Lasers-Not Just for Science Fiction

When we think of lasers, many tend to think of spaceships and people shooting at each other with futuristic guns. Did you know that lasers are now commonly used in human and veterinary medicine?

We use lasers two different ways in our veterinary hospital. The first is laser surgery, where a laser replaces the scalpel normally used in surgery. This has several benefits for your pet including: reduced pain, reduced bleeding, reduced swelling, reduced infection and quicker recovery. If your pet is having surgery done, even just a routine spay or neuter, and you would like us to use our surgical laser,  just check it on the surgery release form when you drop your pet off.

The second type of laser we use is medical therapy laser. This is a different type of laser than the one used for surgery. Medical therapy laser has a variety of uses including: pain relief, wound healing, treating arthritic conditions, treatment of lick granulomas and more. Medical laser therapy is beneficial because it is a noninvasive way to treat these conditions that can be used along with medication and other treatments. It uses deep–penetrating light to stimulate the release of endorphins and stimulates injured cells to heal at a faster rate. Usually your pet will receive treatments over several weeks, although this can vary depending on what your pet is being treated for and the severity of the condition. The treatment itself can be done while you wait or you can drop your pet off if that is more convenient.

If you’d like to know more about the use of lasers in veterinary medicine, give us a call, we’d be happy to answer any questions you have or schedule an appointment so you can talk with one of our veterinarians to see if medical laser therapy would benefit your pet.