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Ed Yeates ReportingA Salt Lake animal hospital has gotten the state's first FDA approved laser to relieve chronic pain in dogs and cats. It's another benchmark for an ever increasing aging pet population with age related ailments.
At 11-years old, Mischief is equal to about 60 human years. Like humans, he's got degenerative arthritis, but for the first time, he's getting something new.
Dr. Richard Campbell at Willow Creek Pet Center moves a laser beam over and around the arthritic site. The dog requires no anesthetic, no sedation. The treatments, while painless, relieve pain and they're cumulative, lasting a long time.
Richard Campbell, DVM, Willow Creek Pet Center: "We treat them six times over three weeks, and then after that, it's every one to three months. We tell the clients, 'you know your pet, when he starts showing symptoms again, bring him back and we give him one treatment.'"
John Irwin, Mischief's Owner: "He's more energetic. It's hard to keep up with him now."
Most of the same drugs used to effectively treat arthritis in pets are the same human counterparts that have been pulled from the market. So for 12 and a half year old Sammy, a laser wavelength designed specifically to penetrate, warm and reduce inflammation is a welcome relief.
Carol Godwin, Sammy's Owner: "Stairs, she hasn't done stairs, going down, in years. Saturday morning she came halfway down and I live on the third floor of an apartment."
Twelve year old Tucker has had four weeks of treatment and he's out and about now. It's hard to notice any pain at all. Tucker is moving about with his owner Shawnee Brown - feeling pretty comfortable.
And it's not just dogs.
Richard Campbell, DVM: "In cats they just don't tolerate pain medications at all. But now that we have this, it's remarkable to see how the cats are back to their thing and having fun."
The laser is also being used as post-op treatment to relive pain and hasten the healing of wounds after surgery.
