Red Light Therapy for Dog Arthritis: What the Trials Show, Joint by Joint
Red light therapy for dog arthritis has some of the best evidence of any use of light in dogs. In controlled trials, near-infrared laser light on arthritic elbows and hips eased pain and lameness, and in one trial dogs needed less anti-inflammatory medication. Below: the trial settings, each joint, coat colour, timing, and a gentle home panel routine.
Key takeaways
- In a 2018 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 2022 double-blind trial in 20 police dogs with hip arthritis, laser light gave lower pain scores than the drug meloxicam from day 8. Alves, 2022
- Both controlled dog arthritis trials used 980 nm near-infrared laser light. Millis and Bergh, 2023 Alves, 2022
- An independent 2025 evidence summary concluded that laser therapy "may be effective at reducing clinical signs of osteoarthritis" in dogs. Veterinary Evidence, 2025
- About 2.5% of UK dogs under veterinary care are diagnosed with limb arthritis each year, rising to 7.7% of Golden Retrievers. Anderson, 2018
Does red light therapy help dogs with arthritis?
The research points that way. Two controlled trials found less pain and better movement, and studies without a comparison group found more activity and less need for medication.
In a study of 455,557 UK dogs, arthritis covered on average 11.4% of an affected dog's lifespan. Anderson, 2018
A veterinary surgeon writing in dvm360 named three supporting dog studies, on elbows, hips and knees. Kirkby Shaw, 2024 Groups were small, and the 2025 independent summary rated the strength of evidence as "weak", so the picture is promising but early. Our guide to red light therapy for dogs gives the wider overview.
The 2022 pain guidelines of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) place laser among options that "may be useful adjuncts to consider". AAHA, 2022 The core of arthritis care stays a lean body weight, moderate exercise and changes around the home.
What settings did the dog arthritis studies use?
Clinic lasers at 808 to 980 nm, at doses of about 5 to 20 J/cm², once to three times a week for 3 to 6 weeks.
| Study | Joint | Light | Dose | Schedule | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Looney 2018, 20 dogs, against sham light | Elbow | 980 nm laser, 12 W | 10 to 20 J/cm² | Twice a week, 6 weeks | Medication halved in 9 of 11; less lameness |
| Alves 2022, 20 dogs, against meloxicam | Hip | 980 nm, or 980 and 808 nm by coat colour | 14.3 to 19.5 J/cm², about 5 minutes | 3, then 2, then 1 session a week, 3 weeks | Lower pain scores than the drug from day 8 |
| Alves 2023, 30 dogs | Hip | Laser, alone or with joint injections | Not given in the text | Same 6 sessions, then monthly to day 90 | All groups improved; combination lasted longest |
| Barale 2020, 17 dogs, no comparison group | Hip, elbow, knee, lower spine | 808 nm laser, 1 W | 5 J/cm² on joints, 4.2 J/cm² on muscles | Once a week, 6 weeks | Pain medication reduced in 13 of 17 |
| Barale 2023, 23 dogs, no comparison group | Mainly knee | Laser | Not in the abstract | Once a week, 6 weeks | Daily steps up from 1,109 to 8,416 |
| Sidwell 2025, 13 dogs, no comparison group | Limb joints | LED wrap on the joint | Not reported | 11 weeks | Knee measure changed by week 11 |
The elbow settings come from a 2023 systematic review. Millis and Bergh, 2023 The Merck Veterinary Manual gives a typical range of about 4 to 50 J/cm². Merck Veterinary Manual
Can red light therapy help a dog's hip arthritis or hip dysplasia?
The best-controlled dog trial was on hips. Laser light eased pain more than the anti-inflammatory meloxicam over the first month and improved how far the hips could extend.
The trial treated 40 hips in 20 police working dogs, with a mean age of 8.3 years. Alves, 2022 One group had laser light and a dummy pill, the other meloxicam and a sham laser. On these scales, lower is better.
- Pain severity at day 8: 3.9 with light, 5.6 with meloxicam.
- Pain interference at day 15: 3.6 with light, 5.3 with meloxicam.
