Red Light Therapy for Pets: Dogs, Cats, Horses and Small Animals
Red light therapy for pets is used by vets mainly for joint pain, recovery and comfort, and the strongest evidence so far is for dogs with arthritis, followed by small controlled trials in horses and cats. For rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and reptiles, what is known comes from vets' clinical experience rather than studies. Below: the evidence by species, trial settings, eye safety, when to see the vet first, reptile heat lamps and a gentle home routine to agree with your vet.
Key takeaways
- A 2023 systematic review of laser therapy in animals included 45 studies: 24 in dogs, 1 in cats and 20 in horses. Millis and Bergh, 2023
- 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. Fitzpatrick, 2025
- In a trial of 20 cats having spay surgery, 1 cat given laser light beforehand needed extra pain relief, against 5 cats in the control group. Marques, 2015
- Light reaching the retina through the pupil is the only absolute contraindication to laser therapy in animals. Goldberg, 2019
- Cats can see in light only 16% as bright as people need, so their eyes must stay out of any beam. University of Tennessee
Does red light therapy for pets work?
For dogs with arthritis, controlled trials found less pain and lower medicine needs when light was added to care. For other species the evidence is smaller, and for exotic pets it rests on vets' experience.
None of the 45 studies in the 2023 review was in rabbits, birds or reptiles. Almost all used clinic laser therapy, sometimes called cold laser, given by a vet or a rehabilitation team.
| Species | What vets use light for | Best evidence so far | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dogs | Arthritis, rehabilitation after surgery | Controlled trials in elbow and hip arthritis | Dogs |
| Cats | Pain after surgery, arthritis, mouth and bladder care in the clinic | A small randomised trial after spay surgery | Cats |
| Horses | Tendon and ligament injuries, back pain | Small controlled trials | Horses |
| Rabbits and guinea pigs | Arthritis, sore hocks | Vets' clinical experience | This article |
| Birds | Feather damaging behaviour, bumblefoot | Anecdotal reports from vets | This article |
| Reptiles | Occasional use in exotic and zoo practice | No studies establish doses or results | This article |
The 2022 AAHA pain guidelines describe laser and other physical therapies as options that "may be useful adjuncts to consider" for chronic pain in dogs and cats. AAHA, 2022
A home panel is an LED device, not a laser, so the closest evidence comes from vet-clinic laser trials and every home plan starts with the vet. See cold laser therapy vs red light therapy for the difference.
What does the research show for dogs with arthritis?
Two controlled trials found less pain with light: one in elbow arthritis against a sham device, and one in hip arthritis against a common anti-inflammatory medicine. Both used clinic lasers 2 or 3 times a week for 3 to 6 weeks.
In the elbow trial, 20 dogs had laser light or a sham treatment twice a week for 6 weeks. Fitzpatrick, 2025 In the light group, 9 of 11 dogs had their anti-inflammatory dose cut by at least half. Lameness also improved.
The hip trial compared laser light plus a dummy pill with meloxicam plus a sham laser in 20 police working dogs, 40 hips in all. Alves, 2022 On day 8, pain severity scored 3.9 with light and 5.6 with meloxicam. The authors concluded that light "reduced pain levels and improved clinical findings", and no side effects were reported.
Light sits alongside the basics. The American College of Veterinary Surgeons calls a slender body weight "by far the most critical aspect of OA management". ACVS For joint by joint positions, see red light therapy for dog arthritis.
Can red light therapy help cats with pain?
The cat research is small: in one randomised trial, fewer cats needed extra pain relief after spay surgery when laser light was given first. Vets also use light for arthritis, though repeated clinic visits stress many cats.
In that trial, 20 cats had a 904 nm laser at four acupuncture points before anaesthesia, or no laser. Marques, 2015 One of the 10 laser cats needed rescue pain relief, against 5 of the 10 control cats.
The AAHA guidelines note that repeated trips for clinic treatments "may limit their effectiveness for many cats". AAHA, 2022
Cats are "very good at hiding pain", the PDSA notes. PDSA Watch for less jumping, trouble with stairs or the litter tray, and matted fur. Our cats article keeps home advice to the hips, back and limbs, because mouth and bladder care belongs in the clinic.
