019.

[fitz_clementine]

I haven't done any writing for NaNo yet today. Woke up early enough, since my body thinks it's an hour later than the clocks say it is-- but I decided to spend a few hours reading, and then I assisted my mother in taking the dog to the vet's office for some kind of laser treatment (?) that's supposed to help him with back and joint pain. I kinda

Comments

[avi_chiara]

When I worked at the vet hospital, we went to a seminar about laser treatment (by the people who sold the machine). The doctor was interested enough to arrange for us to get a laser machine to try out (no cost to us) for three months (we kept it for a lot longer than that, though).

As I understand it, nobody really knows how it works, although sometimes it works extremely well. There's not a whole lot of good research out there, especially on animals. Most of it was case-study type stuff. Stories with dogs like yours who miraculously made full recoveries... bordering on the magical.

The lasering process itself is nothing special to watch. It's a laser pen attached via cord to a rectangular nondescript medical-looking machine. You adjust the laser strength according to the manual, and just slowly move the pen back and forth over the afflicted area, an inch or so from the hair.

We ended up giving the machine back, because we weren't able to prove that it really worked. We tried it on some of our patients (dog with really weird skin disease, cats with broken bones, etc..) but mostly we played with it on ourselves. Doctor's brother used it on his knee. I lasered Julie's wrist after she twisted it. The injuries that we used it on got better (animal & human) but we were never able to determine whether the laser actually sped up the healing process, or whether the improvement would have occurred regardless.

Still, for your dog, it's worth a shot. From what you have written about him, it seems like he's beyond traditional veterinary medicine. I really hope it helps him. I'd be interested to hear how it goes from both a personal and professional standpoint.

p.s. we used it without goggles all the time. even the demonstrator at the seminar used it without goggles. the animals don't wear goggles while they're being treated. just don't look right at the laser!

[fitz_clementine]

Ha ha, well, I was told I couldn't go in the room if I wasn't wearing goggles! I guess they just prefer to be extra careful around lasers at this particular veterinary clinic.

Fritz doesn't seem to be getting well , exactly, but he's been in for this treatment two times now, and after each treatment he has acted more alert and energetic than he had been. They definitely alleviate some of his pain, at least. The effect seems to last about a day.

[avi_chiara]

well, you are supposed to wear goggles. they were just following the rules. I completely understand and agree that they wouldn't let you in without goggles.