As our pets ages or following injury, our companions may be living with pain.

Recognizing Pain

In Veterinary medicine, we borrow a lot of our knowledge about pain from human medicine. We, of course, cannot ask our pets if they hurt. So it is up to you, the caretaker, to be able to recognize the signs of pain in your pet.

Older pets can have pain from a variety of causes, but there are some that are the most common.

  • Arthritis
  • Joint problems like Hip Dysplasia
  • Back Problems
  • Previous injuries.

Although we think our dogs will whine to show us that they are in pain. That is usually only true when they have acute (sudden) pain. For Chronic pain, we need to look for more subtle symptoms.

  • Decrease in activity
  • Difficulty rising after resting
  • Difficulty lying down
  • Difficulty up stairs
  • Difficulty getting on the deck
  • Difficulty getting in the car/truck
  • Walking stiff legged
  • Walking with a wide gate

So spend some time watching your dogs. Do you think they are showing some signs of pain?

Diagnosing the cause of pain

Once we have determined your pet has pain the next step it to Diagnose what is causing the pain. That is where your Veterinarian comes in. At Healthy Tails Retreat we will do a multi-step evaluation. This will include evaluating how they walk, doing a neurologic examination, evaluating their muscle tone, reviewing their weight, reviewing their diet. Then together we will come up with a plan on how to manage the pain.

Managing the Pain

Each pet will need their own individual plan, but each will include a Nutritional piece (food and supplements), a physical therapy piece (using our Therapeutic Laser, Massage) and a pharmacological piece (medications to reduce inflammation and block pain).

What is a Therapeutic Laser?

At Healthy Tails Retreat we have a K-Laser, which is a Class IV (cold) Laser. It delivers specific wavelengths of laser light which delivers a therapeutic effect. The positive benefits include increased circulation, reduced inflammation, pain reduction, and enhanced tissue healing.

How does a Therapeutic Laser work?

Therapeutic Laser uses special waves of light to turn on the healing power of the cells. The technical term is “photobiomodulation”. We know the body has amazing power to heal itself. The light waves of the laser turns on these healing powers and help the body to heal faster, reduce pain and inflammation.

What does the Therapeutic Laser feel like when it is being used?

I like to describe it as feeling like little rays of sunshine that go right down to where the ache is making it feel relaxed and warm. It takes away that tight feeling experienced when you are in pain. Of course, the Treatments will all be Prescribed and Supervised by a Veterinarian. The very first thing I will do is sit down with you and discuss your pet’s problems, and then I will give them a good examination. Our goal with the Therapeutic Laser treatments will be to develop a plan that works with medications and a special diet that you might already be using, to bring the maximum amount of pain relief possible. At Healthy Tails Retreat we are excited that we now are able to offer one more way to help your pets feel amazing.

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

Drug Free, Surgery Free, Pain Free

K-Laser USA Class IV therapeutic lasers deliver specific red and near-infrared wavelengths of laser light to induce a photochemical reaction and therapeutic effect. Physiological effects include increased circulation, reduced inflammation, pain reduction, and enhanced tissue healing. Laser therapy has been used in Europe since the 1970s and was cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005.

Find more information on our K-Laser by visiting their website.