West Coast Veterinary Clinic Ltd.
546 West Coast Rd
Oratia,
Auckland
Phone: (09) 818-4104
Fax: (09) 818-4102
NEWSLETTER
April 2012
Dear Clients,
We have some exciting news to share with you. Recently our clinic acquired a new
piece of equipment, a ‘Class IV Companion Animal Laser’. At present we are the
only clinic in New Zealand to have this Laser.
The Laser is an application of electromagnetic radiation used over injuries and
lesions. The Laser is drug free and stimulates healing and pain relief within those
tissues that are affected.
The Laser can be used for a number of things with regard to your cat or dog but the
most common uses are for:
 Wounds / Allergies / Infections / Cuts / Bites
 Inflammations / Sprains / Strains
 Periodontal Disease
 Post-surgical healing / Pain relief
 Lick granulomas
 Hip Dysplasia and
 Arthritis
A relatively new branch of medicine, the Class IV laser delivers a large amount of
light energy into the pet’s body. When the light interacts with damaged cells, healing
is accelerated and pain is dramatically reduced. As our best friend’s age, recover
from trauma or surgery, or simply need relief from everyday aches and pains, this
advanced technology offers: Drug-Free, Surgery-Free, Pain-Free Relief.
Veterinarians are applying this technology everyday to treat their patients that are in
pain, or that have an injury or a wound that they would like to heal more quickly. For
pets who have had surgery, or who have had a traumatic injury, the laser is used to
speed healing. For surgical patients, this is a simple, quick treatment immediately
after surgery along the incision.
Laser therapy is an excellent way to assist older pets who often have aches or pains
and have decreased mobility. Chronic conditions and degenerative joint diseases such
as arthritis respond well to laser treatment. More severe cases often require a series of
treatments to realise the full benefits of laser therapy. Laser treatments are drug free,
which is especially important with patients who may suffer side-effects from
medications.
Laser therapy speeds healing, so
veterinarians routinely treat
injuries with the laser, as well
as treating patients immediately
after surgery so incisions heal
more quickly. Studies indicate
that laser-treated wounds heal in
a third to a half faster than the
time required in normal healing.
A single laser treatment is
usually all that is required for
post-surgical patients to reduce
swelling and to speed healing.
Skin wounds, abrasions, bite
injuries, dermatitis, and burns
all respond well to laser
therapy.
Laser therapy also reduces
inflammation by increasing
vasodilation, activating the
lymphatic drainage system, and
reducing pro-inflammatory mediators. As a result, inflammation, erythema, bruising,
and edema are all reduced when treated with the laser. This is especially important
for conditions where anti-inflammatory medications are risky for the patient because
of the patient’s age, liver health, or species. Laser therapy is a drug-free treatment
modality that can often replace or enhance other treatment plans recommended by
your veterinarian.
A benefit of the more modern, higher-powered therapeutic lasers, like the Companion
Therapy Laser, is that adequate dosages of laser energy, or photons, can be painlessly
and efficiently delivered to deeper tissues. This is a huge benefit in treating chronic
conditions such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, back disease or injury, and degenerative
joint diseases. Geriatric patients often suffer from one or more of these painful
problems, as well the aches and pains that come naturally with aging. There are
thousands of reports of pets who were lame and inactive who return to normal, or
almost normal function after laser therapy. More chronic and more severe cases may
require multiple treatment sessions to fully benefit.
Treatment plans:
The effects of laser therapy are cumulative. A suggested treatment plan would
include initial treatment and ongoing maintenance treatments as needed. Patients may
show signs of improvements within the first two treatments, but long term benefits
result from a complete treatment protocol.
Treatment schedule for chronic conditions (6 total treatments):
Week 1 – Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Week 2 – Tuesday and Friday
Week 3 – Single treatment, one week after the last treatment
Week 5 or 6 – Check-up and treatment if needed. Then maintenance treatments can
be given when needed but usually once monthly.
If you have any questions regarding your pet and its suitability for Laser Treatment let
us know.
Thanks
The team at the West Coast Veterinary Clinic
Link for Companion Animal Laser: www.litecure.com
Microchipping Your Pets
Microchipping is a compulsory, permanent form of identification for your canine
friends however, it is also available for your feline companions too.
Microchipping your dogs came in to force in July 2006 and is compulsory for all dogs
being registered for the first time in New Zealand or dogs classified as dangerous or
menacing with the exemption of working farm dogs.
Microchipping is an excellent form of identification for your pets if it is done
correctly. Once your dog has been microchipped at the vet clinic it is up to you to
provide the council with your dog’s microchip number in order for them to record
your dog and it’s microchip number on the council dog database.
There is another national database available for your cat and dog. Once your pet has
been microchipped at the veterinary clinic your pet’s microchip number and
information can be faxed off to the New Zealand Companion Animal Register
(NZCAR) for data entry. Here, your pet’s microchip number is registered on a
database for the whole of New Zealand where any animal organisation can scan your
pet and locate the owner information 24hrs a day, 7 days a week.
While the council database is a legal requirement the NZCAR as an optional database
for added protection and one where cats can be registered as well.
It is important to remember that microchips can be of great use in tracking down
owners of lost or injured pets. However, microchips are only of use if the microchip
number is registered on a database. It is important to make sure that if any of your
locatable information changes that you ensure to update it with your chosen microchip
database.
Administering the microchip
Size of microchip