East York Veterinary Center is excited to offer laser therapy for patients! Laser therapy is a non-invasive, drug-free treatment that can be helpful in many settings because it promotes healing, decreases inflammation, and controls pain.
A therapeutic laser (sometimes called a “cold” laser) works by delivering energy in the form of non-visible laser light directly into affected tissues. This increases local blood flow and stimulates activity at the cellular level, which speeds up the body’s normal healing processes and resolves unwanted inflammation. Other actions, such as local endorphin release and reduction of chemical signals associated with pain, also make laser therapy an effective and low-risk tool in the management of pain.
Laser therapy is a diverse treatment tool. At East York Veterinary Center, we see a multitude of species, from dogs and cats to small mammals, birds, and lizards, and therapeutic laser treatments can be tailored to all of them. Additionally, there are many acute and chronic conditions that respond to laser therapy, including:
- Allergic Dermatitis
- Anal Gland Disease
- Arthritis
- Back & Neck Pain
- Burns
- Cystitis
- Ear Infections
- Feline Acne
- Fractures
- Gingivitis, Stomatitis, & Periodontal Diesease
- Hip Dysplasia
- “Hot Spots”
- Infections & Inflammation
- Lacerations
- Post-Surgical Wounds & Pain
- Sprains, Strains, & Tendonitis
- Other Traumatic Wounds
Laser treatments are simple and are crafted individually for each pet. The energy dosage is calculated based on the characteristics of the patient and the nature and location of the problem; an arthritic hip in a big dog will need more laser energy than a sore on the toe of a little cat. Our state-of-the-art machine will use these parameters to automatically generate treatment protocols and save them for each patient and each problem, ensuring consistency and accuracy. The laser energy is delivered through a hand-held wand that is placed directly onto or held right above the treatment area. After applying the laser for a set amount of time, your pet’s treatment is finished and he or she is on the way to feeling better!