How Do You Use Red Light Therapy On A Dog?
What is Light Therapy for Dogs?
Light therapy for dogs, also known as photobiomodulation therapy or red light therapy, is a non-invasive and drug-free treatment method that uses certain wavelengths of light to promote healing and alleviate various health conditions in dogs.
This therapeutic technique has gained popularity in veterinary medicine due to its ability to stimulate cellular activity, reduce inflammation, and enhance the overall well-being of our furry friends.
Takeaways
- Red light therapy helps relieve the pain of arthritis and inflammation
- Red light therapy is safe, effective, and non-invasive in dogs and humans
- My reviews for the products mentioned here are in my article Best Red Light Therapy for Pain in 2023
Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Dogs
Red light therapy can help with the dog’s healing, pain relief and skin conditions. Veterinarians were one of the first groups to adopt red light therapy after its invention in 1967. Back then the term for it was “cold laser.”
Veterinarians used light therapy for horses, and eventually red light therapy for pets. Several studies (see references below) showed that red light therapy on dogs was an effective treatment for pain relief of arthritis.
Red light therapy accelerates healing
Red light therapy can help speed up the healing process of wounds, incisions, and post-operative sites in dogs.
By increasing blood flow to the area and stimulating cellular regeneration, it can promote faster tissue repair and minimize scar formation.
Red Light Therapy Reduces Pain
Dogs suffering from arthritis, joint pain, or musculoskeletal injuries can benefit from light therapy. The gentle light wavelengths penetrate deep into the tissues, reducing inflammation and calming nerve endings, resulting in pain relief and increased mobility for our four-legged companions.
Red Light Therapy Helps with Skin Conditions
Red light therapy can be effective in treating various skin conditions in dogs, such as hot spots, dermatitis, and allergic reactions. By promoting circulation and reducing inflammation, it aids in healing skin lesions, reducing itching, and restoring the skin’s natural balance.
Red Light Therapy is Emotionally Soothing
Just like humans, dogs can also experience anxiety, stress, and depression. Red light therapy has been shown to have a calming effect on dogs, promoting relaxation and reducing stress-related behaviors through the release of endorphins in their bodies (see sources at the bottom of this article).
Red Light Therapy Heals Safely
Red light therapy is non-invasive, safe, and has no side effects. One significant advantage of light therapy is its non-invasive nature, making it a safe and well-tolerated treatment option for dogs of all ages. There are no known side effects, and it can be used alongside other conventional treatments or medications prescribed by a veterinarian.
How Red Light Therapy Works in Dogs
Red light therapy has several ways it stimulates pain relief and healing.
When light absorbs in the cells, it stimulates the production of energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
The ATP powers healing and repair.
The area where the light absorbs (the mitochondria) signals to reduce chronic inflammation, which has a wonderful pain-relieving effect.
The mitochondria let go of nitric oxide which then dilate the blood vessels. The improved blood flow contributes to healing and pain relief.
Safety Considerations Using Red Light Therapy on Your Dog
Is red light therapy safe for dogs?
Red light therapy is very safe. It’s certainly much safer than pharmaceuticals and drugstore solutions. Do not run the light over a tumor. Do not shine light in the dog’s eyes. Do not use if the dog is on a photosensitive medication.
What to Expect When Using Red Light on Your Dog
What Does red light therapy Do for dogs?
Red light therapy for dogs relieves their pains and helps heal soft tissue injuries. It helps with ligaments and muscles. It relieves inflammation and arthritic pain.
How long does red light therapy take to work in dogs?
If you use a strong device such as the Visum Light, the dog will feel pain relief and accelerated healing on the first session.
If you use the much more affordable Novaa Light Pad, you should expect the dog to feel better starting in about three weeks.
You will find both the NovaaLab Light Pad and Visum Light reviews in my article Best Red Light Therapy for Pain in 2023.
Can red light therapy penetrate dog fur?
Light does not penetrate dog fur. The best solution is to use a light that you can put on the skin. A handheld or “torch” (looks like a flashlight) model works best to reach the dog’s skin. Otherwise, use light for double the time you would use it on a human.
How much does red light therapy for dogs cost?
You don’t need a special device for the dog that you can’t use. You can give your dog your red light therapy device, just double the time if the dog has a lot of fur.
The best red light therapies for dogs are the Visum Light and the NovaaLab Light Pad.
The Visum Light is a medical-grade device that works very quickly but is expensive.
The NovaaLab Light Pad is slower but much less expensive.
Read my reviews of these devices and click the links in those articles to check prices.
How Often and for How Long to Use Red Light Therapy on Your Dog
How often can I do red light therapy on my dog?
You can use red light therapy on your dog up to twice a day. There should be at least 6 hours between treatment sessions. Too much light doesn’t help. It just takes away from the good effects.
How many minutes should I use red light therapy?
For a very furry dog, double the time you would use the light on a human. A very strong device like the Visum Light takes 2 minutes on humans, so use it for 4 minutes on the dog. A more affordable light like the Novaa Light Pad takes 20 minutes on humans, so use it for 40 minutes on a dog.
However, if you can reach the dog’s skin, then use the same time you would use for human sessions.
Can you overdo red light therapy?
You absolutely can overdo light therapy. It won’t hurt anything, but it will waste your time. Too much light reduces the good effects back to zero.
Are 10 minutes of red light therapy enough?
The amount of time for a red light therapy session depends entirely on the device’s power and the distance the light is from the target. You should always follow the instructions that come with your light.
Can you do red light therapy for 30 minutes?
You can do red light therapy for 30 minutes if the light is weak or far away. The exact time you use light is dependent on the device’s power and distance from the target. Never use the light longer than instructed as it will reverse the gains.
Can you overdo red light therapy?
You absolutely can overdo light therapy. It won’t hurt anything, but it will waste your time. Too much light reduces the good effects back to zero.
References
Red light therapy pulsed at 10 Hz calms anxiety as well as a pharmaceutical: Salehpour F, Rasta SH, Mohaddes G, Sadigh-Eteghad S, Salarirad S. Therapeutic effects of 10-HzPulsed wave lasers in rat depression model: A comparison between near-infrared and red wavelengths. Lasers Surg Med. 2016 Sep;48(7):695-705. doi: 10.1002/lsm.22542. Epub 2016 Jul 1. PMID: 27367569.
Red light therapy eases back pain in depressed patients: Gabel CP, Petrie SR, Mischoulon D, Hamblin MR, Yeung A, Sangermano L, Cassano P. A case control series for the effect of photobiomodulation in patients with low back pain and concurrent depression. Laser Ther. 2018 Sep 30;27(3):167-173. doi: 10.5978/islsm.27_18-OR-18. PMID: 32158062; PMCID: PMC7034249.
Red light therapy eases pain and inflammation when used in veterinary practices: Hochman L. Photobiomodulation Therapy in Veterinary Medicine: A Review. Top Companion Anim Med. 2018 Sep;33(3):83-88. doi: 10.1053/j.tcam.2018.06.004. Epub 2018 Jul 5. PMID: 30243364.
Red light therapy helps wounds heal faster: Mosca RC, Ong AA, Albasha O, Bass K, Arany P. Photobiomodulation Therapy for Wound Care: A Potent, Noninvasive, Photoceutical Approach. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2019 Apr;32(4):157-167. doi: 10.1097/01.ASW.0000553600.97572.d2. PMID: 30889017.
