A rapidly growing number of Florida veterinarians is among the first in the world to offer surgical laser capabilities for animals. Once only the dream of science fiction writers, the power of a laser can now be harnessed to provide a wide variety of veterinary surgical applications with truly amazing results.

In the 1920s, Albert Einstein theorized that one day a laser device would be possible. However, it took forty years before the first working laser was built, and another decade before refined versions were adapted for use in medicine. The word LASER is an acronym for "Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation." In effect, a laser beam is a highly concentrated and powerful beam of light that interacts with tissue in some remarkable ways. Veterinarians use Carbon Dioxide (CO2) lasers because of their incredible precision. The laser beam is so accurate that an area less than one millimeter in diameter can be treated, while scarcely affecting surrounding tissue. This is extremely important in lesions and tumors around the eyes and in the mouth. Laser surgery has a number of advantages over traditional cutting and cauterizing surgical techniques in that there is little or no bleeding, virtually no swelling, minimal pain for pets post-surgically, and such precision that only diseased tissue is removed. Veterinarians are able to control the power of the laser to make it gentle enough to work on the surface of the eye, yet powerful enough to make an incision in a horse.

Surgical lasers have revolutionized human medical specialties like Ophthalmology and Dentistry, and now Veterinarians are applying that same technology to treating their clients' pets. "The laser is an intense beam of light that replaces a scalpel in a number of our surgeries," explains Dr. Robert Lynch of the TLC Animal and Bird Hospital. "We can utilize the laser as a multipurpose tool because it can cut, cauterize, vaporize, or sterilize tissue." The way a LASER beam reacts with tissue is what makes it such an exceptional instrument. A LASER seals nerve endings and blood vessels as it cuts. "As a result," says Dr. Lynch, "our patients, just like human laser patients, feel less pain and there is little to no bleeding." Nothing touches the tissue but a beam of light. "Because we employ a no-touch technique, there is very little swelling after surgery. With traditional methods, there is a small but unavoidable amount of tearing, crushing, and bruising that leads to postoperative edema."

"This is an exciting advance in the surgical options we can offer our clients," says Dr. Robert E. Hess, Jr. of the Winter Park Veterinary Clinic. "We see many geriatric pets, especially dogs, who have skin warts and tumors that are disfiguring to the pets and unsightly to the owners. The laser allows us to remove these with little or no sedation and only local anesthesia, and the pet can go home within hours. In major surgeries, the laser minimizes bleeding, swelling and trauma as it seals nerves and the blood and lymphatic vessels as it incises. This is the same laser being used in dermatological and other surgeries in humans."

A dramatic use of the laser is for LDP, or laser Declaw Procedure. LDP is a state-of-the-art technique that eliminates bleeding, swelling and most of the pain associated with older methods. The cat does not require the customary suturing and tight bandaging after the procedure and can go home much sooner, usually a day earlier. "I have also had to declaw older cats because of the immunological status of the owner, and LDP is ideal," adds Dr. Hess. "We have used the LDP on a five year old cat, and the cat was acting totally normal the next day. We give post-surgical pain relief in all cases, for we know animals can remember pain like we do, but this cat had no need for home medications."

Dr. Hess is widely recognized for his skill as an avian and exotic animal surgeon and finds that the surgical laser is vital to his practice: "Exotic animals and especially birds can tolerate only the most minimal blood loss. Because of the excellent blood-free characteristics of the laser, we can perform surgeries on birds that were previously too risky, and we can perform other procedures much more safely." One of southern Florida's leading avian and exotic specialists, Dr. Theresa Parrott at the Animal Medical Center at Cooper City, has pioneered the use of surgical lasers on avian and exotic patients. She's been able to perform surgeries that until now were unthinkable: "The CO2 laser's hemostatic capabilities have made new avian and exotic animal surgical procedures possible--and others more successful." Dr. Parrott reports that there are other advantages as well. "Surgeries can be done faster. And because there is little pain, swelling and bleeding, healing time and hospitalization stays are reduced."

Dr. Terry L. Garner at the Venice Animal Clinic regularly applies his knowledge of the physics of a laser to the treatment of difficult cases. "With the CO2 laser, I have had success treating chronic problems like Lick Granulomas and Demodex Lesions in dogs that did not respond to any other form of medical or surgical intervention." Dr. Garner says, "It is especially rewarding to cure a pet that is in such bad shape that its owners are considering euthanasia."

NOTE: To find the names of Veterinarians in your area that offer laser surgery, you can call Carl at (800) 554-2344 Extension 5026.

-Mary Carter is an aluma of the University of Florida where she graduated as "Outstanding female Leader" of her class. An illness forcedd her into early retirement from her career as a planner and advocate for eler citizens. She specialized in disaster prepareness for senior and had a paticular interest in the provisions made for pets in the event of a hurricane or other isaster. She has served as a volunteer for the Pet Loss Hotline at the College of Veterinary Medicine. She writes from her home near Gainsville where she resides with her husband and two house cats.