Prairie Ridge Veterinary Clinic

Pet Laser Therapy at Prairie Ridge

While laser therapy for pets may sound like something straight out of science fiction; it is, in fact, becoming a common and effective treatment for companion animals across the country. Dr. Yetter and the Prairie Ridge Animal Clinic staff are excited to introduce therapeutic laser services to our patients. And, while you may not think you are as excited as we are; it’s probably because you don’t know what pet laser therapy is and why it is so incredible.

Often called low-level laser therapy, cold laser therapy or Class IV laser therapy, by any name, is still a relatively new concept that is being used more recently to treat dogs with arthritis, tendon or soft tissue injuries and to promote wound healing. Cold laser therapy is a noninvasive procedure that uses light to stimulate cell regeneration and increase blood circulation.

Cold laser therapy is used to treat multiple ailments and injuries in dogs and cats.  Treatable conditions include:

• Joint injuries
• Ligament or tendon injuries
• Fractures
• Muscle sprains or strains
• Skin lesions or abrasions
• Post-trauma wounds
• Post-surgical incisions
• Arthritis
• Musculoskeletal diseases
• Nerve injury

Cold laser uses a beam of light to stimulate damaged cells to produce more energy.  The overall cellular function is increased, allowing for rapid absorption of nutrients, elimination of wastes, and reproduction of new cells.  The new cellular activity aids in:

• Alleviating chronic or acute pain
• Reducing inflammation
• Reducing swelling
• Increasing circulation
• Speeding up healing and recovery
• Release of endorphin, the body’s natural pain reliever

Dogs find laser therapy relaxing and tend to enjoy the treatment. After laser therapy, dog owners might see their dog go upstairs more often, play with a ball he’s not picked up in months or go back to getting on the couch for his nightly snuggle with family members. And, when dogs have better mobility, medications can often be reduced.

Laser Therapy for Pets

Not many people are aware of how common laser therapy is becoming for cats and dogs. Dr. Yetter and the staff here at Prairie Ridge Veterinary Clinic are using it more and more frequently with patients, both canine and feline. Laser therapy can be used on practically any condition or disease that causes pain and/or inflammation.

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The mouth-watering smells of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie slowly wafting through the house this Thanksgiving is enough to drive you (and your pets) crazy! However, with delicious human food comes serious risk for your pets. Prairie Ridge Veterinary Clinic is here to provide owners with some Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips to pet-proof your home this holiday season and keep your furr-amily safe from hazardous foods. Continue…

What is Colic?

Colic literally means “pain in the abdomen” or “pain in the belly” but is actually a symptom instead of a diagnosis. There are several different types of colic, with the most common listed below:

Impaction: The intestine is blocked by a compact mass of food, sand, parasites or dirt. Impaction is fairly common, usually treated with mineral oil or another laxative and resolves easily with proper treatment. This can be caused by a diet with course fiber or roughage with low digestibility.  Continue…

Higher temperatures this summer usually means more time is spent outside for pet owners, but this can also mean more trips to your veterinarian. During the summer months, we typically see an increase in the amount of injuries and illnesses overall. One of those illnesses that Doctor Yetter and his staff have encountered this summer is water intoxication. Continue…

January is here, and with it the usual round of health-related New Year’s Resolutions. While we are taking the time to reflect on where we may have neglected our own health and wellness, why not ask ourselves where we might improve these areas of our pet’s lives as well?

Seasonal pet weight gain is a fact of life for most animals who live in a seasonal climate, whether that’s trying to prevent the weight from creeping on or struggling to lose it after the fact. Keeping our pets fit and healthy over the frigid Midwestern winter can be a challenge, but one worth fighting for. Continue…

Your pet’s overall wellness hinges on proper nutrition, regular exercise, and…stringent dental care? Indeed, the state of your pet’s dental health greatly affects well being but hasn’t always been a top priority – until now!

Modern veterinary research and advances in pet dental care allow us great insight into your pet’s general health and his or her longevity. If you’ve been questioning your pet’s dental health, we are here to help you get started. Doing so may extend your pet’s life by two years! Continue…

Although the topic of pet diabetes is not particularly fun, it is important. Since November is National Diabetes Month, we want to raise awareness and focus on prevention of this all-too-common disease.

While diabetes can take a heavy toll on a pet’s health, it’s important to understand that type II diabetes is actually preventable. For pets who have already been diagnosed, it may be comforting to know they can still lead relatively normal, healthy lives with the correct treatment plan. Continue…

You may remember a horse named Barbaro from a few years back. In 2006 this previously undefeated Thoroughbred racehorse impressively swept the Kentucky Derby. With much chatter about a Triple Crown contender, the nation’s heart broke as we watched him shatter his leg two weeks later in the Preakness. Continue…

While laser therapy for pets may sound like something straight out of science fiction; it is, in fact, becoming a common and effective treatment for companion animals across the country. Dr. Yetter and the Prairie Ridge Animal Clinic staff are excited to introduce therapeutic laser services to our patients. And, while you may not think you are as excited as we are; it’s probably because you don’t know what pet laser therapy is and why it is so incredible. Continue…