Red Light Therapy For Pets
- Everwell Pets
- Jun 10
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 27
Tune Into Healing From Nose To Tail
Sunshine that you can turn on—that’s the essence of red-light therapy. Of course, the gold standard is still the big fiery orb in the sky: full-spectrum sunlight bathes every cell in red and near-infrared photons at dawn and dusk, delivering a precise biological cue to your pet’s cells. These photons activate mitochondria, easing them from high-gear ATP production into their night-shift role of cellular repair [1][2]. When winter, work hours, or storm clouds keep your crew indoors, a quality red light device becomes the next-best, portable proxy—letting you bathe your pet in those same healing wavelengths on demand.
BioPhysics Of Red Light
Inside every canine cell sits cytochrome-c oxidase, an enzyme that acts like a miniature solar panel. Bathed in red or near-infrared light (≈600–850 nm), it releases nitric oxide, re-opens the mitochondrial electron-transport chain, and ramps up ATP production [2]. Downstream results read like a pet parent’s wish list: accelerated wound closure, calmer inflammation, and a measurable energy bump that even couch-loving Labradors can feel [3].
Laser Therapy: Lighting Up Health
Lasers—still classed under photobiomodulation—sharpen that therapeutic spectrum into a coherent, collimated beam. Veterinary units usually fire between 600 and 1000 nm, but because the photons are monochromatic and tightly focused, they penetrate muscle, tendons, ligaments, and even joints more efficiently than broader LED panels. The payoff is a turbocharged mitochondrial response: more ATP, faster tissue repair, and gentler inflammation control [3]. Think laser sessions for acute sprains, surgical incisions, arthritis flare-ups, or any moment when your kitty’s side-eye clearly says, “Seriously—another pill?”
Wearable Wellness: Why Red Light Belongs in Your Dog’s Day
Home-use photobiomodulation devices offer a convenient and increasingly popular way for pet parents to bring targeted light therapy into their routines. When selecting a device, focus on specific wavelengths to address different concerns. For superficial skin issues, healing wounds, and inflammation, look for wavelengths around 620–680 nm, which excel at stimulating cellular repair near the surface. For deeper conditions involving muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints, wavelengths between 800–880 nm offer greater penetration and effectiveness.
Some advanced devices combine both ranges, providing comprehensive care and ensuring optimal mitochondrial stimulation and healing. Recently, I've come across dog coats containing both wavelength ranges (620-680 nm and 800-880 nm). Personally, I prefer these wearable coats over handheld devices or stationary beds because you can easily put them on your pet, allowing them to walk around comfortably while you tackle other tasks—easy peasy.
Practical Wisdom for Glowing Results
Begin with two-to-four-minute exposures per site on a short-haired terrier, stretching toward ten minutes on thick double coats, always keeping the light perpendicular to the skin. Your goal is to gradually work up to about 15 minutes per day for maintenance—yes, that means you can use red-light therapy every day, not just when there’s a specific issue. For everyday maintenance, dog coats or stationary beds are ideal as they offer comprehensive, full-body support, effectively enhancing your dog's mitochondrial health and overall well-being.
However, if you're addressing a particular injury or condition, you can safely use the device for multiple 15-minute sessions each day, if needed. If your dog flops into a nap afterward, celebrate: heightened parasympathetic tone means you’ve hit the mitochondrial sweet spot.
Pro-Tip: For best results, use red-light therapy devices during early morning or late afternoon to align with your dog's natural circadian rhythms and optimize mitochondrial repair.
Safety Considerations
Red light therapy is widely considered safe for pets when used appropriately, but like any modality, it’s not completely without considerations.[8]
1. Overuse can backfire. Excessive exposure may lead to temporary overstimulation of cells, potentially delaying healing instead of accelerating it. Stick to recommended durations (typically no more than 15 minutes per site, 1–2 times per day unless advised otherwise by your healh care professional).
