Does Your Pet Need Light Therapy? (Fully Explained)

Light therapy has become a field of interest for many scientists and enthusiasts around the world. It has been a practice for treating humans for a long time. But with growing interest among people, Light therapy has been exposed to animals as well to find if this technology has any effect on them. As it turns out, it does, and that is why our topic of discussion is whether your pet needs light therapy.

Pet light therapy is proven to respond well, and scientists have tested it on various pets, especially cats and dogs. It has been quite some time since vets had blended this technology. Because of its biological effects on a wide range of animals, LED lights can be considered for the well-being of your pets.

What is Pet Light Therapy?

Pet light therapy is becoming a popular pet-care method for many pet owners. Ailments, from cat or dog arthritis to muscle injury to wound healing, can be taken care of for your pet with the help of a light therapy session. So, here’s how it works and why it’s worth giving a shot.

Just like humans, pets experience maladies such as arthritis, inflammation, and infections. No matter how strictly we try to keep them safe, they are sure to cut their pads, break their legs, jar their joints, and scrape their ankles.

There is a healing modality called low-level light therapy (LLLT). It is also known as photobiomodulation (PBMT). It can help with all the problems stated above, and perhaps more.

There is another kind of light therapy that is popular for pets, and it is called Red Light Therapy (RLT). While it is usually used to treat human skin and their general health, after substantial studies, it has been approved to treat pets as well.

Light therapy has long been accepted as an unconventional treatment method in human medicine. It now being used in the veterinary world as well. Quickly, it’s gaining a name as a safe, reliable, and gentle method of medical healing. The treatment of light therapy helps the cells with the ability to heal more rapidly and recover muscle.

What Is Low-Level Light Therapy?

Low-level laser therapy is a kind of alternative medicine that uses laser light at low levels or near-infrared light. The light is then applied to the surface of your pet’s skin to decrease pain or inflammation, increasing the healing of wounds, nerves, and tissues, or for inhibiting tissue damage.

This kind of light therapy is a lot different from what we usually hear about. When we think about any type of laser therapy, our mind automatically assumes it’s for surgery. In reality, there are various levels of laser and light therapies. In this case, the level of intensity is low. So, one can use it without much supervision.

How Does It Works?

In general, the use of low-level laser therapy for purposes of decreasing pain and inflammation and promoting healing has been controversial in the last few years. The uncertainty of the exact manner and biochemical mechanism of this treatment contributes to the controversy.

Besides, studies have not always supported the effectiveness of low-level lasers, but this could be related to the need for certain parameters in the low-level laser treatment to be effective.

Most studies do find this treatment intervention to be more beneficial than a placebo, especially when it comes to pets. It is recommended that a large number of parameters for illumination (fluence, wavelengths, power density, treatment timing, and pulse structure) need to be met to obtain the positive benefits of light therapy.

How Low-Level Light Therapy Works for Pets

Using LEDs, LLT enters your animal’s skin, blood vessel, muscle, and bone using specific photons. Photoreceptors in your cat’s cells incorporate this light energy, which improves the healing process by giving the cells a boost of energy.

Various wavelengths reach different layers of tissue. For example, red light is more efficiently absorbed by tissue rich in hemoglobin. It is beneficial for healing surface wounds and stimulating acupressure points. Near-infrared light can pass through to deeper tissues such as tendons, ligaments, bones, joints, and muscles.

What is Red Light Therapy?

Red Light Therapy is a way to rejuvenate human skin and hair. It also reduces the recovery time for muscle after a rigorous workout. It also comes with other perks, and that includes the strengthening of our immune system.

In short, these devices use low wavelengths of red light that penetrate through our skin without creating any excess heat. So, by penetrating our skin, it gives our skin the nutrition of sunlight.

Its rise to fame came quickly because of the vast number of celebrities using this technology, Red Light Therapy. They use it to build muscle, train better, reduce the time of recovery time, and overall better health and physical performance.

And the best part of all this is that it has zero side-effects. It has been scientifically proven that this device does not cause you any harm. Moreover, there is not even any faintest trace of any minor side-effects that could cause you any inconvenience.

Since Red Light Therapy (RLT) was such a big success in treating humans, there have been numerous studies on the benefits of it on pets. And as it turned out, the effects were phenomenal. We will further demonstrate how it can help your pets in this article.

What Does Red Light Therapy Do?

When used consistently, LED lights are thought to penetrate the skin of your pets at different levels and cause many reactions in their skin, such as fighting bacteria, clearing the surface of any sort of disease, and even in fighting the age of your pet.

A passage of treatments offers healing and long-lasting effects. However, you will not see the result after the first session. Light therapy also leaves your pet with a calming peace of mind that other sorts of medication and veterinary processes fail to accomplish.

How Does it Work?

Light therapy uses different intensities of wavelengths of visible light that have outstanding skin benefits. As a result of skin disorders, or trauma, healthy skin cells are settled for good and unable to renew themselves regularly.

Human and animal skin alike uses the light as an origin of energy to fuel the repair and rejuvenation of corrupted cells, or, in the case of treating acne, eliminate bacteria. Most therapy devices come with a green light to indicate that they are up and running.

The different wavelengths of light stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, boosts blood flow and circulation, and accelerates tissue repair in both humans and pets. Throughout the treatment, you or your pet will simply lie underneath a bright screen or device while the equipment will do all the work.

