by Dr Holly Chivers BVSc MRCVS
The laser is used as an adjunct to other medical treatments. Our aim is to use a multi-modal approach to improve both your pet’s and your own quality of life without putting them through lots of invasive procedures or additional stress. Our therapeutic laser works by emitting infrared radiation at a specific frequency and wavelength which ensures it penetrates to the deeper target tissues.
It stimulates the body’s normal cells to do their job faster, to:
• Reduce inflammation
• Reduce swelling
• Relieve pain
• Improve/speed healing
The main thing to know about laser is that it is safe, non-invasive and very well tolerated. The procedure can be done during a normal consult slot, no clipping of fur is required, and the patient does not need to be sedated. There is no heat nor other sensations generated by the laser so generally the patient remains quite relaxed.
The procedure usually lasts about 20 minutes. All laser courses are tailored to the individual animal and condition but in general, for the chronic cases such as osteoarthritis, there is an induction course of six sessions over three weeks and at this
point we would drop to weekly or even fortnightly treatments to maintain the benefits seen. Laser can be used on all animals and so it isn’t restricted to just dogs and cats. A range of conditions can benefit from laser therapy
• Osteoarthritis
• Soft tissue sprains/strains
• Acute traumatic injuries – bruising, swelling 3 Joint problems
• Tendon damage
• Haematomas
• Gingivostomatitis (gum inflammation)
• Otitis externa (ear infection)
• Surgical wounds
• Traumatic wounds
• Anal gland abscesses
The laser has a multitude of uses ranging from chronic osteoarthritis, to traumatic wounds and even ear infections. By changing the settings on the laser, we can target different tissues and therefore create different responses.
With laser treatments there are no side effects. As with all treatments, some animals will respond better than others but there are no negative effects in the short or long term. There are certain areas of the body that we do not want to laser, such as the eyes, thyroid and lumps but as long as we don’t apply the laser directly to these areas, we won’t cause any damage or stimulate lumps to grow. The majority of insurance companies will cover laser therapy.
We ‘ve had some fantastic success stories whilst using the laser, improving the lives of a number of our clients and their beloved pets. If you would like any further information please speak to one of our Client Care Team.
George Veterinary Hospital 01666 823165
Royal Wootton Bassett Clinic 01793 852458
www.georgevetgroup.co.uk