2. While most red-light devices—especially LED-based ones—don’t emit significant heat, some laser devices can get warm. Sensitive pets or those with neurological conditions might be more reactive to this sensation.
3. Pets with light-sensitive skin conditions or those taking medications that increase sensitivity to light (such as certain antibiotics or anti-inflammatories) should use red-light therapy with caution and under veterinary guidance.
4. Never shine red or infrared light directly into your pet’s (or your own) eyes. While LED light is less risky than laser, prolonged exposure—even indirect—can still cause retinal stress. Protective goggles aren’t usually necessary for pets with coats, but avoidance of facial areas is smart unless using a specially designed device.
5. While red light can promote healing, it may also stimulate cellular activity in undesirable ways if a pet has a tumor. Always consult your vet before using red light therapy in pets with cancer or unexplained growths.
Conditions Suited For Red Light Therapy
Arthritis & Joint Pain
In a blinded, placebo-controlled study, dogs with elbow osteoarthritis received six weeks of red-light sessions (10–20 J/cm² per joint). Pain scores plummeted, gait improved—and 82% of pups cut back on NSAIDs [4].
Brain Fog in Senior Dogs –
Five canine “grandpas” with cognitive dysfunction tried transcranial red light twice weekly. Within two months their orientation tests jumped by 43%, and owners reported brighter moods and better sleep [5].
Skin & Paw Troubles
Dogs battling sterile granulomas on their paws healed days faster with low-level laser than with steroid sprays alone [6]. Another trial on atopic dogs found red light tempered rogue skin bacteria, easing itch and flare-ups [7].
Post-Surgical Recovery – Vets now offer laser add-ons for post-op healing because incisions close neater, bruising fades faster, and pets ditch “cone-of-shame” life sooner [8].Even our local low-cost spay/neuter clinic offered laser therapy for my son's cat—right over the incision site—as part of the healing package.
In Summary
The cheapest, broad-spectrum red-light panel rises in the east every day. Grab a leash at dawn, let your dog absorb photons straight from the source, then wield artificial light as a second-best encore when life crowds out sunshine.
When sunrise light soaking isn't an option, add in your choice of a handheld device, red-light coat, or a clinical-grade session and treat it like nutrition: dose the right wavelengths at the right time, and your dog’s mitochondria—along with her joints, skin, and swagger—will thank you!
Readily available red-light therapy now gives pet parents a drug-free, non-invasive, and increasingly affordable tool in their tool box.
Want to learn more? Join us virtually at The Watering Bowl on June 18th for a relaxed, info-packed Q&A—or book a zoom one-on-one wellness consult with Dr. Andi and get glowing guidance tailored to your pet.
Book a Virtual Pet Wellness consult with Dr. Andi today!
Looking for guidance in pet nutrition, or help navigating a scary diagnosis, or simply looking to support your pet's vitality? Dr. Andi is here to guide you every step of the way.
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Sources
Kruse J. “Photobiomodulation: Redox Rx.” JackKruse.com (accessed June 2, 2025).
Hamblin M. R. “Mechanisms and Mitochondrial Targets of Photobiomodulation.” Photomedicine and Laser Surgery (2022).
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. “LEDs Speed Healing of Severe Oral Mucositis.” (2003).
Gammage J. D. et al. “Near-Infrared Light Reduces Osteoarthritis Pain in Dogs.” Vet Surg (2023).
Nalda J. et al. “Transcranial PBM Improves Cognitive Function in Aging Dogs.” Veterinary Neurology Today (2021).
Kim Y. et al. “Low-Level Laser Therapy Accelerates Resolution of Canine Sterile Granulomas.” J Vet Dermatol (2020).
Peterson A. et al. “Efficacy of Red Light for Atopic Dermatitis in Dogs.” Canine Dermatology Journal (2019).
Riegel R. J. “Laser Therapy in Veterinary Medicine.” Veterinary Practice News (2017).