A class IV therapeutic laser is designed to be a non-invasive treatment to help reduce pain, inflammation, scar tissue and swelling. It uses a beam of laser light to penetrate deep into tissue without causing damage to increase circulation, endorphin release, and speeds healing at the cellular level by increasing ATP release. Laser therapy can be used on its own or as part of a multi-model approach to pain along with medications laid out by your veterinarian. ​

​There are many conditions that can be benefited by Laser Therapy. Acute conditions (things that happen suddenly) including wounds, infections, tooth pain, muscle sprains and strains, bone fractures, and surgical incisions are all treatable with Laser Therapy. 

​There are however some things that our senior pets may do that are not a normal part of aging. Inappropriate urination (peeing where they’re not supposed to) is not a normal part of aging and can be caused by underlying senior pet illness such as diabetes, infection, hormone changes or arthritis. Being picky or having difficulty eating could be due to dental disease, while waking up through the night could be associated with cognitive disfunction. 

​One of the most common diseases that afflict senior pets is degenerative joint disease (DJD) or arthritis. As in humans, arthritis in pets is caused by a breakdown of the cartilage and underlying bone of a joint. This will cause pain, stiffness and a decreased range of motion. The most common places to find arthritis are the knees, hips, and spine. It can also be frequently found in the jaw with cats and in the elbows with dogs.

Luckily, there are many ways to help our arthritic pets. Nutritional supplements like glucosamine, green lipped mussel powder, and omega 3-6-9 fatty acids are very beneficial and can be started when your pet is young to help promote joint health. Some diets also contain these ingredients and are also low in calories. This is crucial for pets with arthritis as extra weight puts more pressure on the already painful joints. Losing weight can also help in other ways. Fat can release inflammatory chemicals, so less bad fat can mean less overall inflammation. 

​There are also many prescription medications that can help with arthritis. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are an excellent way to make our arthritic pets more comfortable. They work by blocking certain cellular pathways that produce inflammatory enzymes. This prevents inflammation of the arthritic joints, effectively stopping pain before it starts. Keeping that in mind, the human forms of these medications (Tylenol, Advil etc) are harmful to our pets. They need pet-specific forms of these medications that they are able to metabolize.