We offer laser pain management, known as cold laser therapy, at Parkway Animal Hospital in Grand Prairie, TX. While numerous pet pain medications can be used for dogs and cats, many owners are uncomfortable with the long-term effects. Laser pain management provides a non-invasive treatment option that requires no prescription, surgery, or injections. Here are some things you should know about laser pain management.
How Laser Therapy Works
A laser pain management appointment usually takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how many parts of the pet's body need treatment. Our veterinarian uses a handheld device to apply the laser to your pet's skin. Many pets find the process calming and start to feel immediate pain relief. That's because the low-light laser triggers a photo-biomodulation response in your pet's body. Numerous biochemical effects take place during a laser pain management session:
Faster Cell Regeneration
Laser therapy can increase the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy source for cells. Laser therapy may accelerate the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues by enhancing cellular metabolism. Laser therapy can speed up healing when your pet suffers from a wound or surgical incision.
Increased Collagen Production
Collagen is a protein that makes up about 80 percent of connective tissue in your pet's body and 75 percent of its skin. It's present in the hair, skin, nails, bones, joints, blood vessels, cartilage and other body parts. Increased collagen production causes faster healing and can stave off the pain from arthritis.
Blood Vessel Dilation
All cells require energy to function. Laser therapy re-energizes your pet's cells to perform better, healing faster and reducing pain. Cells require oxygen and nutrients. Laser therapy makes blood vessels dilate. This dilation leads to better blood flow and more cell oxygenation.
Types of Laser Pain Management
Laser therapy helps pets recover from acute pain, or alleviates the effects of chronic pain. Acute pain is a type of pain that arrives suddenly, such as when your pet receives a wound or an incision from surgery. Chronic pain is long-term pain that develops over time, usually in conditions such as arthritis. Laser therapy can't cure your aging pet of arthritis, but it can help them enjoy a better quality of life with less pain.
In addition, laser pain management isn't just for dogs and cats. Veterinarians have successfully used it for wound healing on everything from reptiles to horses.
Visit Parkway Animal Hospital
Laser pain management can be valuable to a comprehensive pain management plan. It is often used with other treatments, such as medication, to provide well-rounded pain relief and promote healing. If your pet suffers from pain and wants to learn more about laser pain management, schedule an appointment today at Parkway Animal Hospital in Grand Prairie, TX.