Jul 28, 2018 5 min read

Veterinarians have many incredible stories to tell, but Dr. Michele Sacksteder will never forget one experience with two Saint Bernards in 2009.

“I will never forget the first two patients that received the benefits of surgical laser,” said Sacksteder, a veterinarian and owner of All About Pets in Washington and Canonsburg. “They were full-grown Saint Bernards that presented for routine spay and castration. In general, the larger the patient, the more bleeding you will experience intra-op. There was not a drop of blood lost on either patient.”

Sacksteder said she was astounded.

“I expected results, but this was incredible.”

The motto at her practice is “doing what’s best for your pet” and she said using lasers in medical procedures is absolutely what’s best for pets these days.

“We use the surgical laser for nearly every surgical procedure we perform,” said Sacksteder. “Our patients benefit every day from surgical lasers. If we have the ability to decrease pain, inflammation and bleeding, to decrease recovery time and improve comfort for our patients, why wouldn’t we?”

Lasers are a minimally invasive alternative to traditional surgery. They replace scalpels in many procedures and can be used for many types of procedures, such as removing cysts, tumors and warts and even for declawing.

“Laser procedures result in less pain, less bleeding and less swelling,” explained Sacksteder. “They reduce risk of infection and result in less post-operative discomfort. This provides a unique opportunity to really help patients and decrease recovery time.”

Vets have been using lasers for nearly 20 years, she said, though only a handful of practices in the area employ them.

“There is an increased cost associated with the use of surgical and therapy lasers,” she said.

The equipment is expensive and requires special training for technicians. Sacksteder said the quicker recovery time and better results offset the higher costs of using surgical and therapy lasers.

“Both of these modalities are associated with a quicker recovery time, which is obviously better for the patient but can also be associated with decreased cost in the long run.”

How do lasers work? LASER, an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, involves using highly concentrated light rays to make a precise incision. These rays are mostly absorbed by water in the tissues and have little or no effect beyond the target area.

“Surgical lasers cauterize as they transect tissues, which decreases bleeding, swelling and post-operative pain,” said Sacksteder. “Surgical lasers also sterilize as they cut, decreasing the chance of post-operative infections.”

Sacksteder said using lasers has completely changed her practice.

“Surgical lasers are so versatile, they can be utilized for intricate eye procedures, routine spay and castration, oral surgery and more complicated surgeries such as tumor removals, bladder stone removal and so much more,” she said. “One area that surgical laser has really transformed our practice is the removal of small masses that are bothersome to patients. We can use a local anesthetic block and laser ablate tissue without the risks and costs associated with general anesthesia.”

In addition to surgery, All About Pets uses another type of laser for therapy on skin conditions, arthritis, ear infections, inflammation and other pet ailments. Laser light has a beneficial effect on tissue and has been shown to reduce inflammation, release endorphins for pain relief, accelerate healing and cell growth and reduce scar formation. From skin infections to chronic injuries or neurological problems, Sacksteder’s team is treating patients with therapy laser with great success.

She remembers a patient, an older Dachshund named Raisin, who had a herniated disc that paralyzed his hind legs.

“He was transported to the ER immediately where surgical decompression was performed,” recalled Sacksteder. “Going into surgery, Raisin was unlikely to regain function because he had lost all deep pain to his hind limbs. He survived surgery, but two weeks post-op, he was not even attempting to walk.”

His owner would bring him food and water but he had become incontinent.

“We removed his staples and discussed therapy laser with his owner,” she said.

The owner gave the go-ahead and Raisin reaped the rewards.

“That evening, Raisin was wobbling around his house,” said Sacksteder. “Within weeks, he was walking and had regained urinary and fecal continence. He wasn’t normal, but he was definitely walking and experiencing a dramatically increased quality of life. He lived many, many happy years after his therapy laser experience.”

It’s been nearly 10 years since Sacksteder’s first procedure involving lasers and now there are plenty of success stories and healthy, happy patients. One of her most recent patients, Harley the Boxer, had an altercation with another dog that left him with a serious wound on her leg.

“Despite antibiotic therapy, the wound became horribly infected and she lost a large amount of tissue on her left forelimb and armpit,” said Sacksteder. “There was not enough healthy tissue to allow for primary wound closure. With the help of therapy laser, her very large wound is healing well.”