If you’re looking for treatments to support your dog with any number of conditions, from pain relief to wound healing to skin health, red & infrared light therapy for dogs might be the trick. Red and infrared light therapy for dogs is a non-invasive treatment that helps reduce pain, promote faster healing, and stimulate cellular activity.
If your dog has lived with inflammation, joint pain, strains, sprains, injuries, or otherwise — and you haven’t managed to find an effective, gentle treatment that your canine friend can warm up to — you’ve come to the right place.
Welcome to red and infrared light therapy for dogs.
In this guide, our team of red and infrared light specialists will walk you through a variety of red and infrared light therapy-related topics for canines, including:
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How red and infrared light therapy for dogs works
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The science behind red and infrared light therapy for dogs
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Different types of red and infrared light therapy
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The benefits of red and infrared light therapy for dogs
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Common conditions that red and infrared light therapy for dogs can treat
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What to expect when administering red and infrared light therapy for dogs at home
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A few key safety considerations to be aware of
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Where to find quality red and infrared light therapy products for dogs and horses
Let’s dive in!
TL;DR summary on red and infrared light therapy for pets
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How does red and infrared light therapy work for dogs?
Often called low-level laser therapy, red and infrared light therapy is a non-invasive treatment that stimulates cellular activity that helps dogs heal.
Red and infrared light therapy devices help increase blood flow in dogs and help reduce pain. You’ll often find veterinary practices using red light therapy to treat injuries, arthritis, and other chronic conditions.
By using specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light, red and infrared light therapy devices help activate cellular mitochondria, the body’s and cells’ powerhouses, to boost ATP production. ATP production is a process that involves bringing energy into and supporting many processes in the body’s nerves and cells.
ATP production helps facilitate repairs in the body. Red and infrared light therapy helps activate ATP production to help heal body wounds.
Unpacking the mechanisms behind red and infrared light therapy for dogs
The scientific mechanisms of red and infrared light therapy involve light that’s emitted at specific wavelengths into a dog’s body. The light waves penetrate deep into the dog’s tissues to reach the cells inside the dog’s body.
As a result, the light energy stimulates mitochondria to produce energy and increase blood flow. With increased energy and blood flow to cells, the cells can then repair themselves and thereby support overall health.
Types of red and infrared light therapy for dogs
You’ll often hear of the following types of red light therapy, including:
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Near infrared light therapy
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Laser therapy
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Cold laser therapy
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LED light therapy
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Low-level laser therapy
All of these therapies support the reduction of pain and inflammation, promotion of cellular repair, and promotion of overall health and well-being.
Today, we can find LED devices that combine red and infrared wavelengths to offer an alternative to laser or red light therapy. Best of all, these devices can be used at home instead of going to a clinic.
What’s the difference between red and infrared light therapy for dogs?
With different at-home red light therapy treatments now available for dogs and animals, the question then is, “What’s the difference between red light therapy and infrared light therapy?”
Pure red light therapy uses visible light with a wavelength of 650 nanometers (nm). In contrast, pure infrared light therapy uses invisible radiation with a wavelength of 850 nm.
Either of these can stimulate photobiomodulation (PBM), which is the process of accelerating the production of ATP in cells. However, using red and infrared light therapy together causes a much greater acceleration.
Greater acceleration occurs because the protein that absorbs the energy (Cytochrome C Oxidase) has an Iron center and a Copper center. The Iron center absorbs the red, and the Copper center absorbs the infrared.
When absorption occurs, the centers release nitrous oxide molecules and reconnect with oxygen molecules, thus greatly accelerating the electron chain and the production of ATP.
Although either red or infrared by themselves can stimulate PBM, combining and using the two together is far more efficient.
Benefits of infrared light therapy for dogs
If we had to categorize the benefits of red and infrared light therapy for dogs, we’d say they fall under four categories:
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Relief from pain
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Inflammation reduction
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Recovery and healing from wounds and injuries
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Skin care support
Let’s take a look at each in the following sections.
1. Relief from pain
Of all benefits, one of the most significant that red and infrared light therapy devices offer animals is relief from pain. Studies have shown that 6 weeks of photobiomodulation (PBM) red light therapy can help improve pain and reduce lameness in canines with osteoarthritis.
