Laser Therapy Treatment Protocols for Individual Animals
General Principle for most conditions:
Calculate the therapeutic dose for the given condition, allocate 2/3 of the dose to 980nm and 1/3 to 810nm.
Recommendations:
3-4 Joules/sq cm for superficial lesions ( to 1cm depth) – Hotspots, otitis externa, dermatitis
5-7 Joules/sq cm for deeper lesions (2-4 cm deep) – anal sacculitis, sesamoid & digit fractures, IVDD (small dog)
10-12 Joules/sq cm for deep lesions (6-8cm deep) – IVDD (large dog), hip arthritis (large dog), thorax, skull, spinal trauma
Protocol:
Induction – Treat every 2nd day (or daily in severe cases) until a good response is achieved.
Transition – Treat weekly for 4 weeks.
Maintenance – Treat monthly or as required to maintain the benefits.
Calculations:
- Allocate a “Custom Protocol” to a specific patient or condition.
- Measure the treatment area in cm squared. e.g 200 sq cm
- Choose an appropriate dose for the condition e.g. 10 Joules/sq cm
- Multiply 1×2 to get the total therapeutic dose required. e.g. 200 sq cm X 10 J/sq cm = 2000 Joules (NOTE: If you have Simultaneous Emmision on your machine go to 10)
- Divide by 3 to determine Joules required at 810nm. e.g 2000/3 = 666 Joules
- Multiply by 2 to determine Joules required at 980nm. e.g. 666 x 2 = 1332 Joules.
- Rule to remember 1 Joule = 1 watt X 1 second
- Choose power based on time you would like to take to treat the condition e.g @ 6 Watts => 666J/6W = 111secs @ 810nm & 1332J/6W = 222secs OR @ 12 Watts that time es will be halved to 56 secs @ 810nm & 111secs @ 980nm.
- Set required Watts (main screen) and time (device settings) for each wavelength as indicated.
- Refer to Rule in 7. Divide therapeutic dose in Joules by Watts to be used, to determine total treatment time.
- After entering the Watts and time required simply change the % of each wavelength required e.g. 70% 980nm & 30% 810nm for lighter coloured animals or 60% 980nm & 40% 810nm for darker coloured animals.
When treating a very small area – e.g. a sesamoid – say 1cm X 1cm = 1sq cm @ 6J/sq cm = ^ Joule total dose – consider reducing the effective watts by pulsing the beam. By setting it on repeat pulse with the amount of time off equal to time on, you have now reduced the watts effectively to 0.5 watts. It just allows a little more time for the treatment.
Personal observations:
- I have noted in the past that some patients seemingly “deteriorate” over the 24 hours post therapy, but then recover and show significant improvement. My suspicions have been that they have been over-dosed, and usually benefit by reducing the subsequent therapeutic doses.
- Some vets have been instructed to clip pets prior to treatment to reduce the impact posed by the coat. The “gurus” in the USA have advised me personally that this is unnecessary. However it is clearly stated in the treatment of humans that lasers will not effectively penetrate clothing. I am in two minds !!! Clipping could only be of a benefit to maximise penetration, but if you lose a patient it won’t benefit them at all.