Companion Laser Therapy

Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic is excited to announce the purchase of a Companion Animal class IV laser therapy unit.  We purchased this new treatment  unit, which will be incorporated into many of the treatment plans that we currently utilize.  As one of the newest therapy modalities in the veterinary profession, laser therapy gives us the chance to help pets in different ways than we were previously able.  It uses infrared laser light to stimulate healing and blood flow to injured areas.  The possibilities for use seem endless.  This technology is non-invasive, so your pet can experience the treatment with no discomfort.  Many veterinarians report that their patients actually relax a lot during the treatment.  Though our sample size in small, we have seen our current patients respond very favorably, with great outcomes to this point in time.

Class IV (previously called cold laser therapy) Laser therapy works to decrease pain and inflammation.  The infrared light affects the nerve endings and the surrounding tissue to decrease the sensation of pain.  Our unit is the most powerful unit available on the market, which allows us to treat animals most effectively.  Using a higher power (to an extent) helps reduce the treatment time by delivering a higher amount of energy in a shorter time period.  This is accomplished, while remaining safe.

Using a specific wavelength of light, laser therapy stimulates increased blood flow to the region of the body that is being treated.  This allows for a greater supply of oxygen, as well as the removal of various waste products (toxins, inflammatory mediators, etc).

Laser therapy also encourages the red blood cells to release more hemoglobin in the treatment area.  This increased release of hemoglobin results in increased oxygen to the tissue.  Since oxygen is the "nutrition" for cells, these cells are healthier and repair themselves at a faster pace.

Laser therapy also works at the level of the cell.  The oxygen from the hemoglobin is picked up by the cells at an increased rate.  In addition, the mitochondria (the portion of the cell that turns oxygen into energy) speed up their rate of function.  This causes faster and more efficient creation of energy (ATP) for the cell.  This is done by speeding up the Krebs' cycle, which is a very intricate system that the body uses to create energy in the form of ATP. More energy means improved healing.

Laser therapy causes dilation (making the tubes bigger) of the lymphatic system.  It is easiest to think of the lymphatic system as the sewer system of the body.  Lymphatics help to drain fluid and other materials from body tissue.  The increased size of the lymphatics makes this removal process faster and more efficient.

Laser therapy results in better collagen formation and faster healing.  This limits the amount of scar tissue that forms.

Treatable Conditions:

At this time, we have purchased and used the laser at our Orrville location only.  We hope to purchase a unit for each of our three locations to better serve our clients.  Unfortunately the cost of the unit is prohibitive at this time, so we have elected to purchase one unit and evaluate the results as time goes by.  If you would like to have your pet treated, or want to know if your pet is a candidate, give us a call and we would love to discuss this option with you.  

We can be reached via phone at (330)336-5823

Article written and published by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.