Laser Therapy for Dogs: What the Trials Show and How to Use Light at Home
Laser therapy for dogs has its best support in arthritis: in controlled trials of dogs with elbow or hip arthritis, clinic laser light eased pain and lameness and let some dogs manage on less anti-inflammatory medicine. It is meant to be one part of a vet's wider plan, alongside weight control, exercise and medicine. Below: the trials, sessions, coat and eye safety, who should not have it, clinic laser versus home LED panel, and home use with your vet's agreement.
Key takeaways
- In a sham-controlled trial of 20 dogs with elbow arthritis, 9 of the 11 dogs given laser light had their anti-inflammatory dose cut by at least half. Veterinary Evidence, 2025
- In a double-blind trial of 20 police dogs with hip arthritis, six laser sessions over 3 weeks gave lower pain scores than daily meloxicam at days 8, 15 and 30. Alves, 2022
- The 2022 AAHA pain management guidelines list laser therapy among options that "may be useful adjuncts to consider" for chronic pain. AAHA, 2022
- Most dogs need 4 to 6 laser sessions before an improvement shows, and 8 to 10 when several joints are involved or the disease is severe. Huntingford, 2019
- Veterinary guidance names light entering the eye, directly or by reflection, as the only absolute contraindication for laser therapy. Goldberg, 2019
Does laser therapy for dogs work?
For arthritis, controlled trials say it can help: laser light reduced pain and lameness in dogs with elbow and hip arthritis. Vets use it as an add-on to the usual arthritis plan, not as a replacement for it.
| Study | Dogs | What was found |
|---|---|---|
| Looney 2018, elbow arthritis | 20 dogs, laser against sham light | Anti-inflammatory dose halved or more in 9 of 11 laser dogs; less lameness |
| Alves 2022, hip arthritis | 20 police dogs, laser against meloxicam | Lower pain scores than the drug at days 8, 15 and 30; no side effects |
| Alves 2023, hip arthritis | 30 working dogs, laser, platelet-rich plasma or both | All groups improved; the combination gave the largest gains |
| Barale 2020, arthritis | 17 dogs in clinic practice | Pain medicine reduced at week 2 in 13 of 17 dogs |
In the elbow trial, owners were asked to halve their dog's anti-inflammatory dose after week 3. Lameness and owner pain scores improved more with laser than with sham. Veterinary Evidence, 2025 That summary concludes laser therapy "may be effective at reducing clinical signs of osteoarthritis".
A 2023 systematic review gathered 45 veterinary laser studies published from 1980 to 2020. Of these, 24 were in dogs. Millis and Bergh, 2023 The evidence base is small and early, and the authors note there is no agreed protocol yet, so the vet's plan matters.
Our article on red light therapy for dog arthritis goes deeper on joint care, and red light therapy for dogs covers the wider range of uses.
What is cold laser therapy for dogs, and what does the light do?
Cold laser therapy for dogs uses red or near-infrared light to support the body's own repair and comfort signals without heating or cutting tissue. The field calls this photobiomodulation, a term that covers lasers, LEDs and other light sources.
The Merck Veterinary Manual places therapeutic red light at 630 to 680 nm and near-infrared at 700 to 1100 nm. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Red light: melanin and haemoglobin absorb strongly around 630 to 670 nm, so red light does much of its work near the surface.
- Near-infrared: Merck notes that 810 and 980 nm reach deeper structures, which is why joint protocols lean on them.
- Invisible light: light above 760 nm cannot be seen, so there is no glare to make a dog or a person blink.
Our guide to cold laser therapy vs red light therapy compares the two device types.
Can cold laser therapy help a dog with hip or elbow arthritis?
Hips and elbows have the best canine evidence of any use: a sham-controlled elbow trial and a double-blind hip trial both favoured laser light. The hip trial compared light with meloxicam, a common arthritis drug, and light came out ahead on pain scores.
The hip trial treated police dogs with arthritis in both hips for 3 weeks. Alves, 2022
- Pain severity at day 30: 3.4 with light, against 4.9 with meloxicam.
- Pain interference at day 15: 3.6 with light, against 5.3.
- Overall owner score at day 30: 21.9 with light, against 34.2, where lower is better.
- Side effects: none in either group.
