Thursday, September 8, 2016

K-Laser Success Story #23


As always - nasty pictures ahead!

This little kitten presented to us from a family that had found it as a poor little stray. Its neck had been  lacerated and was being ravaged by flies and infection. The kitten was on death's door step, but the new owners were willing to give it a shot (as were we). We gave the kitten fluids, nutrition, and antibiotics - and of course - Laser Therapy, and sure enough the kitten made a complete turn around and is thriving! The numbers on the photos are the dates. 
Thats right - 11 days from the first to the last photo!!















Monday, August 8, 2016

K Laser Success Story #22

This was one of our most unusual wound cases. This dog presented to us with a large swelling under its jaw/upper neck. The owners had just rescued the dog days prior. We treated conservatively. He returned the next day with even more swelling, and very lethargic, not eating or drinking. His bloodwork revealed only a mild elevation in white blood cells. We started him on IV fluids, steroids, antibiotics, and K laser therapy. We started to shave the swollen area and discovered two very large dark bruised, moist areas (as seen in the first picture). From experience we knew this skin was becoming devitalized.

This was a different wound from the usual we found out, as the way the skin was dying, but not normal. It was as if the epidermis died but the subcutaneous layer was slower (as the photo of tissue by itself shows). The dog lost weight and had poor appetite at first, but week by week the appetite, weight, and attitude improved. After 3 weeks of slowly being able to peel off the dead tissue, we decided to attempt to close the holes in an attempt to speed up the healing process and make it more manageable at home. In surgery I freshened the edges and removed some of the odd bumps in the wound. A drain was placed, and tension reducing sutures were placed. Post surgically, in the following week, the crafty dog was able to chew out the drain and scratch out half of the sututes. The owner was able to make a nifty combination of a neck doughnut, tshirt, and scarf in order to keep him off of it. Finally after 4 weeks, the wound was to a point that was similar to a typical wound, and the typical 2nd intention healing and wound contraction started. 

The first picture was June 7th, the final picture is 8 weeks later August 6th. Approximately 20 laser therapy sessions in all. After talking with another colleague we believe that this was a toxin induced trauma, possibly due to the bite of a BROWN RECLUSE spider!  This dog and his owners were troopers and very dedicated. 


June 8th
June 10





June 20











June 29



July 13th




July 22



August 6th


Friday, April 22, 2016

K Laser Success Story #21

This dog presented to us for pain from being rolled under a car as it entered a garage. On presentation the dog only showed pain on the front right lower leg with swelling/edema. No signs of wounds were evident. We did a laser treatment for the swelling and sent home anti-inflammatories and a pain reliever. The dog was brought back 4 days later when slouching skin was noticed. It was realized that the dog had ended up under the exhaust and had been burned in multiple places, so there was a delayed skin sloughing. He was sedated, cleaned up, and intensive laser therapy started with antibiotics. He came in for a total of 10 laser therapies over 3.5 weeks. At the final of the 10 lasers we determined the healing had progressed well enough to not need anymore!
The sites that had sloughed skin as you see on the pictures are: Lower front of leg, armpit, lower foot/pad, back lower leg, upper leg