Your pup is injured. You tried reaching out to your veterinarian who gives your dog pain medication to help with the pain. But they also asked you if you’ve tried dog red light therapy before?
Which is what brings you here today to this article. Curious to know what dog red light and infrared light therapy is and how it can be used as a complementary treatment and wellness routine for your pup?
Equine Light Therapy here with the scoop on all things dog red light therapy. If you’re curious to learn more about red light therapy for dogs, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll walk you through:
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What is dog red light therapy?
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How it works
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Applications of dog red light therapy
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Examples and use-cases of dog red light therapy
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Our small- and medium-sized, science-verified red light therapy pads for dogs versus mainstream/traditional therapy for dogs
What is red light therapy for pets and dogs?
Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation (PBM) or low-level laser therapy (LLLT), is a treatment that uses specific light wavelengths to treat injuries, help repair muscle tissues, support skin healing, and help repair scars.
Exposure to red light helps boost energy to cells, helping to activate cellular mitochondria, the body’s and cells’ powerhouses. When cellular mitochondria are activated, they help boost ATP production.
ATP production is a process that involves bringing energy into and supporting many processes in the body’s nerves and cells. In other words, red light therapy can help cells boost their daily functioning.
Especially for horses and dogs who don’t often like staying in one place for very long, professional red light therapy kits go a long way in supporting the health and wellness of dogs and horses of all different breeds.
How does dog red light therapy work?
So, how exactly does red light therapy for pets work? Here’s how:
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First: Therapeutic light is applied to your pet’s body, where the light energy penetrates the skin and is absorbed by proteins within the cells.
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Next: The absorption process triggers a few biological responses, such as blood circulation, collagen production, and cellular repair. By emitting light at 660 nanometers and 850 nanometers, the light can produce energy that can reach muscles, joints, and bones.
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Then: Place the pad on your dog by laying the pad flat on your dog’s back, shoulder, neck, or other body part. The device should provide six to eight joules per centimeter squared in a reasonable amount of time. Turn the power supply on, and ensure your dog stays still for 15 minutes.
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Finally: Once 15 minutes is up, your dog is free to go about their day. In conjunction with your veterinary clinician’s prescribed treatment plan, red light therapy helps reduce inflammation and support healing through increased blood flow and removing metabolic waste.
Applications of dog red light therapy
Dog red light therapy can be used for a number of applications, specifically to promote healing and collagen production. Red light therapy is, therefore, recommended for the following conditions:
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Helping with wound healing, scars, and inflammation from soft tissue injuries
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Treating tendon and ligament injuries
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Joint pain and osteoarthritis
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Exercise-induced injuries or injuries related to over-exertion
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Hip dysplasia
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Skin conditions, like hot spots
Curious to see what red light therapy looks like in action? Check out our story on Daze.
Example of red light therapy in action (meet Daze)
As an example of how dog red light therapy helps, meet Daze. Daze is an 11-year-old dog with deteriorating bilateral elbow osteoarthritis.
When Daze couldn’t stand up to eat breakfast, her owner, Kim, went to get X-rays to see how the arthritis progressed. Unfortunately, Daze couldn’t walk, and though he was on pain medication, the medication didn’t seem to be helping.
Kim had heard of our Gospel light pads and had read promising studies on PubMed about the benefits of red light therapy for pets with osteoarthritis. She purchased the pads, used them two times per day for four days on Daze, and came back to Daze’s orthopedic surgeon to show him the results.
The orthopedic surgeon mentioned they couldn’t believe how well Daze was walking, despite the crepitus in Daze’s elbows. Nevertheless, after red light therapy treatment, Daze was able to walk again, instead of limping.
For a peek into Daze’s inspiring healing process, check out Daze’s day-by-day healing process.
Equine Light Therapy’s dog red light therapy devices versus traditional light therapy devices
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Equine Light Therapy’s red light therapy pads |
Traditional red light therapy pads |
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Pet owners: Need quality red light therapy for your pet?
If you’re looking for an at-home, non-invasive, and effective treatment that helps stimulate cellular activity, manage pain, and promote faster recovery for your furry canine friend, we’ve got you covered.
Our red and near infrared light therapy pads help support recovery for acute and chronic conditions for both dogs and cats (and even horses).
Whether you’re a pet owner or an animal specialist, our Gospel’s itty-bitty, small, medium, and large light therapy pads can help improve your pet’s quality of life.
If you’re curious about trying red light therapy for your dog, reach out to us. We’d be happy to answer any questions or point you in the right direction for you and your pet.
To inquire about purchasing our red light therapy pads, or to read more stories about the benefits of red and infrared light therapy, contact us today.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about dog red light therapy
1. Can other animals besides dogs benefit from red light therapy?
Absolutely. The same near-infrared light used on a dog or cat can also be used on a horse.
Red light therapy can be used to help horses manage the adverse effects of a variety of conditions, including, but not limited to, pain and inflammation.
2. Are red light therapy pads only used for injuries?
Nope. For many of our clients, our red light therapy pads are incorporated into a daily training program. Many pet owners use light therapy pads to keep their animal friends in top shape, as red light therapy delivers an energy boost to animals.
3. How long and how often should I use red light therapy pads on my dog?
We recommend keeping our red light therapy pads on your dog or cat for 15 minutes per area with any of our light therapy pads.
Since animals are very sensitive to the energy of lights, always pay attention to your animal, as they may want you to use the pads for the full allotted 15 minutes one day, but for a shorter amount of time the next day.
You can use the light therapy pad twice per day per area for maximum benefit. The time between treatments should be approximately six hours.
The above-mentioned timeframe and usage terms help keep your dog’s injured or energy-starved cells charged.
The most important consideration with regard to time with red light therapy is consistency. Your animal will achieve optimal results if light therapy is administered on a regular basis.
You can help your pet make the most of at-home light therapy by providing therapy in a setting where your pet feels comfortable and relaxed.
Equine Light Therapy:
Deep-Healing, Science-Backed Light Therapy for Dogs, Horses, and Cats
