Pet Laser Therapy In Palm Desert, CA

Pet Laser Therapy for dogs and cats is one of the most exciting new treatment modalities of the new millennium. Simple, rapid and painless – actually pleasant – pet laser therapy is being used to improve healing of wounds and infections, reduce the pain of arthritis, and even help dogs walk again after surgery.

Laser treatment*, uses low-level laser, or light-emitting diodes, to alter the function of cells. Unlike what we usually think of as laser “beams,” these wavelengths are invisible to the human eye. Laser has a wide range of uses in science, medicine, and our daily lives – lasers are used to record and play CD’s, point out items of interest across distances, to precisely cut all sorts of materials including live tissue (ie, laser surgery,” metals, and paper. The difference in applications is mainly dependent on the frequency of the laser light. Most of these use various levels of high-frequency laser.

Therapy laser uses low frequency. These invisible lasers can penetrate tissue without damaging it, and there they “excite” the cells without damaging them. Because it works at the mitochondrial level, it has no effect on bacteria, so it can be used where infection exists. This has the effect of stimulating or speeding the process of healing, and decreasing inflammation that can cause pain.

The only absolute contraindication for laser treatment is cancer. Laser treatment should never be used if there is a tumor near the target site. That’s because it can stimulate cancer cells just like it does other cells, potentially resulting in faster tumor growth.

When a pet is accepted for laser treatment, the initial series is a minimum of 6 sessions spread over a 2-week time frame. We actually provide as many as 10 sessions for the same fee, and we believe that “more is better” in this initial phase of treatment. To start the treatment, we may shave some hair over the target area, to improve contact of the probe with skin. This also allows us to mark the area with a series of black dots, which are used to guide the probe.

Country Club Animal Clinic uses a Brady Medical Class III therapy laser. Classes III and IV are typically used for treatment. While Class III requires slightly longer treatment time, it also eliminates the small risk of superficial burns associated with Class IV, and significantly reduces the cost.

*Also known as light therapy, photon treatment, low-level or cold laser.

Pet Laser Therapy Case Studies:

1) Irish is a Golden Retriever who injured his carpus (“wrist”). The joint was visibly swollen and warm to the touch. Six weeks of rest, medication, and tincture of time failed to improve his limp, and his owner feared there
would be permanent damage to the joint. A two-week course of laser treatment was prescribed. Within the first week of treatment, the swelling and heat disappeared, and Gordo stopped limping. Gordo clearly enjoyed his sessions, leading the way to “Laser Corner,” and his owner reported that each time he returned home from a session he appeared calm and restful for up to two hours!

2) Sara is a mixed-breed dog of middle age who had been on anti-inflammatory pain medication for over a year for arthritis in her hips, when she was invited to take part in our initial laser trial. Over the first three weeks, she needed less and less medication, until finally she was taking it only on “big play” days, when her owners had house guests with dogs and she sometimes overdid the activity. Nearly two years later, she developed a limp on a front leg. X-rays revealed severe arthritis in the elbow. Medication and decreased activity didn’t improve things and it was looking like she might have nerve damage. She started a new round of laser treatment and within two weeks was walking almost normally and is again off her pain drugs.

3) Bella the bulldog had already had surgery to remove one chronically inflamed ear canal, and the other ear was proving resistant to all attempts to control her infections. Permanent changes were present, with calcium deposits making it almost impossible to clean or medicate the canal. The good-natured dog was obviously in constant pain from the ear. In a last-ditch effort to stave off surgery, laser therapy was prescribed. Within ten days she was clearly more comfortable and the drainage from the ear had diminished significantly. While there is no hope of reversing the chronic stenosis, Bella is far more comfortable and may be able to avoid risky surgery and preserve at least minimal hearing.

Call Country Club Animal Clinic today if you are interested in pet laser therapy – we will be happy to answer any further questions (760) 776-7555