What do horse studies show for tendon and ligament injuries?
Two small controlled trials found tendon and ligament lesions shrank more with clinic laser than without it. In the larger one, swelling and lameness improved too.
In 12 warmbloods with standardised suspensory branch lesions, laser light was given 20 minutes a day for 4 weeks. Pluim, 2020 On MRI, the treated lesion area measured 14.6 mm², against 18.7 mm² in the control lesions.
A randomised trial treated 29 tendon and ligament injuries in 26 performance warmbloods. Zielińska, 2020 After treatment, swelling was 2.4% in the laser group against 6.8% in the control group, and lameness scores were lower.
In a barn, fix the panel out of reach, keep the cable off the floor and keep a handler at the head. Our horses article covers the full set-up.
Is red light therapy for small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs safe?
No studies establish doses or results for rabbits and guinea pigs, so light for them belongs with a vet who treats exotic pets. A rabbit vet reports using clinic laser for arthritis and sore hocks, while standard care is pain relief and better flooring.
The same vet describes clinic sessions of about 1 to 30 minutes depending on the areas, eyes covered and no light over tumours. Papscoe, House Rabbit Network
Rabbits are "masters of hiding their pain". PDSA Guinea pigs get arthritis too, shown by a hunched posture, stiffness and poor grooming, and standard care is vet pain relief, padded floors and ramps. Unusual Pet Vets
Exotic animal specialists warn that thin skin can be thermally damaged quickly with higher-powered lasers, and that the stress of repeated handling can outweigh the benefit. Elam, 2022 If your vet agrees to home sessions, the safe direction for red light therapy for small animals is more distance, lower brightness and less time than for a dog. Sore hocks with broken skin or scabs are for the vet, not a home panel.
Can birds and reptiles have red light therapy, and is a heat lamp the same thing?
Exotic vets report using clinic laser for birds that damage their feathers and for bumblefoot, and describe the results as anecdotal. A reptile's red heat lamp is a different thing: it is equipment for warmth, not light therapy.
Research on light therapy in zoological pets is "sparse", and none establishes doses for animals with feathers, scales or fur. Elam, 2022 Feather damage has many medical and behavioural causes, so see an avian vet first.
Improperly set-up heat lamps and heating pads are "the most common cause of thermal burns in pet reptiles", and a reptile may not move away from a source that is too hot. PetMD, 2024 The Royal Veterinary College does not recommend coloured heat lamps, saying "the colours serve no purpose for the reptile and may cause stress". RVC, 2024 Reptiles also need a separate UVB lamp.
Our panel makes no UV (its shortest wavelength is 480 nm) and is not a heater, so it cannot replace either. Never put it inside or over a vivarium, cage or hutch; for birds and reptiles, light therapy is for an exotics vet to decide.
How do you protect a pet's eyes during red light therapy?
Aim the light at the body, turn the animal's head away or lay a towel over its face, and never let the beam reach the eyes. Animals rarely keep goggles on, so position protects the pet while the owner wears the panel's goggles.
The only absolute contraindication is light reaching the retina through the pupil, directly or reflected. Goldberg, 2019 Remove collars with metal tags, which can reflect light.
- Invisible light: light longer than 760 nm is invisible, so an animal will not blink or look away from near-infrared. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Cats: their pupils open wider than ours in dim light. University of Tennessee
- Horses: pupils can open to "six times that of a human". UC Davis
Our guide to red light therapy goggles explains why the owner wears them for every panel session.
Which pets should see the vet before any light at home?
Any pet with a lump, a pregnancy, a thyroid condition, recent surgery, new lameness or regular medication needs the vet's view first. Some signs need the vet the same day, before anything else.
- Lumps and tumours: never shine light over a lump, a tumour or suspected cancer. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Pregnancy: do not use the panel on a pregnant animal.
- Thyroid: keep the light off the throat of an animal with a thyroid condition, and ask the vet.
- Wounds: no light over open wounds, bleeding or broken skin.
- Young animals: growth plates under about a year old are a listed caution, so ask the vet.
