As a veterinarian with over three decades of experience, I've always been passionate about finding innovative ways to improve our pets' health and quality of life.
Today, I'm excited to share a conversation I had with Dr. Laurie McCauley DVM, CCRT, CVA, CVC, on laser therapy.
Dr. McCauley's journey from general practice to launching the first veterinary rehabilitation clinic is truly inspiring. Her expertise in laser therapy has revolutionized how we approach pet care, offering non-invasive, drug-free solutions for various conditions.
In this interview, you'll learn about the science behind laser therapy, its wide-ranging applications, and how it's reshaping veterinary medicine. We also discuss how you can do laser therapy at home with your dog(s)!
The Journey to Veterinary Rehabilitation and Laser Therapy
Dr. Dobias: Laurie, thank you for joining us. Could you share how you transitioned from general practice to launching the first veterinary rehabilitation clinic?
Dr. McCauley: It's a pleasure to be here, Peter. My journey began when I felt compelled to learn acupuncture, despite my boss's disapproval. This led me to explore physical therapy for dogs, particularly for injured police dogs. I left my comfortable practice to start a small clinic focused on rehabilitation.
Within six months, the demand grew exponentially. I designed the first underwater treadmill for dogs, incorporating elements from human models and even consulting with the Brookfield Zoo. Soon, I was teaching rehab certification courses and contributing to textbooks on veterinary rehabilitation.
Dr. Dobias: That's an incredible journey. What motivated you to educate others in veterinary rehabilitation and laser therapy?
Dr. McCauley: My God-given gifts are healing and teaching. When I do these things, I feel fulfilled. It's not just about helping the dogs; it's about empowering their owners too. I often tell my clients, "I want to help you so I don't have to see you that often." My goal is to enable them to care for their pets effectively.
The Science and Evolution of The Beam
Dr. Dobias: Could you explain in simple terms what a laser beam is and how it differs from regular light?
Dr. McCauley: A true laser must be monochromatic (one wavelength), collimated, and coherent. This means all the photons move together, giving it the power to penetrate tissue and have an effect inside the body. It's like the difference between a sharp blade and a dull knife or a hammer.
Dr. Dobias: How has laser technology evolved in veterinary medicine over the past 10-20 years?
Dr. McCauley: There's been significant progress in precision and effectiveness. Modern lasers have convex probes that can penetrate fur more effectively. The technology now allows for more targeted treatment, with the most energy concentrated directly under the beam.
Can Laser Therapy Reduce the Need for Pain Medication?
Dr. Dobias: We know that laser has been used in veterinary therapy, what do you believe catalyzed the shift in veterinary medicine to embrace laser therapy?
Dr. Laurie McCauley: So I started teaching about laser in 2000, 2002, maybe. I would go to the room and say, how many people have lasers, or have used a laser, or know anything about it? And maybe 5% of the people would raise their hand. Now I go into a room and I say how many of you have used lasers and at least 95% of the people raise their hand.
There's so much research on it and I wish that human doctors would use it as much as veterinarians do because they have so many effects. Because insurance doesn't cover it for humans, the general practitioners don't usually use it. I get my teeth cleaned, my dentist uses it before I leave, right? He uses a blue light and it decreases inflammation and kills bacteria. Podiatrists, chiropractors, naturopaths, naturopaths - a lot of those people will use laser because they can and they know the effects.
There's tons of research that show what it's good for, including, you know, post-back pain or post-surgery back pain or decreasing the need for drugs. Pain control drugs, painkillers, painkillers, NSAIDs, right? So your remedial and your medical, all of that can be decreased or gotten rid of when you're using a laser. But you have to use it appropriately and you have to use it as needed.
Applications and Benefits of Laser Therapy
Dr. Dobias: Can you share some cases where laser therapy effects were beyond your expectations?
Dr. McCauley: Absolutely! I once treated a dog with a severe elbow wound that had been opened down to the tendons. Using laser therapy, we healed it at least three to four times faster than conventional treatments. The referring vet and client were amazed at the results.
Dr. Dobias: That's impressive. How does laser therapy affect tissue at the cellular level?
