Laser Therapy

Eliminating or minimizing your pet’s discomfort is one of our medical team’s top priorities. To that end, we have invested in a therapeutic laser, which we use to stimulate and accelerate the healing of damaged cells relating to many conditions, including arthritis, acute and chronic pain, infection, injuries, sprains & strains, inflammation, edema and wound healing. Almost any medical condition can be improved by laser therapy.

During each painless, noninvasive treatment, the energy from the laser increases circulation, drawing water, oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. In addition, it can accelerate tissue repair and cell growth, improve circulation and nerve function, reduce scar tissue formation and help the immune system fend off infection. Laser therapy causes no adverse effects on healthy cells. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is relieved, allowing your pet to quickly return to his or her normal activities.

What conditions does laser therapy treat?

Wound healing, including:

  • Post-operative surgical incisions
  • Contaminated or infected wounds
  • Burns
  • Snake bites

Skin conditions, including:

  • Dermatitis
  • Cat bite abscesses
  • Eczema
  • Ulcerated or non-ulcerated eosinophilic granulomas
  • Frostbite
  • Panniculitis (subcutaneous inflammation)
  • Pododermatitis (inflammation of skin on feet)
  • Pyoderma (pus in the skin)
  • Seborrhea (dandruff)
Pain caused by musculoskeletal disorders such as:

  • Cruciate ligament injury
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Degenerative myelopathy
  • Neck pain
  • Back pain
  • Paralysis
  • Loss of motor control
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Post-operative fracture repair
  • Degenerative joint disease

What to expect

Your pet does not need to be sedated for laser therapy treatments and the experience is usually pleasant and comforting. Improvement is often seen immediately after the first treatment; however, we recommend several treatments to achieve maximum benefits. Your veterinarian at Apple Valley Animal Hospital will recommend a laser treatment plan specific to your pet’s condition. Therapeutic laser treatment can be combined with other medications your pet may be taking for a particular condition. For more information about this exciting treatment, please speak to one of our staff members.

Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cell therapy uses stem cells from your pet’s body to repair and regenerate damaged tissues. Stem cells have the unique ability to mature into cells with specialized functions, which makes them extremely valuable for repairing certain body tissues damaged by injury or disease. Stem cell therapy is most commonly used to treat osteoarthritis in dogs and cats, but clinical research continues to explore other uses for stem cells, including repairing bone, ligament, and spinal cord injuries and treating kidney and liver disease.

To make this promising and exciting treatment available to your pet, Dr. Jessen has been certified to perform stem cell therapy. The decision to use stem cell therapy is based on your pet’s specific condition, age, breed, previous treatment and response, severity and duration, and anesthesia/sedation risk. A full examination and consultation are necessary before proceeding with this innovative medical treatment.