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How Can Low-Light Laser Therapy Help Reduce Symptoms Of Hip Dysplasia?

2 October 2020

Julio Carr

If your dog has trouble using their hind legs and seems to be in pain while walking, they may be suffering from hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition wherein the head of the femur doesn't fit snugly into the pelvis. Without a snug fit, the femur can rub against the pelvis or the surrounding ligaments whenever your dog tries to walk, causing pain.

Surgery is the only true treatment for hip dysplasia, but it's typically reserved for when the pain becomes extreme. It's also quite expensive. Owners commonly turn to other methods in order to help alleviate pain in the meantime, and one option is to use a low-level laser therapy device.

Handheld LLLT devices emit strong lasers that bypass fur and skin, allowing the laser to target the bones and ligaments that are responsible for the pain. To learn more about how to tell if your dog may have hip dysplasia and how an LLLT device may be able to help, read on.

How Can You Tell if Your Dog Has Hip Dysplasia?

One of the earliest signs of hip dysplasia is an altered gait. Your dog may have difficulty using one or both of their hind legs. In the early phase of hip dysplasia, walking may not actually be painful for your dog—the malformed joint is what causes the altered gait.

Once hip dysplasia progresses, however, the joint begins to degenerate and become painful. When this happens, your dog may not be as active as they once were. It may be difficult for them to walk and to get up from lying down on the ground. At this point, it's a good idea to seek veterinary attention. An X-ray can easily detect hip dysplasia since the femur will be in an abnormal position.

How Can an LLLT Device Help Alleviate Hip Dysplasia Symptoms?

Low-level laser therapy can help alleviate pain through several different mechanisms. When you place the probe of the LLLT device against your dog's hip, the laser from the device shines through your dog's fur and is absorbed by tissues beneath the skin. This is a process called photobiomodulation.

When the laser light is absorbed by cells, it causes them to become more active. Capillaries will open up, increasing blood flow to the hip. Increased blood flow can help to speed the healing of damaged tissue, such as the femur and the ligaments nearby. In addition, the laser can also inhibit the generation of pro-inflammatory compounds such as COX-2 that can cause pain.

What Should You Do if You Think LLLT Is a Good Option for Your Dog?

If you think that your dog would benefit from LLLT, consider a veterinary clinic that offers it. The procedure takes around thirty minutes, and it's also quite inexpensive. However, it's a procedure that needs to be performed a few times a week. Even if you're seeing good results from low-level laser therapy, taking your dog to the vet so often can be a major inconvenience.

Thankfully, it's possible to purchase an LLLT device for home use. In fact, you can purchase the same models used by veterinary clinics. Using an LLLT device at home is easy, and it's much more convenient than making frequent trips to the veterinarian. You may want to visit your veterinarian first so that they can demonstrate how to correctly use an LLLT device, but it requires no veterinary training to use. If your dog's suffering from hip dysplasia, consider using low-light laser therapy as a way to help reduce pain and make them more comfortable being active.

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