Dr. Kathleen Woodie Chief of Veterinary Services Public Safety – Animal Care & Control 7100 Belvedere Rd, West Palm Beach Email: kwoodie@pbcgov.org Phone: 561 233-1216
Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control has been using photobiomodulation, also called cold laser therapy, for dogs and cats with a wide variety of ailments. PBC ACC is very thankful to have a powerful Class IV DIOWAVE therapeutic laser on site to provide high-powered, intensive treatment for severe, acute conditions giving us more lifesaving opportunities. Our shelter also uses a hand-held Vetrolaser 808nm 300mW Class III laser for its transportability and use in animal areas without easy electrical access, such as our barn. As a clinician, it is easy to appreciate that the compromise for easy mobility of the class III laser is the requirement for more frequent and longer duration of each treatment as well as a longer duration of the entire treatment to achieve the same healing response. In a fast-paced clinic looking to treat over 11,000 animals a year and with an average population of around 300 animals under our care everyday, we appreciate the efficiency of powerful, short treatments that accomplish our goals in one or just a few treatments with the powerful Class IV laser. Our most common uses of photobiomodulation include large wounds to expedite healing and wound contraction, pneumonia chests, kennel cough larynxes, severe dermatitis cases, chronic ear infections, animals with traumatic spine lesions, and over the injection site following heartworm melarsamine injections. Some of our most stubborn non-healing wounds, such as deep interdigital dermatitis and fly strike lesions on ear pinnas have responded extremely well following just one or two weekly treatments. This treatment is both time effective for our high volume facility as well as extremely effective at alleviating discomfort, inflammation, and promoting faster tissue healing. We frequently find new applications for the use of this effective, efficient treatment modality. Dr. Kathleen Woodie Chief of Veterinary Services Public Safety – Animal Care & Control 7100 Belvedere Rd, West Palm Beach Email: kwoodie@pbcgov.org Phone: 561 233-1216