If you have never personally experienced it for yourself, laser therapy may seem a little odd, but we’ve found that it can be an extremely beneficial part of your cat’s healthcare routine.

What exactly is laser therapy?
Laser therapy is a form of light therapy currently used in both human and veterinary medicine for treatment of a wide variety of ailments including wounds, osteoarthritis, soft tissue and nerve injuries, bone fractures, and pain relief.

Laser therapy has existed for decades and was used in human medicine long before it was used as a medical therapy for animals.  It has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the management of chronic pain and is currently used by the U.S. and British military, Olympic teams, sports rehabilitation therapists, and in pain management clinics across the United States and Europe.

So how does it work?
Laser light penetrates deep into the tissue layers, stimulating the body’s cells to create energy. This energy in turn stimulates metabolic processes and overall cellular function, allowing for rapid absorption of nutrients, elimination of wastes, and reproduction of new cells. It also releases natural, pain-killing endorphins within the body. This reduces pain, decreases inflammation and swelling, and speeds the healing process.

At Just Cats Clinic we use a Class IV therapy laser. We incorporate it into our surgery and dental procedures to reduce pain and inflammation and speed healing at incision sites. Other conditions may require multiple treatments, but symptoms of many conditions often improve within the first few treatments. Acute conditions such as wounds or hot spots are treated until resolution, while chronic conditions such as arthritis are treated until improvement is noted, and then treated with reduced frequency to maintain the effect.

What does a laser treatment feel like to our pets?
Human patients report a gentle, pleasant warming in the area being treated. Studies show that tissue endorphins are released during laser therapy, and many pets relax and become calmer during treatment. Laser treatments typically last for only a few minutes and are non-invasive.

So what can Class IV laser therapy do for my cat?
It can reduce pain and inflammation and promote healing – all in a non-invasive manner without drugs. It can offer relief to patients suffering from chronic painful conditions like arthritis. Laser therapy can be used to treat a surprising number of things including: wound care, allergies, infections, cuts/bites, inflammation, tooth extraction pain, post-surgery pain, sprains, hotspots, cystitis, fractures, inflammatory bowel disease, otitis, feline acne, and more.

Although not effective for every patient and condition, most patients with pain, inflammation or healing tissue are candidates and can benefit from laser treatments. We can do laser treatments in the clinic or in the comfort of your own home. Either way your cat remains with you during the treatment to ensure they remain comfortable. Treatment recommendations are unique to each patient and condition so make sure to speak with your vet to determine how often and how many treatments your cat should have. Our laser therapy sessions can be priced individually or as a package – call us if you have any questions or to schedule your first treatment!