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Dog receiving laser therapy

At-Home Light Therapy for Dogs

Home » Blog » At-Home Light Therapy for Dogs
March 21, 2022 by Sharon Seltzer
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • The science behind light therapy for dogs
  • Is at-home light therapy right for my dog?
  • Products for home use
  • Want to read more?
Dog receiving laser therapy

Have you heard about at-home light therapy for dogs? It’s a treatment that uses LED (light-emitting diodes) and LLLT (low level light therapy) to relieve pain and inflammation naturally, while helping a dog heal. The treatment is painless, non-invasive and it’s done in your own home.

I first learned about light therapy at a pet expo, when I met the people who make LumaSoothe®, one of the leading LED medical devices. I have to admit that I didn’t know much about the technology and it’s taken a couple of years for me to catch up.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian. Please talk with your vet before using any of these products on your pet.

Once I read studies on the subject, I realized that Laser Therapy, which is a treatment I’ve used for my own dogs, harnesses the same power of light to heal. In fact, the energy that creates laser light is on the spectrum of light waves that produces LED and LLLT.  

The studies also explained how NASA, the University of California San Diego and the American Animal Hospital Association have all conducted clinical trials on light therapy. Each trial found the treatment to be an effective tool to stimulate the healing process.  

All of this made me a believer that at-home light therapy is a safe and viable treatment for pets. It’s a great option if you’re on a budget or if you don’t have access to cold laser treatments. It also gives you control over how often and when you administer treatments to your pet.

The science behind light therapy for dogs

Light wave chart

The process of light therapy uses red-light, infrared light and laser light to heal. It does this by increasing the circulation of blood flow to an injured area and lowering the level of inflammation.

“Biologists have found that cells exposed to near-infrared light from LEDs, which is energy just outside the visible range, grow 150 to 200 percent faster than cells not stimulated by such light. The light arrays increase energy inside cells that speed up the healing process. In the first stage of the study, use of LEDs resulted in significant relief to pediatric bone-marrow transplant patients.”

NASA 2003

Light waves are on a spectrum of energy that goes from ultraviolet on one end to red and infrared light waves at the other end. Between are combinations of the two.

Ultraviolet waves are short and cool. Red wavelengths are long and give off heat.

Wavelengths are built so they pull together (in-sync) or they spread apart. In-sync waves, work as a team and move at the same time. When science harnesses these red and infrared waves, they become Laser Light.

Waves that spread out and look more like the beam of a flashlight, produce Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT) and LED (light-emitting diodes) Light Therapy.

Each of these forms of red light have medical benefits. They’re able to penetrate into the skin, tissues and muscles to promote healing. Laser lights focus on a small area and dive deep into the body. LED and LLLT lights cover larger surfaces, with a shallower penetration into the skin.

Red light heals by releasing nitric oxide into the body. The chemical relaxes and opens the arteries which in-turn triggers an increase in blood flow, lessens inflammation and fast-tracks the growth of healthy new cells and tissue.

Is at-home light therapy right for my dog?

Dog receiving laser light therapy

Light therapy benefits dogs with a range of medical conditions. Pet owners like it because the devices are easy to use and their dogs aren’t afraid of the treatment. Many pups fall asleep during a session.

Red light is used to treat:

Arthritis

Hip dysplasia

Surgical wounds

Back pain

TPLO surgery (knee repair)

Wounds

Sprains

Soft tissue injuries

Inflammation

Heal infections

Skin conditions like Eczema

Products for home use

Be sure to discuss these products with your veterinarian before starting treatment on your pet.

Here are some of the top-rated devices

LumaSoothe LED Light Therapy

LumaSoothe is an easy-to-use LED device that enables pet owners to administer treatments that last up to 15 minutes. The unit comes with two modules. One that treats deep tissue health problems and a second unit that works on surface wounds.

The deep tissue module relieves pain from arthritis, hip dysplasia, back pain, knee pain and joint and muscle pain. The infrared light penetrates about 30-40mm, which makes it effective for bones, joints and deep muscles.

The surface unit soothes pet skin conditions, skin infections and promotes healing in post-surgical wounds. It penetrates tissue to a depth of 8-10mm which is beneficial for attacking harmful bacteria.

LumaSoothe is easy to use. Pet owners place the head of the module lightly on an injured area and then press the start button. The device turns off automatically.

Photizo Vetcare Red Light Therapy

This hand-held, rechargeable device provides pre-programmed treatments for pets. That way pet owners are giving the prescribed dose of light therapy for a specific ailment.

It’s a simple process of placing the unit on the affected area and holding it in place for a timed 30 second treatment. Then the device is moved to another part of the injury for another timed treatment.

Photizo is used to heal pets, relieve pain and reduce inflammation for post-op patients. It also works well for arthritis, tendonitis, muscle injuries and more.

The device is safe for small and large companion animals as well as horses and livestock.

B-Cure Home Laser Therapy

The B-Cure Laser Vet Device uses “soft-laser light therapy” to treat pets at home. Similar to laser therapy received in your vet’s office, B-Cure alleviates pain, and accelerates healing by releasing chemicals in the body that increase blood flow.

It’s the only soft laser treatment that has proven to be safe in a double-blind study. B-Cure is used by pet owners and veterinarians.

The unit is used for 6 minutes, twice a day on an injury or painful area. A green laser safely stimulates healing for nerve pain, infected wounds, chronic ear infections, arthritis, hot spots and other problems.

Want to read more?

Laser Therapy for Dogs

Assisi Loop At-Home Medical Device For IVDD Dogs

About Sharon Seltzer

I’m a blogger, professional writer and co-founder of the Heaven Can Wait Animal Society. I’m also a pet mom who’s raised 9 dogs, 6 cats and lots of other critters. When my dog Sophie became paralyzed in 2008, it was a lonely experience. It took months to find all of the resources to help her live a quality life. My mission is to share those services with other pet owners and to teach people how to care for a disabled dog.

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DogWheelchairLife.com is a blog that teaches pet families how to care for their paralyzed dog. As the owner, I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Amazon Influencer Program. These are affiliate programs designed for sites to earn advertising fees (commissions) by linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate and Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, visit the Affiliate Disclosure page

We Are A Resource for Pet Owners

Dog Wheelchair LIFE teaches pet families how to care for their paralyzed dog. This is not a medical site and I am not a veterinarian. I am a blogger and pet mom who was the caretaker for Sophie, a paraplegic dog. I’m also a co-founder of the Heaven Can Wait Animal Society in Las Vegas, NV and an animal writer who has contributed to websites and magazines.

The information shared on this site is based on my personal experience and the research I do for each story. Please do not use the content from this blog in place of professional veterinary care.

Articles from this site may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from me, Sharon Seltzer.

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