2. Inflammation reduction
What’s more, red and infrared light therapy can be helpful for managing chronic conditions like intervertebral disc disease. The light waves help reduce pain and support mobility by increasing blood circulation and decreasing inflammation.
3. Recovery and healing from wounds and injuries
Red and infrared light therapy can also help promote recovery and healing from wounds and injuries.. By promoting collagen production, blood circulation, pain reduction, and reduced scarring, red and infrared light therapy helps accelerate healing from soft tissue injuries and surgical procedures.
4. Skin condition support
Red and infrared light therapy can help with managing various skin conditions in dogs, such as:
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Pododermatitis (or inflammation of the paws)
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Allergic dermatitis
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Hip dysplasia
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Hot spots
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Chronic wounds.
Best of all, red and infrared light therapy can help promote a healthier skin tone and potentially support the vibrancy of a dog’s fur.
How to deliver red and infrared light therapy to dogs
If you’re ready to start delivering red and infrared light treatment to your furry family members, you’ll want to keep the following in mind:
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Start by preparing your dog and equipment for therapy sessions: Ensure your dog is clean and dry, and always make sure to create a calm and soothing environment during therapy sessions. Doing so will help them feel more comfortable and relaxed. Also, the red and infrared light therapy device should be placed on the treatment area.
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Maintain an appropriate dosage and therapy cadence: The recommended dosage range for red light therapy is 6 to 8 Joules/cm². Treatment will be just under 15 minutes for the application of nine joules per square centimeter. Double cycles can be used for deeper issues like tendons, ligaments, and joints.
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Keep tabs on your furry friend’s progress, and adjust accordingly: Signs such as hair regeneration, reduced lameness, increased joint mobility, decreased pain, and changes in posture or gait are all signs that help determine that the therapy is working. Consider backing off or increasing therapy as needed.
Red and near infrared light therapy is also used by veterinary clinicians
We can’t emphasize enough how infrared and red light therapy for dogs is used by people from all different fields and occupations. Physical therapists and veterinary consultants use it to get greater results and as a low-impact, complementary treatment to traditional veterinary medicine.
In other words, red and near infrared light is trusted by veterinarians and everyday people as an effective treatment to treat chronic pain and help reduce inflammation for animals.
Are red and infrared light therapies safe for dogs? Precautions and safety concerns
Is infrared light therapy safe for dogs? Do any side effects exist?
Many people wonder whether infrared light therapy for dogs is safe. We have good news: it is!
There are no known adverse side effects, but you should always monitor your dog during and after a therapy session to determine if they experience any negative reactions.
Avoid placing the red and infrared light therapy device directly over the eyes.
By adhering to the instructions in your Care & Use Guide and professional light therapy kit instructions, you can ensure that you and your dog enjoy a relaxing and healing red and infrared light therapy experience.
Ready for quality red and infrared light therapy for dogs?
We’ve got just the thing: our Gospel’s light therapy pads. Since 1999, we’ve been on a mission to provide top-quality light therapy pads for animals of all shapes and sizes, particularly dogs, horses, and cats.
Our goal is to provide quality light therapy products that are safe, effective, and affordable that are suited for pet owners, health care professionals, and trainers.
Our light therapy pads are available in four sizes, and you get everything you need, including the power supply and velcro straps that adhere to the pad. We offer a rechargeable battery pack as an accessory.
Finally, we use specific wavelengths, high-quality LEDs, and all of our light therapy pads are manufactured right here in the United States.
To inquire about light therapy pads for your canine or equine friend, we invite you to get in contact with us today. We look forward to helping you and your animal friend become their best!
“He loosened up nicely and had no more soreness.” - Red and infrared light therapy testimonial
“Trigger had his first treatment. Trigger has arthritis, and he’s sore when he walks.
He had tightness in his neck, wither (trapezius), back (latissimus dorsi), and glutes. He was very sore in his trapezius, back, and lumbar.
He had a really big hotspot in his trapezius on the thermal imaging camera. He also had an ulcer in his right eye, which was quite sore.
After treatment, he loosened up nicely and had no more soreness either, and he felt great. His eye had cleared up a lot after it was treated.”
Curious to meet Trigger, the pup? Check out his inspiring healing journey here!
Equine Light Therapy:
Deep-Healing, Non-Invasive Infrared Light Therapy for Dogs, Horses, and Cats
