Pet Cold Laser Therapy

Discover cold laser therapy at Erin Mills Pet Hospital in Mississauga, ON, a non-invasive treatment to reduce pain, promote healing, and improve mobility for your pet’s comfort and health.

Book Appointment

Pet Cold Laser Therapy in Mississauga, ON

Cold laser therapy is a topical treatment used to manage a wide variety of painful inflammatory conditions in both animals and people. It is often referred to as “adjunctive” or “complementary” therapy as it tends to work best in combination with other medical treatments.

How Does It Work?

Cold laser therapy works through wavelengths of light that are concentrated into an area of inflammation/pain. The light waves enter the damaged cells and cause them to increase their metabolism and create products that are needed for tissue to heal. Due to the fact that lasers use light wavelengths to create an anti-inflammatory healing effect, another term used to describe this therapy is “Phototherapy”.

How Can It Help My Pet?

Laser therapy can be safely used in a wide variety of conditions in our pets. The only situations where we can’t use laser therapy occur in cases of cancer where we do not want to encourage increased cell production. Laser therapy can also be used safely on patients with underlying medical conditions or our more elderly patients that may not handle oral medications well. This allows us to use antibiotics or anti-inflammatory/pain medications at lower doses or for a decreased length of time to treat many conditions which cause discomfort and pain.

Another great application for laser therapy is post-operatively. By using the laser on incision lines after surgery, we encourage decreased healing times and decreased pain/inflammation for our pets post-op. This includes spays, neuters, dental extractions and orthopaedic surgeries (cruciate repairs, luxating patella repairs, bone fractures, etc). This laser treatment is also very helpful after declawing surgery in our feline patients as it helps to manage inflammation and pain after amputations.

The diagram to the right shows some of the common conditions encountered in our canine and feline friends that can be effectively treated with laser therapy.

Laser therapy can be used in almost every situation to naturally help to relieve our pets of pain and inflammation. Contact our veterinarians today to discuss whether or not your pet may benefit from laser therapy!

Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Cold Laser Therapy

Does cold laser therapy hurt, and will it burn my pet's skin or fur?

Not at all! Despite the word “laser,” cold laser therapy (or photo biomodulation) does not produce surgical heat and will not burn your pet. The word “cold” simply means it operates at a low light frequency that penetrates tissue safely. Most pets find the treatment highly relaxing—as the probe moves across the target area, it creates a gentle, soothing warmth that often lulls dogs and cats into a light nap.

How exactly does light therapy speed up my pet's internal healing?

It works at a cellular level. The specialized wavelengths of light are absorbed by the mitochondria (the powerhouses of your pet’s cells). This light absorption stimulates the cells to produce more energy, accelerating natural tissue repair, increasing localized blood circulation, and releasing endorphins that naturally block pain pathways and reduce swelling.

How many cold laser therapy sessions will my dog or cat need?

The frequency depends entirely on whether we are treating an acute injury or a chronic condition. For acute issues, like a post-operative surgical incision or a sudden wound, we may only need 2 to 3 sessions total to accelerate healing. For chronic conditions like arthritis, hip dysplasia, or spinal issues, we typically start with an induction phase of 2 to 3 treatments a week for a fortnight, followed by a personalized monthly maintenance schedule.

Can cold laser therapy be used alongside my pet's current pain medications?

Yes, it is highly recommended. Cold laser therapy is an exceptional adjunctive treatment, meaning it works beautifully alongside traditional joint supplements, anti-inflammatories, and pain medications. We aim to allow pets to reduce their reliance on medication over time and safely lower medication dosages by relieving structural inflammation naturally.

Are there any situations where cold laser therapy should not be used?

While cold laser therapy is safe for nearly all animals, we strictly avoid using it over any known cancerous tumors or masses. Because the laser stimulates cellular metabolism and accelerates blood flow to speed up tissue growth, applying it to a tumor could inadvertently encourage cancer cells to multiply. Our veterinarians will always perform a thorough medical assessment before initiating laser care.