kolarik1 Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 Has anyone had laser therapy done on their pups? There are literally no chiropractic vets here in the RGV...when talking to the vet today, she said I may have to go as far as San Antonio to find one (4 hour drive one way). However, they were recommending laser therapy to reduce inflammation/pain and indicated they have seen good results. I've done some research on it and wanted to know what y'all thought? This would be for Zelda, who at 13 is going strong except for pee/poop accidents that seem to subside when on pain meds. She had a full workup recently and her spine looked better than mine, and her CBC panel came back darn near perfect...and no indicators of cancer. She does have arthritis in her front paws. This may also be for Marble, who is showing some arthritis signs in one of her back paws. TIA Quote Marble, Noah, Eden, Raya (red heeler), Cooper & Trooper (naughty kittens) Missing my bridge angels: Pop, Zelda, Mousey & Carmel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 Conner gets laser treatments from his chiropractor and his regular vet. They do help his arthritic paw, his old injury paw, his wonky shoulder, and his back end weakness, so I am a big believer! I would say it is worth trying, even if it doesn’t help, it won’t hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsieg Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 Max had it done once, when I took him to a specialist vet for weakening rear end. Did not seem to help, but I also did not follow up with subsequent treatments (and Max was pretty strong anyway, had back-end weakness but never seemed to be in pain though maybe he hid it well). Looked like they were using a red laser, and besides not seeing an obvious improvement I could not get past the idea that I could not see how that red light was providing therapy. I'm not sure what the mechanism underlying laser treatment is, whether it is heating or some sort of photo effect. If it is heating then seems like a heating pad would work as well, and at much lower cost. If it is some sort of photo effect, not sure how non-ionizing red light could really do anything therapeutic. I kind of wonder whether part of the effect is simply the dog going for a fun trip and getting a massage as the laser is moved over his/her body. Not saying it doesn't work, I understand some folks have indeed seen beneficial effects, but would like to better understand how it works. Quote Rob Logan (April 7, 2010 - July 9, 2023) - - Max (August 4, 2004 - January 11, 2018) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatterseaBrindl Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 Ruby has had it (along with chiro) a couple of times for stained neck/shoulder. It helped a lot. Nigel had laser (along with accupuncture) for a huge lick granuloma that did not respond to any sort of topicals. He had to be muzzled if it was not wrapped securely in vetwrap. This was a very 'outside the box' treatment, but it worked. Two sessions, 2 weeks apart and the granuloma went away and he has not licked that spot since. Quote Nancy...Mom to Sid (Peteles Tiger), Kibo (112 Carlota Galgos) and Joshi. Missing Casey, Gomer, Mona, Penelope, BillieJean, Bandit, Nixon (Starz Sammie), Ruby (Watch Me Dash) Nigel (Nigel), and especially little Mario, waiting at the Bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatricksMom Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 Did it with Leo with a shoulder injury and it, along with physical therapy and massage, got him back to normal. Henry's doing it right now, along with massage, therapy, and the water treadmill, and he's almost healed (complications from splinting). If it's in the budget, I'd say give it a try. Quote Beth, Petey (8 September 2018- ), and Faith (22 March 2019). Godspeed Patrick (28 April 1999 - 5 August 2012), Murphy (23 June 2004 - 27 July 2013), Leo (1 May 2009 - 27 January 2020), and Henry (10 August 2010 - 7 August 2020), you were loved more than you can know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Time4ANap Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 Rocket has been having cold laser treatments for back end weakness. He loves it! He stands there while the laser is going, and if we have to take a break he goes right back to standing where the vet wants him so she can continue. We are also doing Adequan injections. Both have helped over the 8 weeks or so that we've been doing them, but he is starting to get weaker. I'm not sure how much longer either will be effective. I would do them both again because I saw the improvement in his mobility and the pain relief he experienced, even if it has only been temporary. He could also just be having a couple of bad days here, so we are keeping a close eye on the weakness daily. Quote Camp Broodie. The current home of Mark Kay Mark Jack and Gracie Kiowa Safe Joan. Always missing my boy Rocket Hi Noon Rocket, Allie Phoenix Dynamite, Kate Miss Kate, Starz Under Da Starz, Petunia MW Neptunia, Diva Astar Dashindiva, and LaVida I've Got Life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 Assuming you mean cold laser. If so then yes, I used it on Zuri for his LS and now Violet gets it for various things. Also worth looking into the Assisi Loop, which you can do at home. Your vet will have to order. It seems pricey, but per treatment it's actually quite inexpensive. Mine lasted longer than they say before the battery died and I had to reorder. Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 Worked wonders for my Doodles. After her FCE she had treatments several times a week, then dropped down to 1x a week. It was a godsend for her! Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smurfette Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 All my greys get cold laser therapy. It is great. I used mine for accupuncture and also for treating injuries like all kinds of open wounds. Due to their high level of red blood cells greyhounds react pretty well to laser therapy and the healing speeds up quite well. Paddy cut his paw pretty bad. 2 days later the cut was closed. Quote Sorry for butchering the english language. I try to keep the mistakes to a minimum. Nadine with Paddy (Zippy Mullane), Saoirse (Lizzie Be Nice), Abu (Cillowen Abu) and bridge angels Colin (Dessies Hero) and Andy (Riot Officer). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocsDoctor Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 When Doc was old and arthritic and had a bad back (he had a couple of compressed vertebrae, and some nerve pain) he got regular home visits from a veterinary physiotherapist. She was a firm believer in cold laser treatment, and had a portable machine which she would use on him after massage and manipulation. The whole package certainly had a very good effect - really increased his mobility and quality of life. And, like smurfette, the physio said she also found it helped speed up the healing of open wounds. Quote Clare with Tiger (Snapper Gar, b. 18/05/2015), and remembering Ken (Boomtown Ken, 01/05/2011-21/02/2020) and Doc (Barefoot Doctor, 20/08/2001-15/04/2015)."It is also to be noted of every species, that the handsomest of each move best ... and beasts of the most elegant form, always excel in speed; of this, the horse and greyhound are beautiful examples."----Wiliam Hogarth, The Analysis of Beauty, 1753. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmc333 Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 I just got done doing 6 sessions - 2 a week - for my 16 year old westie who has bad arthritis. It has really helped and she is much happier and moves much better and faster than before. I had doubts, but reading all the success stories made me try it. Now I wish I could find someone who could do it for me as cheaply! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rascalsmom Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 We did laser and Assisi loop on our cats torn knee ligament...were able to avoid surgery. We are presently using the same regimen on phoebe, who had the last few inches of her rail amputated recently due to an injury. We are less than two weeks from the injury and at her appointment six days ago they said it couldnt look better. She goes again tomorrow for a laser treatment and bandage change. Quote Phoebe (Belle's Sweetpea) adopted 9/2/13. Jack (BTR Captain Jack) 9/28/05--11/2/12Always missing Buddy, Ruby, and Rascal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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