I believe it is time to publicly share my professional opinion on the benefits of veterinary laser surgery. Caution: this is a hotly debated topic between veterinarians in Markham and elsewhere.
There are different types of lasers in Markham veterinary clinics.
Most people are familiar with laser eye surgeries. In this blog however, we are talking about veterinary lasers that are designed to cut regular tissue, like skin. This is the laser you may find commonly in veterinary practices. There are also therapeutic lasers available, which are non surgical and often used for rehabilitation and physiotherapy.
What prompted me to write this blog was a recent visit of a friend from out of town (she did not go to a veterinarian in Markham). She proudly told me that her dog just had been spayed and had only one suture and a small incision. They had used a laser, which is less invasive and painful and she felt it was well worth the $70.00 extra for the spay.
What’s true and what is a misconception about veterinary laser surgery?
This made me cringe, because there are so many misconceptions about veterinary laser surgery. Years ago, when veterinary lasers were being developed, all veterinary clinics in Markham and elsewhere were solicited by sales representatives to buy a surgical laser.
The benefits of lasers for surgeries in pets were presented:
1. they make it easier for you to do surgeries,
2. there is less bleeding,
3. less pain,
4. faster wound healing,
5. you need no sutures,
6. you can make smaller incisions,
7. Cats recover faster from declaw surgeries
8. it is the next big thing in veterinary medicine and you have to stand out,
9. your clients are going to demand it,
10. and you can charge more for laser surgery which helps you pay for the equipment in a short time (or pay for the lease payments)
and charge more for laser surgery which helps you pay for the equipment in a short time (or pay for the lease payments)
The above list seems very convincing from a professional veterinary surgery point of view… and also from an animal hospital administrative point of view.
But are these claims on laser surgery true?
Why is it that the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph and many board certified veterinary surgeons do not use laser for theses surgeries?
As a veterinary clinic in Markham, who strives to provide the best possible medical service, we did our due diligence and would like to present the pros and cons of laser surgeries objectively:
Read in the next blog what we found out to debunk the myth …
Sincerely,
Your Careteam
Compassionate Advanced Health Care for a Long and Happy Life of ALL Your Pets.
Animal Hospital of Unionville, a veterinary clinic on the north side of Hwy 7, serving all pets in Markham, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Stouffville, and North York since 1966. We are your family vets for dogs, cats, pocket pets (rabbits, chinchillas, gerbils, mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, skinny pigs, etc.), ferrets, and birds (budgies, cockatiel, parrots, amazon, cockatoo, love birds, conures, African greys, finches, canaries, etc.).
Disclaimer: No part of this website constitutes medical advice. Readers are advised to consult with their veterinarian.
