Red Light Therapy for Pets & Animals: Dogs, Cats, and More

You’ve probably heard of the public’s growing interest in red light therapy. In fact, recent analyses estimate that the red light therapy device market has doubled from 2021 to 2026, from $272 million to more than $413 million, according to CognitiveMarketResearch.com. With all the buzz around red light therapy, did you know that infrared light can also be used for pets? Red light therapy for animals is quickly becoming an effective, non-invasive, gentle method for treating surface wounds, muscle soreness, and more.

Equine and Canine Light Therapy here. If you’ve never heard of or tried red light therapy before, especially for your furry animal friend(s), let us be the first to introduce you to it. For more than 20 years, we’ve manufactured and sold red light therapy devices for dogs, horses, cats, and animals the world over (they can even be used on humans, too!).

If your animal is in pain or just not quite acting themself, we invite you to try red light therapy.

In this article, we’ll focus on the following topics related to red light therapy for pets and animals, including:

What is red light therapy?
Is red light therapy safe for animals?
Can it be used on pets?
Which conditions can red light therapy help treat?
Where you can purchase red light therapy products for you and your animal friend
Testimonials about the use of red light therapy for animals

What exactly is red light therapy (photobiomodulation), and how does red light therapy work?

Before we dive into the specifics, let’s start with a working definition of red light therapy so that we’re all on the same page. Red light therapy, photobiomodulation (PBM), LED therapy, and near-infrared therapy: They refer to similar therapeutic treatments that make use of light to stimulate cells that help heal the body.

In fact, red light therapy is a form of laser therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT). This type of therapy uses light to help activate cells in the body, a process that can help reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process for deep tissue and musculoskeletal injuries.

But how does it work? Red light therapy penetrates the skin to help increase the body’s natural ability to repair itself, increase blood circulation, and increase collagen production. By using wavelengths of red and near-infrared light, the body’s cells can produce more energy and fuel.

Best of all, this treatment doesn’t “discriminate.” Red light therapy works on cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, and other pets as part of a complementary treatment plan to traditional veterinary care.

Plus, it’s a flexibly used treatment that promotes faster healing. Red light therapy interventions can be used as needed, as an at-home treatment, in the field at race day, at competitions, or as a just-in-time treatment for acute flare-ups of issues.

Is red light therapy good and safe for animals?

“While that’s all good and well,” you might be thinking. “Is red light therapy safe?”

Pet owners: We understand. Placing a light pad with numerous infrared light bulbs near your adorable furry companion may not be your first instinct, which is why we feel the need to give you a well-informed answer.

The research overwhelmingly says yes. Red light therapy is perfectly safe for at-home use.

It can help with wound healing, mobility, muscle stiffness and soreness, skin health, and joint flexibility. With that being said, there are a handful of situations in which you’ll want to be careful about its use.

Because red light therapy for pets and light therapy pads, in general, stimulate cellular activity, they shouldn’t be used on cancerous tumors, pregnant animals, or on an animal’s eyes for prolonged periods of time. Yet, most animals love the warm and calming sensation of their light therapy pads on their skin, making it a wonderful treatment option for pets who are very physically active.

Can red light therapy be used for pets?

Dog lying on a rug receiving red light therapy on its paw

Absolutely. Many pets fall asleep during treatment sessions.

The best way to use red light therapy for pets is to do the following:

Treatment length: Treatment length and frequency depend on the issue being treated and the light therapy device used. Veterinarians often have high power lasers and apply the recommended amount of energy in a few minutes. Home-use devices use a safer power range and can take from 15 minutes to more than an hour for the same energy application. Try for at least one treatment per day for two weeks. It takes time to work, don’t expect noticeable results in a few applications. If you miss a day, no problem. Just continue the next day.
Stay consistent: Whatever your schedule allows for, aim for consistency. Your dog may only be able to tolerate five minutes of treatment at first, then more on another day. The key to supporting healing is through consistent implementation of at-home light therapy. Staying consistent will help you maximize the benefits of red light therapy for you and your animal friend.
Work in tandem with your veterinarian: Light therapy should never be considered a substitute for veterinary care. Minor aches, pains and injuries can be treated at home but if more serious issues arise, always consult with your vet.

Since red light therapy works through the dissemination of specific red and infrared light wavelengths that stimulate mitochondrial activity (a scientific term for a process in the body that helps increase cellular energy production), pets and humans can benefit from it because the stimulation helps our bodies reduce inflammation and boost immune functioning.

Quite literally, red light therapy helps us speed up the repair process from acute injuries and chronic conditions.

Note: While we don’t promote using red light therapy on humans, many of our customers have shared feedback that they use red light therapy on themselves.

What conditions can at-home red light therapy treat for dogs and cats?

Red light therapy can provide faster recovery from soft tissue injuries, skin conditions, surgical procedures, and other acute skin abrasions.

With that being said, red and near-infrared light therapy can also help promote healing and pain relief from chronic conditions, such as:

Hip dysplasia
Osteoarthritis, particularly in dogs
Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
Tendon, tissue, and ligament injuries
Over-exertion due to athletic exercise
Joint conditions, like pain and inflammation
Skin conditions like hot spots, feline acne, allergic dermatitis, lick granulomas, and open wounds

Note: Recovery times may differ depending on the condition treated. Always consult your veterinarian about additional treatment protocols..

Where can I get red light therapy devices for my pet?

If you’re thinking about purchasing red light therapy or low-level laser therapy products for a dog or cat or even yourself, brick-and-mortar stores are a solid first option. In addition, specialty boutique stores offer therapeutic light treatments and therapy sessions.

But if you’re looking for a relaxing, on-demand, light energy product that you can use at home for horses, dogs and cats, consider shopping online.

