Osteoarthritis is a progressive, degenerative condition in dogs that can make just moving around difficult and painful for them. There's no cure for this condition, however, cold laser therapy has proven to be an effective treatment option to relieve some of your dog's discomfort. Today, our Marina del Rey vets offer some information on osteoarthritis in dogs, and how you can help ease their pain by scheduling laser therapy.
What is osteoarthritis in dogs?
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in dogs. A degenerative disorder, osteoarthritis leads to permanent deterioration of the cartilage that provides cushioning for the joints. This painful condition is estimated to affect about a quarter of all dogs throughout their lifetime.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis in Dogs
The painful joints caused by osteoarthritis can lead to a number of tell-tale signs. The main osteoarthritis symptoms in dogs that you may notice include:
- Pain, stiffness, and lameness
- Swollen joints
- Refusal to jump, use stairs, or run
- Reluctance to stand
- Restlessness
- Lack of enthusiasm for walks or play
- Unusual aggression, whining, or irritability
- Licking at joints
- Slow shuffling walk
Causes of Osteoarthritis in Dogs
Although this condition can develop in any breed of dog, it is most often seen in larger breeds such as German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labs, Rottweilers, and giant breeds.
The actual cause of osteoarthritis is largely unknown, but this condition is often associated with underlying issues such as an injury due to trauma, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cruciate injury, or dislocations of the shoulder or knee.
Obesity also appears to play a role in dogs developing osteoarthritis. Excess weight can put unnecessary stress on a dog's joints leading to pain, and degenerative joint issues over time.
Veterinary Laser Therapy For Dogs in Marina del Rey
Veterinary laser therapy is a fairly new method of treatment for symptoms related to various disorders and is most commonly used to help manage pain, inflammation, and wound healing for your pet.
The term laser refers to the focused emission of light that is capable of penetration. There are three forms of light that these lasers emit:
- Monochromatic: Light that is emitted in a singular wavelength as opposed to multiple.
- Coherent: Photons can be made up of light or electromagnetic radiation that travel in the same direction.
- Collimated: Photons that continuously travel in a single straight beam of light.
There are four classes of lasers currently identifiable based on their wavelengths:
- Class 1 lasers: are safe for daily use such as scanning devices.
- Class 2 lasers: produce visible light and are commonly used in laser pointers.
- Class 3 lasers: most common application is therapeutic lasers.
- Class 4 lasers: commonly used in surgical lasers that can cut and cauterize tissues.
What effect does veterinary laser therapy have on my pet?
Therapeutic lasers use light waves of a specific wavelength to alter the physiology of the affected tissues. The light emitted by these lasers throughout treatment will help to stimulate the cells within the tissues and allows for faster cellular regeneration.
The wavelength of the laser used will determine the tissue that can be affected. Most commonly used lasers emit near-infrared light with the use of lower wavelength lasers becoming more common. Low-wavelength lasers are used to treat areas near and involving the skin while the higher wavelength lasers are able to focus on deep tissue repair.
Some of the things that veterinary laser therapy can help with are:
- The release of endorphins
- Vasodilation can increase blood flow ultimately increasing oxygen and speeding up the healing
- Allowing the muscles to relax
- The ability to decrease inflammation
- Speed up healing and repair
How is veterinary laser therapy used?
Pets typically find veterinary laser therapy to be relaxing as it involves the slow movement of a warm laser over the affected area. Each session may be roughly a half hour or less on average and the frequency and recommended number of treatment sessions will depend on the symptoms and severity.
Is veterinary laser therapy safe for cats & dogs?
When administered by a trained professional veterinary laser therapy is very safe. Protective eyewear should also be worn as the light emitted from the laser can cause damage to sight.
How can laser therapy help my arthritic dog?
Essentially, laser therapy will help calm down inflammation in your dog's joints. This inflammation is causing your dog pain, so by minimizing the inflammation, your dog will feel better!
How often should my dog get cold laser therapy?
Over time, the effects of cold laser therapy are cumulative. For best results, treatments should be completed at the frequency recommended by your veterinarian.
How long does a cold laser therapy treatment last?
The length of sessions varies depending on the area being treated and how much energy is being delivered through the laser. A typical laser therapy session lasts between five and 20 minutes.
Before treatment, we will perform a full physical exam, in addition to x-rays if required, to determine whether cold laser therapy is the right treatment option for your pet.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.