Many people assume that advances in medical technology only benefit humans, however, the field of veterinary medicine also benefits greatly from treatments developed for humans. Most recently, the use of medical lasers for both humans and animals is making waves in the medical and veterinary field as more and more patients experience its benefits.

Laser therapy for pain management may sound like something straight out of the pages of a science fiction novel, however, laser therapy devices are now routinely used in both humans and animals to treat a wide variety of conditions and symptoms, particularly pain and inflammation.

Veterinary laser therapy has and continues to quickly gather momentum, especially in terms of equine laser therapy. In fact, many horse owners and veterinarians recommended using class IV laser therapy for pain in places of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication due to the sheer efficacy of this treatment option. The majority of pets, including horses, experience significant comfort and better mobility in as little as 12 to 24 hours after a laser treatment. In terms of work or race horses, equine laser therapy has become the leading treatment option in pain management.

Although the duration of of equine laser therapy depends greatly on the severity of the condition or injury, a typical therapy treatment lasts anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes. In order to receive the greatest benefit from the treatment, most pets require three to ten laser therapy treatments.

So how does equine laser therapy work? Certain wavelengths of light are able to are able to stimulate or inhibit cellular function based on its intensity and the length of time of which it’s applied. With the right wavelength, lasers can not only reduce pain and inflammation, but encourage the healing process by stimulating cellular repair. In fact, laser therapy has been used in both humans and animals in place of acupuncture and acupressure as a means of reducing pain.