Laser Therapy

Reducing pain and promoting healing is one of the medical team’s top priorities. To that end, we have invested in a therapeutic laser that we use to help patients following surgery or an injury and to assist with managing a range of chronic and acute conditions.

Laser therapy is a painless, FDA-approved medical procedure that uses low-level lasers to stimulate the natural healing capabilities of the body’s cells. This form of laser therapy is effective at promoting healing on a cellular level as well as decreasing inflammation after surgery, injury, or in areas of the body affected by chronic illnesses such as arthritis or acute conditions such as otitis. It can also be used to increase joint mobility and relieve the aches and pains common to older pets.

Therapeutic Laser Treatment for Pain Relief and Recovery

Does your dog or cat suffer from any of the following conditions?

  • Acute and Chronic Ear Infections
  • Gingivitis
  • Arthritis
  • Degenerative Joint Disease
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Anal Gland problems
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Lick Granulomas
  • Tendinitis
  • Bursitis
  • Iliopsoas-inner hip muscles
  • Acute and Chronic Pain
  • Fibrotic Myopathy
  • Sinusitis/Rhinitis – inflammation of nasal passages or sinus
  • Stomatitis – inflammation of the mucous lining in the mouth, cheek, or gums
  • Cystitis – urinary bladder inflammation

Laser Therapy Could Be the Answer!

The Therapeutic Laser is the latest technology for the health of your pet.  Deep penetrating light allows relief of pain through the release of endorphins and stimulates injured cells to heal faster.  Simply put, it provides relief.

The Therapeutic Laser:

  • Allows your pet to heal faster after surgery or any traumatic injury.
  • Eases pain and improves mobility without the use of drugs or surgery.
  • Helps provide your geriatric pet relief from aches and pains and allows for more freedom and improved quality of life.
  • Helps provide pain relief and increases healing in common disorders such as lick granulomas and chronic ear infections.
  • Provides a sterile, pain-free, surgery-free, drug-free treatment for a variety of injuries, wounds, fractures, neurological problems, and pain.

What to Expect

There is no patient sedation or restraint required for Laser Therapy and the experience is often pleasant and comforting.  The treatment usually only takes a few minutes to complete during a regular office visit.  Most pets do not need to have their hair clipped unless it is very long or dense.

Although improvement is often seen after the first visit, most patients require several treatments (3-8) for the greatest benefit.  For most conditions, we recommend a multi-visit treatment plan.  Treatments vary in length, but most sites require from 2-8 minutes.  A majority of patients exhibit greater comfort and mobility within 12-24 hours after a laser treatment.

Class IV Laser Therapy treatments are cumulative in nature.  The length and frequency of treatments vary with your pet’s condition. 

A sample treatment schedule may be as follows:

  • Every other day for one week ( 3-total )
  • Twice the second week ( 2-total )
  • Once the third week ( 1-total )
  • Boosters as needed – the doctors will recommend a treatment plan specific to your pet’s condition.

Assisi Loop

Reducing inflammation is a critical first step in healing. To bring our clients the newest and best advancements in pet health, we now offer the Assisi Loop® 2.0, an innovative device that greatly reduces inflammation without the use of drugs or invasive technology. The Assisi Loop 2.0 uses low-level pulses of electromagnetic energy to reduce inflammation and pain and to enhance recovery. The Loop is a targeted Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (tPEMF®) device that is portable and easy to use and can be used at the clinic or in the home/stable to supplement in-office treatments. Use of the Assisi Loop 2.0 will not interfere with existing standard treatment procedures or pain management programs. It is effective in combination with laser therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic treatments, and pain and inflammation medications. In addition to treating inflammation and pain, the Assisi Loop 2.0 is also effective for a number of other issues, including:

  • Orthopedic Injuries: Strains or sprains, torn cruciate, blown discs, fractures, muscle strains, and broken bones.
  • Degenerative Disorders: Osteoarthritis, dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, degenerative joint disease, and spinal instability.
  • Neurological Issues: IVDD, Wobblers Disease, neuropathy, myelitis, and lumbar stenosis.
  • Wound Care: Infected wounds, chronic non-healing wounds, and lick granulomas.
  • Other Inflammatory Issues: Pancreatitis, cystitis, tracheal bronchitis, and laminitis.
  • Post-Surgical Pain and Swelling: Following amputations, tooth extractions, tumor removal, and ACL repair.

Contact us for information about the Assisi Loop 2.0 and whether or not it would help your pet.

Visit Assisi Animal Health to learn more.

