Laser Therapy Medical Services

Ahwatukee Animal Care Hospital is a complete small animal veterinary facility and a full-service boarding and day care facility.  We offer many important speciality services such as laser therapy, surgery, dentistry, endoscopy, digital x-ray, ultrasound, acupuncture, and EKG. Schedule an appointment today!

Laser Therapy

Ahwatukee Animal Care Hospital proudly offers cutting edge laser therapy for your pet.  Just as laser therapy is extremely useful in treating many health conditions in humans, it is also an effective way of treating some conditions in pets.  Laser therapy provides a non-invasive, pain-free, surgery-free, drug-free treatment which is used to treat a variety of conditions and can be performed in conjunction with existing treatment protocols. Relief and/or improvement is often noticed within hours, depending on the condition and your pet's treatment response. Whether your pet is rehabilitating from trauma or injury, healing from wounds, or simply aging, your companion can benefit from this innovative approach to treating pain.  

What is Laser Therapy?

Laser therapy works by infusing cells with light energy called ATP.  Cells that are impaired are not producing the proper amount of energy, so adding ATP to the cells causes them to be healthier.  This reduces the pain for your pet. Lasers have a biochemical and photochemical effect (called "photo-bio-modualtion") on living cells.  These photons stimulate each individual cell to revitalize and reactivate its own healing processes through a biochemical cascade of events.  Class IV deep tissue laser therapy uses a beam of laser light to deeply penetrate tissue without damaging it.  

Laser therapy is a surgery-free, drug-free, noninvasive treatment to reduce pain, reduce inflammation, and speed healing.  It is not painful and requires no anesthetic.  Laser therapy has been scientifically proven to be successful in treating post-surgical pain and many acute and chronic conditions.

How it Works

Laser therapy stimulates the body to heal from within. Non-thermal photons of light are administered to the body for about 3 to 8 minutes and absorbed by the injured cells. The cells are then stimulated to respond with a higher rate of metabolism.  This results in relief from pain, increased circulation, reduced inflammation, and an acceleration of the healing process.  

The laser light is delivered through a noninvasive hand piece to treat the affected area(s). Your pet will feel a gentle and soothing warm sensation that they may even find relaxing. Response time varies, but most owners see a difference after only a few treatments.  Therapy sessions can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the area(s) being treated. These sessions are performed in a quiet, comfortable room.

Treatment protocols are unique to each patient and condition.  Therefore, treatments will vary in time, complexity, and cost.  We always provide treatment estimates prior to beginning therapy.

A more detailed explanation can be seen here: 

Benefits of Laser Therapy Include: Reduced pain Reduced inflammation Accelerated tissue repair and cell growth Improved circulation
Increased cellular metabolic activity Decreased fibrous tissue formation Improved nerve function Accelerated wound healing Stimulates acupuncture points and trigger points Pain relief makes for a happier pet and improves the pet's quality of life

Conditions That Respond Best to Laser Therapy Include:

Allergies Anal gland inflammation Arthritis (or any type of pain) Degenerative Joint Disease Dental disease (gingivitis/stomatitis) Tooth extraction pain relief Ear infections Geriatric care General pain Hematomas and hot spots Hip Dysplasia Infections Inflammations
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Intervertebral disc disease Lick Granulomas  Post surgical pain and healing Rehabilitation Skin disorders Sprains, strains, and fractures Tendonitis Wound healing And more...

Indeed, laser therapy can be used to treat a number of different conditions in animals, including injuries, wounds, fractures, dermatological issues, trauma, neurological conditions, and pain.  It is safe, fast, painless, and has no side effects  Pets with chronic conditions see improvement in as few as 3 treatment sessions.

What can my pet expect during a laser therapy treatment session?

Simply put, it provides relief.  As the laser is administered, your pet will relax and enjoy the treatment. The almost immediate relief of pain will allow your pet to be comfortable and any anxiety that your pet may initially experience, will dissipate.

Watch a video of an actual treatment: 

What are some signs that my senior pet can benefit from laser therapy?

Many of our laser therapy patients are older pets with musculoskeletal ailments.  Some signs that your senior companion is experiencing pain or discomfort are: Abnormal sitting or lying posture Circling multiple times before lying down Restlessness Whining, groaning, or other vocalizations Limping, unable to get up or lie down Lack of grooming Won't wag tail Licking or biting an area Lack of appetite Trembling

Contact us today to schedule an appointment!

Ahwatukee Animal Care Hospital utilizes one of the most reputable and advanced forms of laser therapy available, Companion Therapy Laser.

If you would like to know more about our laser therapy treatment, or to learn if laser therapy could be an effective option for your pet's medical condition, ask us!

Laser Facts

   Laser therapy is a drug-free, non-invasive alternative and integrative therapy.  In many cases, it provides superior healing ability to conventional treatment alone.

   Cold laser therapeutic effectiveness was discovered by Hungarian physician Endre Mester in 1967, only a few years after the laser was invented.

   Ironically, laser therapy was used on humans before it was used on dogs and cats.  Typically, products are tested on animals first.

   Technology has helped make laser therapy for animals feasible and affordable.

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