A follow-up study in 30 working dogs added platelet-rich plasma injections. Light and injections together gave "greater, longer-lasting, clinically significant improvements" than either alone. Alves, 2023
In everyday practice, a review of 17 dogs treated weekly for 6 weeks found pain medicine reduced by week 2 in 13 of them. Barale, 2020 A board-certified surgeon writing for vets lists pain relief, weight management, exercise and omega-3 as the core arthritis plan, with other therapies as add-ons. Kirkby Shaw, 2024
How many laser sessions does a dog need, and how long does the effect last?
Specialist guidance expects a change after 4 to 6 sessions, given more often at first and then tapered to maintenance. In the hip trial, the benefit lasted longer than the drug's, and vets plan top-up sessions because the effect eases over the following weeks.
Huntingford describes a common pattern for arthritis. Huntingford, 2019
- Flare or new injury: daily sessions until there is clear improvement.
- Next stage: twice a week for 2 to 3 weeks.
- Maintenance: often every 3 to 6 weeks for arthritis.
In the hip trial, pain interference took 77.9 days on average to drift back to where it started after the laser course. With meloxicam it took 45.3 days. Alves, 2022 The follow-up study added one session at each monthly check.
| Study or guidance | Light | Dose | Session length | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Looney 2018, elbows | 980 nm laser, continuous | 10 to 20 J/cm² by body size | Not given | Twice a week for 6 weeks |
| Alves 2022, hips | 980 nm, or 980 plus 808 nm, chosen by coat colour | 14.3 to 19.5 J/cm² | About 5 minutes | 3, then 2, then 1 session a week: 6 in 3 weeks |
| Alves 2023, hips | Laser | Not readable in the paper's text | Not given | The same 6 sessions, then one at each monthly check |
| Barale 2020, arthritis | Laser | Not given in the summary | Not given | Weekly for 6 weeks |
| Huntingford 2019, clinical guidance | 800 to 1000 nm | 8 to 12 J/cm² for most joints | Varies by device | Daily in a flare, twice weekly for 2 to 3 weeks, then every 3 to 6 weeks |
Every trial here used a handheld probe in contact with the skin or close to it, one area at a time. Clinics set doses by joint, body size and coat.
Clinics usually price laser therapy per session, so ask what a full course costs, including maintenance visits.
Does my dog's fur need clipping, and does coat colour matter?
Clipping helps light reach the skin, and dark fur and dark skin absorb more light and warm faster. Many clinics clip the area or part the coat, and some change the light for dark coats.
Huntingford notes that clipping improves penetration and advises caution with dark skin, with the skin's temperature checked by hand. Huntingford, 2019 In the hip trial, dark-coated dogs had 980 nm only, while light and medium coats had a mix of 980 and 808 nm. Alves, 2022
- Long or thick coats: part the fur along the joint so light falls on skin rather than hair.
- Black or dark brown coats: check the skin by hand more often; warm is fine, hot means stop.
- Clipping: a choice for you and your vet.
Does laser therapy hurt, and does my dog need goggles?
It should not hurt: the target is "pleasant, gentle warming", and the main trials reported no side effects. Eye protection matters for everyone in the room, and a dog that will not keep goggles on should have its face turned away or covered.
Goldberg advises that pet goggles exist but many dogs resist them, so a towel or a cone collar can keep the face shielded instead. Goldberg, 2019
- Main risks with misuse: Merck names retinal damage and burns. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Metal: remove collars and tags with metal parts before a session.
- Behaviour: restlessness, panting or trying to leave are signs to stop.
For people, our guide to red light therapy goggles explains why sunglasses are not a substitute.
What if my dog has a back problem such as IVDD?
Wobbling, dragging the legs, crying in pain or losing bladder control are signs of a disc problem that needs the vet the same day, before anything else. After disc surgery, results with clinic laser are mixed, so any light belongs inside the surgeon's rehab plan.
- Same day: wobbling, weak or dragging back legs, crying when touched or moved, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
- After surgery: the surgeon or rehab vet decides whether laser fits and when; post-surgery laser is not a home project.
- Later in recovery: home light comes up only if the vet suggests it as part of the plan.
Which dogs should not have laser or light therapy?
