Veterinary Laser Therapy in Small Animal Practice

Laser therapy has become increasingly popular in small animal practice and has many benefits to the patient—including reduced inflammation, faster tissue healing, and less pain—and can be used in a wide variety of conditions including wounds, sprains, and fractures. Aimed at the first opinion vet, this very practical book covers the most important aspects of laser use in the practice environment. It approaches the subject by taking two perspectives—fundamental science and clinical applications—and combining them for a robust, useful guide to the practice of laser therapy. Information covered includes: how lasers work on tissue; how to use them in different scenarios; how to maximise results; how to use them on different conditions including soft tissue, musculoskeletal and neurological; how to integrate lasers with other therapies; when not to use lasers or use with caution; how to choose the equipment and implement it in the practice environment and promote the treatment to clients. The book also includes case studies to illustrate the use of lasers in practice on a range of conditions in different animals including dogs, cats, and exotics. Veterinary Laser Therapy in Small Animal Practice combines the clinical and scientific approaches reflected in the work of the two authors, showing how both sides together can help you have a positive impact on the patient.
Half Title
Title
Copyright
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Some of what you will see
Introduction: light as a healing tool
Part 1 Light’s actions in the body
Chapter 1 Light is just the catalyst
1.1 Electromagnetic radiation
1.2 Absorbing light
1.3 Light’s bio-targets
1.4 Absorption leads to …
1.4.1 Heat
1.4.2 Changing shape
1.4.3 Physical chemistry
1.4.4 Shapeshifting examples
1.5 Light’s targets within the cell
1.5.1 Cytochrome C
1.5.2 Nitric oxide: a not-so-secondary effect
Summary from a different perspective
Chapter 2 Blood and light
2.1 Circulation basics
2.2 Heat … again
2.3 Push vs. pull
2.4 Vasodilation: nitric oxide rearing its head again
2.5 Oxygenation
Summary from a different perspective
Chapter 3 Anti-inflammatory effect
3.1 Changing the flavor of the inflammatory soup
3.1.1 Vasoactive amines
3.1.2 Acute phase proteins and plasmatic proteases
3.1.3 Lipid mediators
3.1.4 Cytokines
3.1.5 Molecule of the year and more
3.2 The anti-inflammatory effect of laser therapy on different cells, tissues, and conditions
Summary from a different perspective
Chapter 4 Analgesic effect
4.1 How can laser therapy provide analgesia?
4.2 Don’t forget pain assessment
4.3 Analgesia in different conditions: clinical studies
Summary from a different perspective
Chapter 5 Tissue healing
5.1 Wound healing
5.2 Healing of tendons and ligaments
5.3 Muscle healing
5.4 Bone healing
5.5 Nerve healing and function
5.6 Treating contaminated and infected tissues
Summary from a different perspective
Part 2 Pointing the light into the patient
Chapter 6 Light’s path to all these places in the body
6.1 Attenuation via absorption and scatter
6.2 Scatter: the primary interaction
6.3 How much and in which direction?
6.4 How this adds up to dose
6.5 Interpreting dose in vitro vs. in vivo
6.6 Power
6.6.1 Average vs. peak power
6.7 Treatment time and reciprocity
6.8 Power density and patient comfort
Summary from a different perspective
Chapter 7 Pointing light at soft tissue: clinical applications
7.1 General treatment considerations and parameters
7.1.1 Dose
7.1.2 Power
7.1.3 Pulsing frequencies
7.1.4 How often?
7.2 Wounds and burns
7.2.1 Acute wounds
7.2.2 Chronic wounds
7.2.3 Burns
7.2.4 Wound care, dressings, and laser therapy
7.2.5 How to improve results
7.3 Lick granuloma
7.4 Dermatitis
7.4.1 Acute and chronic dermatitis
7.4.2 Pododermatitis
7.5 Ear disease
7.5.1 Otitis
7.5.2 Aural hematomas
7.6 Sacculitis and perianal fistulas
7.7 Hygroma (false bursitis)
7.8 Gingivitis and stomatitis
7.9 Abdominal organs
7.9.1 Transabdominal treatments
7.9.2 Laser therapy during laparotomy
7.10 Airway
Summary from a different perspective
7.11 Case studies
Chapter 8 Different flavors (frequencies) for different tissues
8.1 Evidence that tissue type matters
8.2 Understanding the WHY
8.3 Best guesses
8.4 Little bit of this … little bit of that
Summary from a different perspective
Chapter 9 Pointing light at musculoskeletal and neurological conditions: clinical applications
9.1 General treatment considerations
9.1.1 Dose (J/cm2)
9.1.2 Power (W)
9.1.3 Frequency (Hz)
9.1.4 How often?
9.2 Laser therapy for fractures and osteotomies
9.2.1 Laser therapy in growing animals
9.2.2 Laser therapy and metallic implants
9.3 Tendon and ligament injuries
9.4 Muscle and laser therapy
9.4.1 Trigger points
9.5 Arthritis
9.6 How to assess clinical progression
9.6.1 Musculoskeletal pain assessment
9.6.2 Goniometry
9.7 How to improve results
9.7.1 Asking the right questions
9.7.2 Some anatomical considerations: tips for different areas
9.8 Laser therapy in neurological patients
9.8.1 Intervertebral disk disease
9.8.2 Treating peripheral nerves
9.8.3 Transcranial laser therapy
Summary from a different perspective
9.9 Case studies
Part 3 Using light in your practice
Chapter 10 Considering laser therapy for your practice
10.1 Make an educated choice
10.2 Laser safety and contraindications
10.2.1 Eye exposure
10.2.2 Neoplastic growths
10.2.3 Pregnant uterus
10.2.4 Recent infiltration of joints with steroids/NSAIDs
10.2.5 Thyroid
10.2.6 Other extra precautions
10.2.7 Compliance and regulatory considerations
10.3 How to charge for therapy and when
Chapter 11 Implementation of laser therapy in practice
11.1 Early implementation
11.2 How to integrate laser therapy with your current treatments
11.2.1 Medications
11.2.2 Surgery
11.2.3 Acupuncture Laser acupuncture
11.2.4 Other physical modalities
11.2.5 Stem cells and platelet-rich plasma
The future light to be shed
Appendices
Appendix A. Pain assessment scales
Appendix B. Goniometry
Appendix C. Compilation of suggested treatment parameters
Appendix D. Area measurement tool
References
Index