- Medicines and plants: Merck flags photosensitising drugs and plants such as St John's wort, so ask the vet about anything your pet takes.
See the vet the same day, before any light, if a pet is wobbling, dragging its legs, crying in pain or losing bladder control. A horse with suspected laminitis also needs the vet first.
Can red light therapy replace my pet's pain medication?
No. In the dog elbow trial, medicine doses came down under a set plan, and any change to an animal's medicine is the vet's decision.
Guidelines place light as an add-on, alongside weight control, exercise and prescribed pain relief. The PDSA warns never to give a cat human medicine such as paracetamol. PDSA
What settings did vet light therapy trials use?
Most used near-infrared clinic lasers, applied on or close to the skin, 2 or 3 times a week for 3 to 6 weeks. Clinic guidance expects to see change after about 4 to 6 treatments.
| Study | Animals | Light | Dose or time | Sessions | Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Looney 2018 (sham) | 20 dogs, elbow arthritis | 980 nm laser | 10 to 20 J/cm² by dog size | 2 a week | 6 weeks |
| Alves 2022 (vs meloxicam) | 20 dogs, 40 hips | 980 nm or 980 and 808 nm laser | About 5 minutes per session | 3, then 2, then 1 a week | 3 weeks |
| Marques 2015 | 20 cats, spay surgery | 904 nm laser | 9 seconds per point, 4 points | Once, before surgery | Single session |
| Pluim 2020 | 12 horses, ligament lesions | 635 to 980 nm laser | 20 minutes | Daily | 4 weeks |
| Zielińska 2020 | 26 horses, 29 injuries | 808 and 980 nm laser | 16 J/cm² | 15 sessions, tapering from daily | About 6 weeks |
A veterinary sports medicine specialist suggests about 4 to 6 treatments before judging a response. Huntingford, 2019 Laser doses given at points on the skin do not convert into panel minutes; what carries over is near-infrared light, regular sessions and a course of weeks.
How do you use a Kivorla panel with your pet?
Agree a plan with your vet first, because the distances and minutes in our manuals are written for people. Our species guides suggest a gentle starting point to discuss: about 12 inches, 2 to 3 minutes at lower brightness, building to about 5 minutes on one area, 2 or 3 times a week.
The 9-Spectrum Red Light Therapy Panel may be used on pets. It is an LED panel with nine wavelengths, 480, 590, 630, 660, 670, 810, 830, 850 and 1060 nm, each dimmable from 1 to 100%.
- Placement: upright on the floor, or hung low on a door or wall with the included door hook, pulley, hanging cables and screws (a floor stand is sold separately).
- Position: a dog or cat lies on its bed with the hips, back or a leg towards the panel and its head turned away from the beam. A small dog can lie on your lap with its back to the panel, free to hop down.
- Channels: run the near-infrared channels and turn the visible ones down, so the panel is less bright for the animal. Use continuous light, pulse off.
- Timer: set from 1 to 30 minutes with the controller; if no time is set, the panel stops at 5 minutes. The surface stays at or below 40°C.
- Warmth: part the coat and feel the fur and skin every minute or two. Warm is fine; hot means stop.
- Stay: remain for the whole session, never hold the animal in place, and stop if it is restless, panting or trying to leave.
- Safety: keep the cable out of chewing reach and never leave a pet asleep against the panel.
- Log: note area, distance, minutes and brightness, and how your pet moves, to share with the vet.
To stay gentle, dim the channels further, set a shorter timer or step back.
Your own precautions apply while you sit in the light. Wear the goggles, and skip sessions if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or preparing for pregnancy, have epilepsy or a thyroid condition, take thyroid or photosensitising medication, or had body sunburn in the past 2 weeks. The panel is not for Fitzpatrick skin types V or VI. The 4-Wavelength Red Light Therapy Mask is made for human faces and is not for animals.
Read the precautions before ordering. Standard shipping to the US, UK and Germany is free. 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 they do not diagnose or treat any condition in animals. Speak to your vet before using light on any pet, and see the vet the same day for sudden weakness, wobbling or pain.