

Class IV Laser Therapy treatments are cumulative in nature. Although improvement is maybe seen after the first visit, for most conditions, particularly those involving muscular skeletal areas, we recommend a multi-visit treatment plan.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

At Cara Veterinary Group, an initial course of 6 treatments over 2-3 weeks is recommended. Costs vary according to treatment regime but as a guide:

• Minor Wound Healing - per session:        €15
• 1-3 Treatment Areas - per session:           €34.80
• 4-6 Treatment Areas - per session:           €61.20
• 1-3 Areas - per course of 6 treatments:   €174 (1 Free of Charge)
• 4-6 Areas - per course of 6 treatments:   €306 (1 Free of Charge)

REMEMBER: There is no sedative or restraint required for Laser Therapy. It is totally non-invasive and, in a lot of cases, pets enjoy the treatment as it provides a warm, soothing effect. 

TO BOOK:

• If you are a returning client and your pet has had Laser Therapy with us before, you can simply Book Online Now
• If you are a new client or if your pet has never had Laser Therapy with us before, please call us on 01 885 3253 to book your pet's appointment today!

Pet Owner FAQ's

Here is a list of the most common questions asked by pet owners about class 4 laser therapy.

How often should a patient be treated?

Acute conditions may be treated daily, particularly if they are accompanied by significant pain. More chronic problems respond better when treatments are received 2 to 3 times a week, tapering to once every week or two as improvement is seen.

How many treatments does it take?

This depends on the nature of the condition being treated. For some acute conditions 1-2 treatments may be sufficient. Those of a more chronic nature may require 5 to 8 (or more) treatments. Some conditions may require ongoing periodic care to control pain.

How long before the results are felt?

Your pet may feel improvement in their condition (usually pain reduction) after the first treatment. Sometimes they will not feel improvement for a number of treatments. This does not mean that nothing is happening. Each treatment is cumulative and results are often felt after 3 or 4 sessions.

Can it be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment?

Yes! Laser Therapy is often used with other forms of therapy, including physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments, massage, soft tissue mobilization, electrotherapy and following surgery. Other healing modalities are complementary and can be used with laser to increase the effectiveness of the treatment.

Does it hurt? What does a treatment feel like?

There is little or no sensation during treatment. Occasionally the patient feels mild, soothing warmth, or tingling. Areas of pain or inflammation may be sensitive briefly before pain reduction.

Are there any side effects or associated risks?

During more than twenty years of use by healthcare providers all over the world, very few side effects have ever been reported. Occasionally some old injuries or pain syndromes may feel aggravated for a few days, as the healing response is more active after treatment.

Has effectiveness been demonstrated scientifically?

YES. There are thousands of published studies demonstrating the clinical effectiveness of Laser Therapy. Among these, there are more than one hundred rigorously controlled, scientific studies that document the effectiveness of laser for many clinical conditions.

How long does each treatment take?

The typical treatment is 3 to 8 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated.

TO BOOK:

• If you are a returning client and your pet has had Laser Therapy with us before, you can simply Book Online Now
• If you are a new client or if your pet has never had Laser Therapy with us before, please call us on 01 885 3253 to book your pet's appointment today!