Overall this low level laser therapy is proven to help cats in a significant way. It is providing pain relief and pain management without the need to use hemp oil. Also, it is great for healing wounds. Ask your vet for the benefits of using this LED therapy to treat the seasonal affective disorder.

Must Read: Automatic Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box Benefits

How Red Light Therapy Works for Pets

Scientists and researchers have tested this method on different kinds of pets. A lot more tests and researches are underway. This technique can solve a lot of health problems commonly found in pets.

It can make your pet’s health better. Not just in terms of specific diseases, but also in regards to general health. It is possible with the right potency of wavelength and doses.

Size

The size of your pet is a notable factor here. For example, the LED device of Red Light Therapy can immediately enter a rat’s brain with shallow susceptibility to light. As the size of your pet increases, the device’s power must also increase. Otherwise, the effect of the therapy will definitely go in vain.

The Powerhouse of The Cell

This infrared light therapy works by penetrating the skin of your pet’s body at a controlled 600-1000nm wavelength. It enhances metabolism by converting turning oxygen and carbohydrates into energy.

This process is typical in all the life forms, but what Red Light Therapy offers distinctly is that it fastens this process for better performance.

Fur

Fur and hair of your pet can block the light of the red LED device or any other method used to provide Red Light Therapy. For example, if your pet cat is furrier, it will take more durable light to go through the fur and the skin. Note that light therapy only works by entering the skin.

Different Animal’s Reaction to Red Light Therapy

Although the optimal treatment varies for each animal, light therapy has been shown to help small farm animals to big animals such as horses. It has also revealed great potential for treating pets. Substantial evidence indicates that light therapy for animal treatment is quite successful in helping various situations in animals, such as skin infections, rashes, eczema, and joint problems.

It is true that the size of the animal, as well as the amount of hair on its coat, must be taken into account concerning the time and intensity of the treatment. Animals with thicker fur will need adequate exposure, generally higher amounts of light, and more extended treatment protocols for light to be absorbed through the skin. In some cases, the hair regrowth is instantly using red LED therapy.

Dogs

One of the most adored animals or pets on the planet has proven to react well to Red Light Therapy or light therapy in general. Dogs come only second to rats when it comes to canine light therapy studies. This surface treatment works to help dogs hair growth.

Red Light Therapy helps dogs recover quickly from wounds, regrows your pet’s hair, and is commonly known to treat various skin diseases too. Also, light therapy for dogs is used to relieve pain and to treat hip dysplasia commonly seen in German Shepherds.

Cats

Cats have been a blessing in light therapies. They had shown enormous changes in their health and other organs when flashed light treatment. These lights work wonders when it comes to chronic back pain.

Low level light therapy can help cats recover from injuries promptly, and it also increases their metabolic state. While depression is seen among cats in the winter, light therapy has been known to be used to cure it. Also, these therapy devices increase circulation.

Hens

If you have studied agriculture or know its basics, you would know how important light is for poultry’s health. Red Light Therapy takes it to a whole new level because of the controlled lighting arrangement. Studies prove that when exposed to Red Light Therapy, chickens laid eggs earlier and longer.

Rabbits

Studies have shown that Red Light Therapy (RLT) can prevent osteoarthritis to some degree in rabbits. The restriction of the said disease strengthens with the increase of daily sessions of Red Light Therapy for pets flashed to rabbits.

Red Cows

Light therapy has been recognized as extremely effective in treating dairy cows suffering from various conditions that affect their milk production. Studies indicate a significant improvement in the treatment of nipples affected by sores, inflammation, or infection. Red Light Therapy (RLT) in cows produced a reduction in inflammation and faster skin regeneration, and cows regained optimal milk production in just a few sessions of red light therapy treatments.

Hamsters

Infrared therapy and its impacts on hamsters have been studied as intensively as rats and mice. Studies show that Red Light Therapy’s anti-inflammatory mechanisms are particularly useful in treating mouth ulcers in hamsters, reducing healing time with minimal pain. Hamsters can benefit from red light therapy.

Horses

Red Light Therapy (RLT) has quickly become a popular form of treatment for many “horse doctors.” Used for a broad range of common problems affecting horses, it is beneficial in treating chronic pain in horses like (arthritis, navicular, and laminitis), muscle pain, lameness, tendon injuries, and colic injuries.

Wrapping It Up

The best thing about an infrared therapy light-emitting diode device is that it doesn’t discriminate. If you got yourself a LED panel already, you could use it on your pet. Even if it does not treat any complex diseases, it will boost your pet’s immune system.

As a result, your pet, the general health of your pet, will get optimized for sure. Some of these devices come with a USB charger included. Do not overestimate the power and effectiveness of lasers therapy for your dog.

Are you planning on putting your dog or cat through Red Light Therapy or Low-Level Light Therapy using your own device? Do not hesitate or think twice. Because there are no side-effects at work here, and it has been confirmed through numerous studies.

These LED infrared lights are pain-free and will treat your pet(s) with the close attention of your pet’s personal vet. If your loved one is suffering from separation anxiety or needs dog arthritis relief, then find a near-infrared light therapy and give it a try.

Last Updated on 08/12/2023 by Karen Snow