Skip To Content

Laser Therapy

 

Class IV High Powered Laser Therapy for Pets Now in Chicago

Metropolitan Veterinary Center, located in the South Loop of Chicago, is proud to offer Class IV Therapeutic Laser therapy as part of our “Pet Pain Management Center”. Class IV K-Laser Therapy has been cleared by the FDA as a therapeutic treatment for managing cases of inflammation and pain while working to accelerate the process of tissue regeneration. The energy created by the laser works to increase the patient’s circulation, drawing the water, nutrients, and oxygen to the area that is damaged. This helps to create an environment that encourages healing and reduces issues of pain, stiffness, muscle spasms, swelling, and inflammation.

 

Drug Free, Surgery Free, Pain Free

Metropolitan Veterinary Center chose the K-Laser Class IV laser due to it’s power and ability to deliver four different wavelengths including near infrared and specific red wavelengths of the laser light. These wavelengths induce photochemical reactions and therapeutic effects. The physiological benefits that are provided by this treatment include enhanced healing of tissues, pain reduction, reduced inflammation, and increased circulation. This type of laser therapy is not new and has been used since the 1970s in Europe and finally cleared in 2005 by the U.S. FDA.

Positive effects of Laser Therapy used in our South Loop, Chicago, “Pet Pain Management Center”:

  • Improves and Promotes Healing
  • Reduces Pain and Muscle Spasm
  • Increases Joint Flexibility
  • Improves Peripheral Microcirculation
  • Detoxifies and Eliminates Trigger Points/muscle taut bands/muscle spasms
  • Advanced Pain Relief

Benefits of our Multi-Wavelength, Class IV Laser Therapy Unit to Our Patients:

  • Faster Patient Recovery
  • Deep Penetration Delivers More Laser Energy to the Target Tissues
  • Faster Treatment Times
  • Effective Treatment in 3-8 Minutes per site
  • Faster Patient Recovery Time

Studies show Laser Therapy helps reduce pain associated with these common veterinary conditions:

The pain relief that is achieved by the laser therapy may be substantial and dramatic, lasting for several hours, days, or even several weeks. However, in rare cases, a pet’s results may be minimal or insignificant.

Negative effects of the laser therapy are normally rare and temporary. Adverse effects of laser therapy may occur from multiple causes including hypersensitivity, preexisting health conditions, thermal effects, excessive pressure from the probe, and laser over-stimulation. Laser light can damage the retina in your eye. Always wear the laser protective glasses provided.

The most common adverse effects are:

  1. Temporary increase in pain during application of laser.
  2. Temporary increase in pain the following day after laser therapy.
  3. Direct pressure or vasodilation of the laser tip may result in mild bruising.
  4. Temporary dizziness.
  5. Reactions may occur if photosensitizing drugs are being used along with the laser therapy.

Prior to your first visit, please download the following form: INFORMED CONSENT FOR INFRARED LASER THERAPY.

You may email the completed form to us at [email protected].

How many treatment sessions will my pet need?

The number of K-Laser sessions you will need is directly affected by the type and duration of your pet’s condition, and other factors. There are a number of acute issues that will require less than six sessions; however, conditions that are considered to be chronic may take 15 treatments or more. In most cases, if your pet is suffering from a chronic condition, it will require ongoing treatments to help restore functionality and ensure pain relief.

A common treatment plan is:

  • Acute: twice a week for 6 treatments
  • Chronic: 3x a week first week
    • 2x a week second week
    • 1x a week for week 3,4, and 5.
    • Followed by maintenance treatment when needed
  • For some conditions, daily treatments will be recommended to start, then decreasing doses.

How long do the treatments take?

The average laser treatment is 4 to 8 minutes per location; however, that depends on the size of the area that is going to be treated. So, if there are 3 areas that require treatment, this would take approximately 12-24 minutes.

What will the treatment feel like?

The majority of our patients feel a warm and soothing sensation. The laser used for this process is a high-powered device that will warm your pets’ skin. There are many pets that experience pain relief during the initial visit. In some cases, a patient will feel slightly more pain directly after treatment has been completed and then feel better the following day.

What will my pet feel when the treatment is complete?

Directly after the treatment is complete, your pet may experience pain relief. In other cases, the relief will take more time. The majority of pets become extremely relaxed and often tired. If the pet does feel less pain, it is important to remember that is just a single goal of the treatment. When our K-Laser is used, it provides the cells in the body with more energy. As a result, they regenerate and repair, creating new tissues. This means the treatments provided offer a cumulative effect. When successive treatments are provided, more benefits will be seen.

Are there any special precautions that should be taken when the treatment is complete?

In most cases, the answer to this is no. However, it is important you not let your pet overexert itself and risk reinjury. It is important to talk about this issue with your veterinarian.

My pet is feeling better; however, I have a few more sessions scheduled with the K-Laser therapy. What do I need to do?

When it comes to care and treatment with this method, relieving pain is just a single goal. The treatment is designed to help regenerate and repair the processes in the body. It is important to complete the entire session package, which will help to continue the healing. It is recommended all the treatments included in the package are used to make sure the highest quality of treatment possible. We do not offer refunds for packages not completed.

Why are safety glasses necessary while the Pet’s K-Laser treatment is going on?

According to experts, the laser we use, K-Laser, is an extremely high-powered type of therapy laser. It is able to be focused on the eyes’ lens and may cause damage to the retina. With safety glasses, this risk is eliminated.

 

Learn more about K-Laser Treatment here.

 

Back To Top