Red Light Therapy for Dogs - Does it Work?

As a certified animal lover and pet owner, you always want to make sure that your pet is well taken care of, healthy and happy all of the time. Our pets may suffer similar injuries, inflammation and age-related degeneration like us humans and are just as prone to inflammatory responses to sprains, cuts, and pain. We all want what's best for our beloved pets and the good news is that more advanced treatments are now available for the maintenance of our furry friends. In this article, we'll talk about how red light therapy can support recovery and how you can use it at home to improve your pets' conditions.

What is red light therapy?

Red light therapy, also known as LLLT or photobiomodulation has been a topic of studies and researches over the years because of its amazing benefits to health and beauty. It is not only beneficial to humans - it hasIs i also been proven to be a great alternative to help manage pet ailments and injuries.

Red light therapy works by boosting the energy production within the cell so that damaged and or aging cells are stimulated to produce more ATP, which in turn allows them to repair themselves quicker and making them function more effectively. It produces wavelengths of photons that the animal cells absorbs resulting in numerous overall health benefits.

With regular exposure to light therapy, there has been an increase in the speed and strength of tissue repair, resolve inflammation, and relieve musculoskeletal pain.

Does it really work?

Growing evidence supports that red light therapy is becoming a go-to treatment. In this 2017 study, it is found that red light therapy promoted faster healing time for dogs that had undergone bone. Similar findings were also supported by another study that suggests near-infrared wavelengths significantly accelerated bone cell reproduction for dogs.

Dogs are not the only ones that benefited from red light therapy. A 1987 study has been conducted on 14 horses that are suffering from long term back pain. After receiving  light therapy treatment weekly for 11 weeks, it has been found that infrared light therapy alleviated their chronic back pain and were able to return to training and competing 

Another study found that horses with soft tissue injuries heal significantly faster when treated with a red light therapy.

Red light therapy can help with various health conditions in animals, including the following:

• * Joint pain

• * Osteoarthritis

• * Inflammation

• * Muscle soreness

• * Wounds and scars

• * Infection and voruses

• * Tendon and ligament injuries

• * Exercise & overexertion recovery

• * Pre and post-performance recovery

What is the best red light therapy for dogs? 

Laser treatments for pets usually range from $50 to $125 a session so if your dog needs multiple visits to the clinic, this may cost you several thousand dollars. 

Light therapy treatments come in a different sizes and price ranges, soit’s best to choose a device that will cater to your pet’s comfort and well-being, not to mention that it is going to be a good investment.

Here are some red light therapy devices to choose from:

Portable red light - One way to introduce red light therapy to your pets is with this handy and rechargeable red light therapy device.It is best for spot treatments and it is perfect for small dogs and cats. It is also small enough to fit inside your bag and bring anywhere you go.

Medium red light 600w - If you’re looking for a more powerful light and one that may cover a larger treatment area, this is the one for you. It has built-in LED dual chips that emit one of the highest irradiance with 180 mw/cm2 at a distance of 3 inches but at a very affordable price for its power.

Full red light 1200w - Want to bond with your dog over red light therapy treatments? Then this is the perfect device. The coverage area is big enough that your dog can sit comfortably in front of it while you carry on with some other things. With its high power, this device delivers 213 mw/cm2 at a distance of 6 inches, which is higher than the rest of the devices in the market - this is definitely worth every penny. 

Red light therapy wrap - if your dogs like to move around, then you might want to try the red light light therapy wrap. You may wrap it around the area you wish to treat, or you may have your pet lie on top of it - the warmth it gives off will give your pet a nice, cozy feeling. 

Scientific studies, researches and clinical trials have given unbiased and factual proof that red light therapy actually works and assists in healing in both humans and animals. 

Red light therapy is becoming increasingly popular as a way to improve the health of our pets. It can be used to treat a variety of ailments such as skin irritation, muscle soreness or joint pain. Not only is it safe for use on all animals but it also has no side effects. In addition, it’s relatively affordable compared to other treatments available for our furry friends. 

Before implementing any RLT protocols for your canine companion, we suggest to consult with your veterinarian to ensure the proper protocols are in place and are appropriate to your dog’s condition. 

Please be advised that the contents from www.vitalizenhealth.com website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this site ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet and if this therapy is right for your pet. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.