What vets are saying about the Assisi Loop

“We have used the Assisi units for acute pain, post-surgical pain, and arthritic flare-ups with great success. The need for pain medication has dropped significantly and function has returned significantly quicker with the use of the Assisi device.”

– Laurie McCauley, DVM, CCRT, Medical Director, TOPS Veterinary Rehabilitation, Grayslake, IL

“The Loop has been helpful for osteoarthritis, ligaments and cruciates. We’ve had good results with our arthritis patients. Some of our clients are snowbirds or don’t live nearby, so it’s very convenient that it’s delivered right to their home. A lot of our clients seek us out because they don’t want their animals to be on any non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medications.”

– Dr. Jaime Gonzalez

What pet owners are saying about the Assisi Loop

“Jasper, my 15-year-old cat, was diagnosed with arthritis (he was limping, having problems jumping and had to move himself several times to get comfortable). I started using the Assisi Loop on him and 7 weeks later I have not had to give [any other type of treatment]. That’s the longest he’s gone without [other treatments] in over 5 years. The added bonus is that I get to put this on him at home in between vet visits. This product is nothing short of amazing. I’m so grateful, and so is Jasper!”

– Donna M.

“My Great Dane, Titan, was diagnosed with Wobblers Disease around the age of 4. I must say that after many, many different forms of therapy, he is doing remarkably well at 8.5 years young. Since I discovered the Assisi Loop and its benefits, we haven’t been without one! Titan receives one to two 15-minute treatments daily and I feel like he really enjoys that time. He seems so relaxed the moment I put it on. It is a product I believe in and I feel it has helped control the symptoms of his Wobblers tremendously! Thank you, Assisi, for creating such a miraculous product!”

– Laura W.

“My certified equine massage therapist recommended the Assisi Loop for my horse, Bill. I just love what the Assisi Loop can do for him. Whether I use it for arthritis in his neck, on an injury, or on swollen legs, it works wonders and takes the pain away! Bill kicked through the fence and rope-burned his leg. It got infected and he ended up with cellulitis, so I put the Loop on him. It helped take down the swelling overnight. It’s just amazing and has helped in so many ways. I don’t know what I would do without it! Thanks so much, Assisi!”

– Stassi Pyne, Two-Time IPRA Barrel Racing World Champion, Average Champion, and High Money Winner

K Laser

St. Francis Hospital for Animals is proud to introduce K-Laser Class IV laser therapy for your pets. Its beneficial uses include alleviating chronic pain, accelerating healing and rehabilitation plus much, much more! No matter what kind of pet you have, large or small, exotic or domestic, K-laser can be part of the solution to help ease your pet’s pain. Safe and effective, this powerful tool provides increased mobility, increased wound healing, and post-surgery rehab. Class IV laser therapy has been very successful in the field of human medicine for years. We are pleased and excited to be able to offer it for the treatment of our best friends!

What is laser therapy?

Photobiomodulation is the scientific term for K- Laser’s effect on tissue. Deep-penetrating photons from the laser influence cell chemistry in a variety of beneficial ways. In addition, the infrared wavelengths create a warm sensation in your pet’s body at the precise location requiring treatment. Treatment time, power, and laser pulse frequency are based on your pet’s individual condition and body size. After surgery, patients receiving laser therapy have less pain. Their recovery is faster, with fewer complications.

Where is it beneficial?

Pain Management: Pet owners often prefer a progressive, non-invasive therapy to a drug regimen for the treatment of chronic pain. K- Laser therapy provides that solution. Wound Healing: Laser therapy can significantly reduce healing time. Traumatic skin injuries and surgical incisions benefit greatly from laser intervention. Rehab: Musculoskeletal injuries and orthopedic surgeries often require additional rehabilitation solutions. Laser therapy provides non-invasive remedies for quicker recovery.

What to expect?

There is no patient sedation or restraint required and the experience is usually pleasant and comforting to the animal. Most pets do not need to have their hair clipped either. Although improvement is often seen after the first visit, most patients require several treatments (3-6) for the greatest benefit. For most conditions, we recommend a multi-visit treatment plan. Treatments vary in length, but most sites require 3 to 8 minutes. A majority of patients exhibit greater comfort and mobility within 12 to 24 hours after a laser treatment. Class IV laser therapy treatments are cumulative in nature. The length and frequency of treatments vary with your pet’s condition.

Platelet Rich Plasma

Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP is an extremely potent anti-inflammatory that can be used to treat injuries, wounds, and burns, as well as help patients, heal from surgical procedures at a faster rate. This potent anti-inflammatory is not a drug, it is made by processing the patients’ own blood so it is 100% safe, with no harmful side effects or reactions.

Contact us to find out more about these advancements in recovery for your pet!