Advanced Therapies for Horses & Dogs

Class IV Laser Therapy & Focused Shockwave Therapy for animals

Horses and dogs suffer from many of the same muscle, tendon, ligament and joint problems as people — and like us, they benefit from modern, drug-free therapies that support the body's own ability to heal. Class IV laser and focused shockwave therapy are used increasingly in veterinary rehabilitation to ease pain, calm inflammation and encourage tissue repair, all without sedation, surgery or medication.

Class IV Laser Therapy for Animals

What it is

Class IV laser therapy (also called photobiomodulation) uses warming beams of light to reach deep into muscle, tendon and joint tissue. The light energy is absorbed by the cells, gently stimulating the natural processes the body uses to reduce pain, settle inflammation and repair damage. It is comfortable and non-invasive — most animals relax during treatment, and many seem to enjoy the gentle warmth.

In dogs

The evidence for laser therapy in dogs is encouraging, particularly for arthritis and joint pain. In one double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 82% of dogs receiving laser therapy were able to reduce their anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication, compared with none in the untreated group. Studies in dogs with hip and joint osteoarthritis have reported reduced pain, better movement and improved quality of life, with gains in joint range of motion lasting in some cases up to three months after treatment finished. For older dogs especially, this can mean more comfortable movement and a return to the activities they love.

In horses

In horses, laser therapy is widely used for back pain and muscle soreness. Research on high-intensity laser in racehorses with back pain found it a safe and supportive treatment, with measurable easing of tension in the large back (longissimus dorsi) muscles and reduced sensitivity to palpation. Other equine studies show laser can raise the pain threshold in the back muscles, consistent with genuine pain relief. Because a horse's target tissues often sit beneath thick muscle, treatment technique matters — which is why it is best delivered by an experienced practitioner as part of a considered plan.

Focused Shockwave Therapy for Animals

What it is

Focused shockwave therapy delivers targeted, high-energy sound waves to a precise depth within the body's tissues. This mechanical energy stimulates blood flow, encourages the formation of new blood vessels, and triggers a fresh healing response in tissue that has become stuck — while also having a direct calming effect on pain-carrying nerve fibres. It is non-invasive and requires no incisions, though animals are sometimes lightly sedated for comfort during treatment of sensitive areas.

In horses

Shockwave therapy is one of the most established advanced therapies in equine practice. It is used most successfully for suspensory ligament injuries (proximal suspensory desmitis), tendon injuries and arthritis, and also for back pain. Research shows shockwave can reduce lameness and improve the quality of tissue repair, with laboratory studies finding enhanced, better-organised collagen in healing ligaments. It has become a valued tool in returning performance and leisure horses to soundness, ideally alongside appropriate rest and a structured rehabilitation programme.

In dogs

In dogs, shockwave therapy shows its most favourable results for tendon conditions — dogs with shoulder (supraspinatus and biceps) tendinopathy have shown clear improvement on ultrasound scans and in lameness after treatment. It is also used for elbow, hip and stifle (knee) arthritis, where it can help pain and mobility, and after certain orthopaedic surgeries, where treated dogs bore more weight on the leg sooner in recovery. As with people, results in arthritis vary from animal to animal, so it works best chosen carefully for the right patient and combined with wider rehabilitation.

Gentle, drug-free support for healing

Both laser and focused shockwave therapy offer a safe, non-invasive way to help horses and dogs recover from injury, move more comfortably, and — in many cases — rely less on medication. They are most powerful not as quick fixes but as part of a complete rehabilitation plan, combined with hands-on treatment, controlled exercise and time. If you would like to discuss whether laser or shockwave therapy could help your horse or dog, please get in touch.

Shockwave and laser therapy-klinik erbjuds varje onsdag på ett stall i Klågerup

Om du önskar ett särskilt besök för stötvågs- eller laserterapi på en annan plats krävs minst tre hästar; den vanliga prissättningen gäller och milersättning tillkommer vid körsträckor över 20 kilometer.

Key sources: Canine PBMT RCT reducing NSAID use & improving OA outcomes (Companion Animal Health; PMC10603638); equine HILT for longissimus back pain (PMC10000047); equine photobiomodulation nociceptive threshold study (PubMed 33663728); equine ESWT review, tendon/ligament (PMC12757233; Wiley EVE 2019); canine ESWT for shoulder tendinopathy (PMC10440432) and post-TPLO weight-bearing (Frontiers Vet Sci 2025).