Your pet’s comfort is of the highest importance to us- it’s why we’re here! Our doctors utilize a multimodal approach to pain management, using many different types of therapies to figure out what best fits a specific patient for their specific painful problem. It is very common for patients who experience pain to use a variety of different treatments to keep them comfortable.
In addition to thorough diagnostic exams and medication, BVH also offers several other types of pain treatment:
Acupuncture has been used for pain relief and to treat other conditions in China for over 2,000 years, in both humans and animals. It is based on very close observations of anatomy and responses to manipulation of specific sites (points).
An extended initial appointment is required for patients wishing to join our acupuncture program. Treatments are typically once a week for the first few (3-5) appointments. Some pets only need short courses of treatment to resolve their condition, while others may benefit from long term, chronic therapy. Acupuncture treatments last approximately 30 minutes and are scheduled with a doctor.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy activates the body’s own immune defenses in a small, localized area around the source of pain- for example, an arthritic joint. It feels warm when applied, which feels good to most patients. Long term, it accelerates wound healing and promotes repair of damaged, painful tissue.
Laser treatments, like acupuncture, are typically conducted close together (2 to 3 per week) initially, then are spread out until the condition is resolved or the pet is maintaining a good comfort level. Laser treatments last between 10-20 minutes and are scheduled with a licensed veterinary technician.
BVH uses a Companion Class IV therapeutic laser. This level of therapeutic laser provides much more energy to injured tissue than so-called “cold” lasers (Classes II and III), resulting in much shorter treatment times. A Class III “cold” laser would have to be applied for over an hour to provide the same amount of energy as a few minutes with a Class IV!
If your pet has chronic and/or complex problems with pain, we recommend scheduling a dedicated Pain Management Consultation with Dr. Burrowes to evaluate their case and determine the best course of treatment for your pet. There are many tools for pain management available in veterinary medicine today, and we are here to help you determine what will best keep your best friend pain free for as long as possible.