Light should never go over a lump, tumour or suspected cancer, a pregnant dog, an actively bleeding area or the eyes. Puppies under a year and dogs on certain medicines need the vet's specific advice.
The Merck Veterinary Manual lists these situations to avoid or handle with care. Merck Veterinary Manual
| Situation | What veterinary guidance says |
|---|---|
| Lumps, tumours, lymphoma | Avoid treating over lumps or tumours; lymphoma is listed as a contraindication |
| Pregnancy | Avoid the pregnant uterus |
| Overactive thyroid | Listed as a situation to avoid |
| Active bleeding | Avoid the area |
| Dogs under 1 year | Care with higher-powered devices over long bones, because of growth plates |
| Photosensitising medicines or plants | Lower intensity |
| Tattoos | Can be painful under light |
Get a diagnosis first. If your dog takes any medicine, ask the vet whether it makes skin more sensitive to light. For a dog with a thyroid condition, keep the light off the throat and ask the vet.
How does a clinic laser differ from a home LED panel?
A clinic laser delivers a narrow band of light through a small probe, one spot at a time, with the vet setting the dose. An LED panel spreads light over a wide area from a distance, and at home the plan comes from your vet.
A 2018 review of about 40 laser and LED comparisons found the evidence appears to support the idea that photobiomodulation "is not dependent on lasers or coherence". Heiskanen and Hamblin, 2018 The comparisons so far point the same way, though the authors judged most of them low in quality. Merck says the debate between lasers and LEDs continues.
- Clinic laser: handheld probe, a few nm of bandwidth, one joint or point at a time, the dose set and given by vet staff.
- LED panel: wider bands, a broad area lit at once from a distance, used at home within the vet's plan.
- Evidence: the closest evidence for home panels comes from vet-clinic laser trials.
How can you use a Kivorla panel on your dog at home with your vet's agreement?
Agree a plan with your vet first, then start at about 12 inches, 2 to 3 minutes at lower brightness, building to about 5 minutes on one area, 2 or 3 times a week. Use continuous mode with pulse off, wear the goggles yourself and keep the dog's eyes shielded or its head turned away.
The 9-Spectrum Red Light Therapy Panel is an LED panel with nine wavelengths: 480, 590, 630, 660, 670, 810, 830, 850 and 1060 nm, each dimmable from 1 to 100%. The panel may be used on pets. The minutes and distances in our manual are written for people, so the vet sets the plan for your dog.
- Set-up: hang the panel low on a door or wall with the included door hook, pulley, hanging cables and screws, or stand it upright on the floor, so it faces the dog's body at about 12 inches.
- Gentle start: the timer starts from 1 minute, each channel dims, and the panel stops at 5 minutes if no time is set. The pulsed vs continuous guide explains the pulse setting.
- Eyes: aim at the hips, elbows, knees or back, never the head. Shield the eyes with a towel or turn the head away every time.
- Freedom to move: let the dog lie on a mat and walk away if it wants. Never hold a dog in place, and stay for the whole session.
- Warmth check: feel the skin through the parted coat every minute or two. The panel surface stays at or below 40°C; stop if the skin feels more than warm, or if the dog is restless, panting or trying to leave.
- Never: over open wounds, lumps or tumours, or on a pregnant dog. Take off collars with metal tags.
- Tracking: note how easily your dog rises, walk length, jumping and sitting, and review the log with the vet every 2 weeks. Allow at least 6 weeks before deciding.
If a small dog lies on your lap, you are in the light too, so the people precautions apply to you. Do not use the panel if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or preparing for pregnancy, have a thyroid condition or take thyroid medication, take photosensitising medication, have had sunburn on your body in the past 2 weeks, have a history of seizures triggered by light, or have Fitzpatrick skin type V or VI. Keep your eyes closed and never look into the panel.
Standard shipping to the US, UK and Germany is free. Read the precautions before ordering. Under our return and refund policy, returns are accepted within 30 days: an unopened device with its seals intact is refunded less a 10% restocking fee, and an opened device that is undamaged and complete is refunded less 20%.
Kivorla devices are general wellness devices, not medical devices, and are not intended to treat any condition in people or animals. Ask your vet before using light on your dog, and take signs such as wobbling, dragging legs or loss of bladder control to the vet the same day.