This year, Mt Pleasant Hospital For Animals has started incorporating Class IV laser therapy into its list of remedies to help promote healing and alleviate pain for pets. The cold laser treatment for animals is noninvasive and targets ailments such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease, and acute injuries like surgical incisions.

Class IV laser therapy uses light to penetrate the skin and underlying tissue, which triggers a number of cellular events that aid in healing.

It is offered as an alternative to oral pain medication and does not require surgery. Animals who have a laser session can resume their normal activities once they leave the clinic that same day.

The laser equipment is safe to be used on dogs, cats, and even people. According to the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation website, akcchf.org, "This therapeutic procedure was used 40 years ago on humans before it was ever tried on dogs."

"You can use it on just about anything," said veterinarian Katelyn Bakewell, DVM. "The surgical laser that we have can go back and forth between animals and people."

Veterinary technician Kristen Gregory said the trained staff makes modifications to the laser's settings based on the animal's features such as fur length, fur color, skin color, and weight.

Ms Gregory added, "When we do the treatment, it is in an environment that is 'nonveterinary' so to speak."

Owners can sit with their animals during the laser session in an area that replicates a living room. Dogs and cats can relax on the sofa or soft rug while receiving the treatment.

"It is very low stress," said Ms Gregory. "All they feel is a sense of warmth in the area that we are lasering."

She says the setting helps ease the animal's fear of the vet office and makes the experience feel more like they are getting pampered.

It is important, though, that when the laser is on, everyone in the room wear special protective goggles and the animal face away from the laser (soon "doggles" - dog goggles - will be available to protect pets' eyes).

Beyond taking that special precaution, there are no dangerous side effects or risks associated with the laser therapy.

"Generally speaking, as long as it is used properly, the side effects are pretty much nonexistent," said Dr Bakewell.

The whole session usually takes less than half an hour, too.

Ms Gregory says that depending on the size of the area being attended to "it can take as little as five minutes if we are just doing an incision size or it can take as many as 20 minutes if we are going over arthritic hips."

The number of sessions is dependent on what area is being targeted, and Mt Pleasant staff can modify the treatment schedule based on the needs of the animal.

"For something like right after a spay or neuter, we usually just do once around the incision to decrease inflammation, promote healing, and then they're good to go," Dr Bakewell said. "Something more like arthritis, we usually start with sessions of six."

One of the main reasons an animal would not be qualified for receiving laser treatment would be if they have an open wound on the area.

Dr Bakewell explained, "Generally speaking, the main thing we can't use it on is if [a treatment site] is actively bleeding, because it increases blood flow to the area and would cause the bleeding to worsen."

Another factor that would disqualify a patient is if the pet has cancer. Using the treatment that increases the blood supply to an animal with a tumor could result in helping the tumor grow.

Having pets attend their routine appointments to have the veterinary staff member know the animal's medical history is always recommended.

Since Mt Pleasant is the only veterinary practice in Newtown that currently provides laser therapy, it welcomes new pet owners seeking this specific treatment.

Immediate Results

Dr Bakewell recently treated a dog named Denali who needed surgery on two of his legs. She worked on his first leg about four or five months before they had the laser equipment, then was able to incorporate the laser therapy into the recovery for the second leg.

"We started lasering shortly after [the second] surgery as part of his physical therapy and rehabilitation and the owners noticed a pretty significant difference in healing time. They thought he was a lot more comfortable, faster, and the incision healed better and quicker," Dr Bakewell said. "The laser definitely helped make a big difference."

Ms Gregory added that Mt Pleasant has also helped a little Yorkie with arthritis in her elbow.

"Instead of starting her directly on medications, we started her on the laser therapy. She apparently is walking better, is much more comfortable, and the owner is happy because he does not have to start her on those medications. She's having a better quality of life," said Ms Gregory.

Mt Pleasant office manager Nina Seturins is having her 10-year-old rally obedience show dog Brady receive laser treatment.

"He's had four treatments total," said Ms Seturins. "He is a beagle and they tend to have neck and back problems."

When she noticed he started showing discomfort in his neck and shoulder area she became concerned.

"It seemed to be aggravated by him jumping off my bed, which is fairly high, onto a hardwood floor," she explained. "I was worried about it being disc disease, so he originally was on six weeks of crate rest."

She began using another therapeutic treatment at home that would emit a magnetic pulse, but did not see as much improvement as she hoped.

When she heard Mt Pleasant was going have the laser treatment available she wanted Brady to try it.

"The laser is much more effective," Ms Seturins said. "I had a show coming up, so I did two treatments before the show and I did two afterwards."

Ms Seturins said she immediately saw positive results from Brady and plans to continue to do future appointments.

"I have definitely seen benefit to it. I have already recommended it to several people I know that do rally obedience who have older dogs," Ms Seturins said.

To learn more about laser treatment at Mt Pleasant Hospital For Animals, visit the office at 119 Mount Pleasant Road or call 203-426-8585.

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