Practice Profiles: Companion Class IV laser therapy (Sponsored by Litecure)

When Tim Montague, DVM, co-owner of Eads Animal Hospital in Eads, Tenn., invested in a laser-therapy unit in early 2006, he couldn't imagine the multitude of benefits it would provide. "Deep-tissue laser therapy was in its infancy. Our uses for and aptitude with it developed over time," he says. Now Montague and his team often use laser therapy as the first treatment option for pain and inflammation rather than as a last resort. Over time, the practice has learned that laser therapy is more than a fancy tool to manage pain. Technician manager Jennifer Morton says, "AWe use Companion Laser Therapy by LiteCure to speed healing in everything... dental procedures, hot spots, and orthopedic surgery, among others. There are very few cases where we don't see improvement."

Photos by Eads Animal Hospital, Eads, Tenn.

The beginning

Both Drs. Tim and Sandy Montague were familiar with surgery lasers, which they had purchased and used at separate practices. In December 2007 the Eads practice purchased a six-watt Companion Therapy Laser by LiteCure and easily trained their team to use it. Since early 2008, the practice has generated $11,285 thanks to laser therapy. "And I still think that we don't use it enough," says Dr. Montague.

Chief applications

"Anything inflammatory is fair game. If you've got pain, swelling, or healing, you've got a use for laser therapy," says Dr. Montague. Companion laser therapy has been used by Eads Animal Hospital and other practices to manage:

• osteoarthritis

• degenerative joint and disk disease

• hip dysplasia

• dermatologic disorders (e.g., hot spots, interdigital dermatitis, acral lick granuloma)

• acute and chronic otitis

• periodontal disease (e.g., feline stomatitis)

• post-operative healing (e.g., to treat incision pain before the patient recovers from anesthesia)

• acute traumas (e.g., sprains or limps without radiographic changes or torn ligaments)

• palliative pain relief.

Benefits for your patients

The Eads practice has seen how therapeutic lasers allow their team to deliver state-of-the-art medicine. High-power, Class IV laser therapy improves patient care because it:

• is an effective drug-free treatment for pain and inflammation

• is extremely well tolerated by pets

• has no known side effects

• may decrease the need for surgery and medication

• reduces healing time

• requires no sedation or clipping

• is quick to administer (approximately 3 to 6 minutes per site).

For the most part, Eads Animal Hospital uses laser therapy as an adjunct to other therapies. They've witnessed how treatments can reduce the dosage and duration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy. Chronic disorders such as hip dysplasia are managed with aggressive treatments at first and then scaled back to maintenance programs lasting 20 to 40 days. "We let the pet tell us how much it needs," Dr. Montague says.

Meet the team

Companion laser therapy can also give owners the gift of quality time with a beloved, terminally-ill pet. Dr. Montague recommended laser therapy for a dog with terminal bone cancer that had spread to its lungs and skin. Treatments helped alleviate the pain and edema around the tumor making the dog more comfortable in its final months.

Perks for your practice

The benefits of laser therapy reach beyond better pain management and healing for your patients. The Eads Animal Hospital sees these positive business-related changes at their practice because they utilize laser therapy:

• It introduces a profit center that doesn't require a veterinarian for administration. (Note: Veterinarians diagnose and prescribe the treatment and settings. Technicians can administer the therapy, which allows them to actively take part in healing the pet. It also allows the veterinarian to see more patients. However, veterinarians always oversee the laser therapy process.)

• The pre-set protocols make it easy to administer.

• Technicians trained to perform laser therapy feel empowered and more valuable to the practice.

• Clients prepay for treatment, and packages keep them coming back.

• It identifies the practice as a state-of-the-art facility.

Technician manager Jennifer Morton also touts laser therapy's user-friendly qualities. "The LiteCure unit is simple to use, easy to clean, requires little upkeep, and the procedures are quick," she says.

"But lasers sound scary..."

Pricing and scheduling laser therapy

Most laser therapy treatments are offered in packages of six. The client will prepay for these packages which helps with compliance. The average cost of treatments are $50 each or $300 per package. For applications such as post surgery wound and pain management many practices add as little as $10 to every surgery. By using this innovative therapy as part of routine post operative care, it can become profitable immediately. The benefits to healing are obvious, and the drug-free pain relief is what most owners want.

Laser therapy sessions are most effective and efficient if they are scheduled like any other procedure. If the planning is done with a technician dedicated to administering the treatments, it can change the practice.

Getting the word out

Though the practice does some radio advertising, most of their laser-therapy promotion is old-fashioned word-of-mouth—from both inside and outside the hospital walls. Dr. Montague says that it's not uncommon for clients with pets with intervertebral disk disease to hear about laser therapy from a team member before learning about surgery or steroid treatment.

Many clients also arrive thanks to referrals from other practices. "We were already viewed as a high-tech hospital because we perform laparoscopic and laser surgery. But laser therapy took us to a new level," says Dr. Montague. He believes that laser therapy has given his practice an edge when clients seek advanced and alternative pain-management strategies for their aging or ailing pets.

Dr. Montague says his main motivation to use and promote laser therapy is simply because he believes patients deserve it. "It's available, it's easy, and it has the power to change lives," he says.