- Canine Orthopedic Index at day 30: 21.9 with light, 34.2 with meloxicam.
- Hip extension: rose from 149.2 to 154.8 degrees with light.
- Side effects: none in either group.
In a 2021 trial of 32 dogs with hip dysplasia, laser was one part of a physiotherapy package, and that group had better quality-of-life scores. SAVA VetNews, 2023 Hips are the easiest joint to light at home, with the head far from the beam.
Does red light therapy help elbow arthritis in dogs?
Yes, in the one sham-controlled elbow trial. Dogs given 980 nm laser light had less lameness and lower owner pain scores than dogs given sham light, and most could halve their medication.
Twenty dogs with elbow arthritis were randomised by coin toss: 11 to laser light and 9 to sham light. Veterinary Evidence, 2025 Blinded technicians treated both elbows twice a week for 6 weeks.
- Medication: the anti-inflammatory dose was cut by at least 50% in 9 of 11 laser dogs.
- Lameness and owner pain scores: both better than sham.
A veterinary rehabilitation specialist notes that some joints, such as the elbow, may need a higher dose. Huntingford, 2019 At home, build up session length slowly rather than moving closer, and take extra care with the eyes, which sit near the elbows.
What about arthritic knees and cruciate injuries in dogs?
For knee (stifle) arthritis, a study without a comparison group found dogs walked much more after weekly sessions. Recovery from cruciate surgery is different, and light there is the surgeon's call.
In 23 dogs with knee arthritis SAVA VetNews, 2023, an accelerometer tracked daily steps through six weekly laser sessions. Barale, 2023 Steps rose from 1,109 a day to 4,472 at week 1. By week 6 they reached 8,416. Pain medication was reduced in 50% of the dogs. There was no comparison group.
The only LED study we found in dog arthritis put a wrap on the joint of 13 dogs for 11 weeks. A knee measure changed significantly by week 11, though not at week 4. Sidwell, 2025 That suggests lower-power LED light may need more weeks.
Studies of light after cruciate surgery had mixed results, as our dogs article explains, so follow the surgeon's rehab plan.
Can red light help arthritis in a dog's back?
The data are thin, and the first step is a vet check. Back pain in dogs can be disc disease, which needs prompt veterinary care rather than home light.
One retrospective study of 17 dogs included arthritis of the lower spine alongside hips, elbows and knees. Barale, 2020 It used 808 nm light once a week for 6 weeks, treating the joint and the muscles around it. Pain medication was reduced in 13 of 17 dogs by week 2, with no comparison group.
See the vet first for back pain, wobbliness or weak back legs.
Which wavelength is best for a dog's joints: red or near-infrared?
Near-infrared. The dog arthritis studies that report a wavelength used 808 nm or 980 nm light, the range vets use for joints and muscles.
A rehabilitation specialist puts musculoskeletal targets at 800 to 1000 nm. Huntingford, 2019 The Merck Veterinary Manual says 810 and 980 nm reach deeper tissue. Merck Veterinary Manual It also notes that melanin and haemoglobin absorb 630 to 670 nm red strongly. Our comparison of 660 nm and 850 nm light explains the difference in depth.
Does a dark or thick coat change how well red light works on a dog?
Yes. Fur and dark pigment absorb light before it reaches the joint, and dark coats warm faster.
The 2022 hip trial changed its light by coat colour: 980 nm alone for dark coats, and 80% 980 nm with 20% 808 nm for light and medium coats. Alves, 2022 Colorado State University's vet school says dark hair "needs to be shaved (best scenario) or parted". CSU, 2024
- Part the coat: brush it aside over the joint, and keep it clean and dry.
- Clipping: it lets more light in, but it is a choice for you and your vet.
- Dark coats: check the skin with your hand every minute or two.
See does red light therapy work through clothes for how fur blocks light.
How soon will my dog show a difference, and does it last?
In the trials, change showed from the first week to week 6, and the LED study took 11 weeks. Benefits faded after sessions stopped, which is why vets plan regular top-up sessions.