Dr. McCauley: At specific doses, laser therapy increases cell respiration, producing more ATP (energy) for faster healing. At higher doses, it can act as a nerve block, shutting down pain transmission to the brain. It also increases blood vessel diameter, improves blood flow, and reduces inflammation by inhibiting inflammatory chemicals.
Laser Therapy and Tumors
Dr. Peter Dobias: Have you ever used it for, let's say, lipomas? Have you used it for any other lumps or tumors? What would happen if there was, let's say, a lipoma? Can it be addressed? Or what would happen if there was a tumor that he didn't know about? Would it possibly increase the growth or do we need to be careful about this?
Dr. Laurie McCauley: Absolutely, that's one of the contraindications. Now, there is some research that shows with some tumors, again, specific variables. You may have increased blood flow to it, but then you have the macrophages, the T cells that kill the tumor, significantly increase around it, but that's very tumor-dependant. So, in general, you stay away from cancer. You stay away from the eyes, because laser can actually damage the back of the eyes. You stay away from injection sites because if you put something into the tissue and then your laser may or may not heat the tissue, or it can increase blood flow to the area, so that it may change how that medication is distributed in the body. Or it may even change the medication. So we don't ever want a laser over an area that was just injected into, and then tattoos.
Laser Therapy and Heart Attack Recovery
Dr. Peter Dobias: There was a study on pigs and heart attack recovery through laser therapy, which to me is groundbreaking. It's amazing. Can you tell me, can you tell us more about that?
Dr. Laurie McCauley: Everybody needs to know this. Having a mom who had a heart attack, I wish I knew about this when she was still with me. So they did first, one study where they took pigs and they cut open all the bones and they said where are the most stem cells? They found that the top part of the tibia had the most stem cells and the ileum had the most stem cells.
Then the second study, they took pigs and they caused a heart attack and half of them they just left alone and half of them they lasered on day two and day seven. They lasered just the ilium and the top of the tibia.
On day 10, they took blood from all the pigs and they found out that the pigs that had the laser on day two and day seven, had way, way, way, way more stem cells circulating through the body than the pigs that didn't have the laser.
And then on day 90, they euthanized the pigs, and they looked at the damage to the heart, the average difference in size, there was 68% less damage in the pigs that had been lasered, not even the heart, the tibia and the ilium on day two and day seven, right? So why aren't we doing this for people that have heart attacks? It's crazy.
Stem Cells and Older Dogs
Dr. Peter Dobias: Is there any cutoff when, you know, let's say older dogs don't have the stem cells there or how can you produce the stem cell creation in those areas? Do they always have them in those areas?
Dr. Laurie McCauley: Think about where do we take bone marrow from. That's where we take it, right? From the ilium, because we're doing a bone marrow transplant because they have so many stem cells there. So, all of my patients that have any kind of degeneration or any kind of injury, we laser the injury or the degenerative areas. And then also the tibias and the iliums.
At-Home Laser Therapy
Dr. Dobias: You've developed a course on at home laser therapy for pet owners. What inspired this initiative?
Dr. McCauley: I realized that many of my clients owned lasers but didn't know how to use them properly. My goal is to empower pet owners to treat their animals at home, reducing the need for frequent vet visits. This is especially beneficial for conditions that require regular treatments, like arthritis or post-surgery care.
Dr. Dobias: That's fantastic. What safety measures should people be aware of when using laser therapy at home?
Dr. McCauley: Safety is crucial. For Class 4 lasers, special protective glasses are required for anyone within the treatment area. The dog's eyes should be protected with special glasses or a thick towel. It's also important to understand the specific laser you're using and follow proper techniques to avoid overheating tissue or causing other issues.
The Future of Laser Therapy in Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Dobias: What excites you most about the future of laser therapy in veterinary medicine?
Dr. McCauley: I envision a future where most homes have a laser device, allowing pet owners to treat various conditions under veterinary guidance. This could range from hot spots and dental issues to kidney disease and arthritis. It's about prevention and early intervention, potentially reducing the need for more invasive treatments.
Dr. Dobias: This has been an enlightening conversation, Laurie. Thank you for sharing your expertise and passion for improving pet health through laser therapy.
Dr. McCauley: Thank you, Peter. It's been a pleasure. For those interested in learning more, you can check out my At-Home Laser Therapy Course here.
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