Online retailers specialize in creating products that allow for personalized treatment at home. Best of all, if ever you have an issue, you can always call an online store’s support specialist or ship your device directly to them for quick and efficient repairs.

What’s more, red light therapy products and therapy sessions can only be as effective as the customer service that helps support them. That’s how we work at Equine and Canine Light Therapy.

We believe that red light therapy devices should promote faster recovery, and red light devices should help your pet feel alive and well. We sell red light therapy for the whole furry family: dogs, cats, horses, you name it.

If you’re thinking about purchasing a red light therapy device that can improve your pet's quality of life and deliver an energy boost, we encourage you to shop our entire collection of science-informed light therapy devices.

When you purchase a light therapy pad from us, you’ll also receive our 30-day money-back guarantee and wraparound support for all your purchases.

Plus, if you ever have issues with your device, we can repair it, no problem! We always try to have all repairs on their way back to you within 24-48 hours.

If you’re still on the fence, not to worry. We invite you to reach out to your veterinary medicine specialist and ask them about red light therapy as an effective treatment for acute and chronic conditions.

And if you have any questions or comments at all, we’d be more than happy to help. Contact us any time.

Until then, we wish you all the best, and hope for success in all your and your animal friend’s adventures.

“This product was a lifesaver.” - Louis S., grateful light therapy customer

My dog had two previous hind leg surgeries, one for a fracture and another for a torn cruciate ligament, before using your product.

During November of 2017, he tore his other cruciate ligament, and we were in the process of scheduling his repair surgery (surgery number 3) when I came across your site in desperate hopes of a more natural form of healing, so my dog wouldn’t have to go through another major surgery. I purchased the product, and within three weeks we saw improvements.

Because of the rapid success we were seeing in just the first three weeks of using your product, both myself and our veterinarian decided the surgery should be cancelled. Needless to say, within three months of using your product and other forms of therapy, my dog was back on his hind legs stronger than he ever was since the first two surgeries.

This product was a lifesaver; it saved me the stress and downtime of having my dog undergo another surgery, and it also saved me thousands of dollars. I'm so grateful for coming across your website and making that small investment that has helped my dog seemingly go backwards in age; he’s never been so active until now!

🐎Equine & Canine Light Therapy:
At-Home Red Light Therapy Products for Animals Since 1999🐕🐈

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A Significant Investment — and One I Would Make Again

I did a tremendous amount of research before purchasing a red/NIR light therapy system for my horse. Of the companies I considered, Gospel was the one I found that clearly published the information I wanted to see: the specific wavelengths used—660 nm red and 850 nm near-infrared—and the dosage delivered by the pads. For a horse, where you’re trying to reach large, dense muscle groups and deeper structures, that mattered to me.

This was a significant investment, and I didn’t make it lightly. My mare has a clubbed hoof, and now that she’s in midlife, the effects of that asymmetry have become increasingly apparent throughout her body. I wanted something I could use to support her body for the rest of her life.

The results I can actually feel under my hands have been remarkable. Both my mare and an OTTB with five years on the track relax deeply during their 15-minute treatments. Afterward, I can run my hand across the treated areas and feel beautifully softened, relaxed muscle—and then move just beyond where the pad was placed and feel the difference in the harder, ropey tissue that wasn’t treated.

I’ve now also had the unexpected opportunity to use the pads on myself. A few days after receiving the kit, I threw my back out moving four flakes of hay. I iced it immediately and then began using one of the large pads. An injury that normally takes me two to three weeks to recover from had me back to normal within about 72 hours. I was genuinely shocked, and fortunately my husband had witnessed the injury happen because otherwise I’m not sure he would have believed the turnaround either.

My mare does not currently tolerate the VetCare handheld well because of the sound it makes when it turns on and off, so I’ve been using it myself for TMJ and assorted aches and pains. I hope to desensitize her to it eventually; otherwise, I’ll likely purchase one of Gospel’s smaller pads for her TMJ.

The versatility of the large pads has been one of the best parts of the system. So far I’ve used them on her shoulders, neck, pectorals, midline, topline, glutes, hamstrings, hocks and stifles. I also purchased rechargeable batteries, which last a surprisingly long time, along with the surcingle, an additional battery-pack holder and four cotton bandages. Together, they’ve made positioning the pads around the horse much easier.

I didn’t buy the kit because it came with a case, but I’m surprisingly grateful for it. The padded case keeps a substantial amount of equipment organized and, more importantly, protects the lights from being knocked around in a barn environment.

I also appreciate that Gospel offers repair service. When you’re investing this much in equipment you hope to use for many years, knowing it can be repaired rather than simply replaced matters.

This system has now been useful for my horse, another horse and me. I’m very glad I chose Gospel, and knowing what I know now, I would make the investment again.

They will hide the bad reviews!!!!

Im giving 3 star so they dont hide my review. If you can see my 1 star. You will see why

Love it.

I have used it too and it helps!

I realize it is off label use, but if I was going to use it on my dog to help with pain and inflammation from her IVDD then I figured I would try it as well on a soft tissue injury to my right ankle. It helps minimize my pain unlike anything else I have tried. My dog also seems perkier after a treatment. I'm still trying to get her used to it so I bribe her with a treat to sit for at least half a session. I wish it could be molded a little better to fit her back that is the only slight critique. I drape one of her lighter blankets over it to keep it in place while she lies down for a treatment. The provided velcro would not work well in this instance.

Our dog suffered a spinal embolism. Our rehab vet tech recommended your product to use at home. It has worked miracles. She began to stand on her own at a week and a half and at two weeks is walking unaided. I admit I used it on my back and was amazed at the difference. It is an amazing product!

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