In the 2022 hip trial, pain interference took 77.9 days on average to return to its starting level with light, against 45.3 days with meloxicam. Alves, 2022 By days 60 and 90, the pain and function scores no longer differed between groups. The follow-up study kept one session a month after the first 3 weeks. Alves, 2023
Keep a simple log for your vet, based on the arthritis signs listed by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. ACVS
- Rising: how long it takes to get up in the morning.
- Walks: length or daily steps.
- Furniture and the car: whether your dog hesitates to jump up.
- Sitting: with a leg out straight or on one hip.
Review the log every 2 weeks, and give it at least 6 weeks before deciding.
Can red light therapy replace my dog's arthritis medication?
No. In the trials, vets reduced medication under a set plan, and any change to your dog's medication is for your vet to decide.
In the elbow trial, owners were told to halve the dose after week 3 and could return to the original dose if the dog worsened. Veterinary Evidence, 2025 The American College of Veterinary Surgeons calls a slender weight "by far the most critical aspect" of managing arthritis. ACVS Add light on top of weight control, low-impact walks and medication.
Which dogs with arthritis should see the vet before trying light?
Every dog with new lameness, because arthritis has lookalikes. Lumps, back pain, recent surgery, pregnancy, thyroid disease and puppies also need the vet's say first.
Colorado State University notes that lameness in older dogs is often arthritis but can be cancer, so a full workup comes first. CSU, 2024 Merck advises against light over tumours, an overactive thyroid, bleeding areas or a pregnant uterus, and urges caution over growth plates in young dogs with higher-powered devices. Merck Veterinary Manual Our precautions rule out broken skin or open wounds.
Eyes are the firm rule. A veterinary technician calls light reaching the retina "the only absolute contraindication". Goldberg, 2019 Dogs cannot see near-infrared and few will wear goggles, so keep the face turned away or covered with a towel. Our article on eye safety covers the human side. Take off collars with metal tags before a session.
How do you use a Kivorla panel on a dog with arthritis?
With your vet's agreement, start at about 12 inches, about 5 minutes on one joint, two or three times a week, in continuous mode. Aim at the body, never the head.
Most vet research used clinic lasers at 1 to 12 W. The 9-Spectrum Red Light Therapy Panel is a lower-power way to use the same near-infrared range at home between vet visits. Its nine channels run from 480 to 1060 nm, each dimmable from 1 to 100%, with near-infrared at 810, 830, 850 and 1060 nm. At 6 inches and full brightness it gives about 157 mW/cm², roughly 9 J/cm² a minute at the surface, before any loss through fur. At 640 x 230 mm (about 25 x 9 in), it covers a hip and the thigh muscles at once.
| Joint | How to position | Eyes |
|---|---|---|
| Hips | Panel upright on the floor or hung low on a door; dog lying with its hindquarters towards it | Head furthest from the beam |
| Knees | Dog on its side, panel aimed at the outer knee; the other knee on another day | Keep the head outside the beam |
| Elbows | Dog on its side, panel aimed at the elbow from low down | Hardest joint: cover the face with a towel |
| Lower back | Dog lying on its chest, panel aimed along the back from behind | Keep the panel below head height |
To stay near the studied range, use the controls rather than the full output.
- Distance: about 12 inches, where output is lower than at 6.
- Dimming: turn the visible channels down, which also makes the panel less bright for your dog.
- Timer: first sessions of 2 to 3 minutes at lower brightness, building to about 5. If no time is set, the panel stops at 5 minutes.
- Mode: continuous, with pulse off, as our guide to pulsed and continuous light explains.
- Warmth: the surface stays at 40°C or less, but check the fur by hand: warm, never hot.
- Comfort: never hold a dog in place; stop if it pants or tries to leave.
The panel hangs on a door or wall with the included door hook, pulley, hanging cables and screws, or stands upright on the floor. The controller starts and stops it. The goggles in the box are for you: if a small dog sits on your lap with its back to the panel, you are in the light too, and the precautions for people apply. Move closer or longer only if your vet agrees. The 4-Wavelength Red Light Therapy Mask is made for human faces and is not for dogs.
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 or veterinary devices, and are not intended to treat arthritis in dogs. See your vet before starting, for any new lameness or lump, and before changing your dog's medication.