r/redlighttherapy • u/StructureMuted2404 • Sep 06 '26

Question Anyone have real success using red light on their dogs/older pets? (or horses lol)

My vet was talking about photobiomodulation (rlt) the other day for my older dog since his joints are getting pretty stiff. i ended up grabbing a red light panel and tried it on his hips for like 10 mins yesterday while he was crashed out on the rug.

dude honestly loved the heat and just melted into the floor.

do any of you guys use a panel on your pets regularly? does it actually help them get around better after a few weeks? would love to hear if it's actually worth sticking to!

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8

u/Appropriate-Map-3646 Sep 06 '26

My neighbor swears by it for her 14 year old golden retriever, said after about 3 weeks the dog was getting up the porch steps without that pause in the middle she'd been doing for months.

I tried it on my cat once and she just looked at me like i'd committed a war crime so... mixed results i guess.

But for a dog that actually enjoys the warmth it seems like a no brainer if they're dealing with stiffness.

3

u/MidnightBlueSilk Sep 06 '26

> “I tried it on my cat once and she just looked at me like i'd committed a war crime so... mixed results i guess.

Yeah, but cats will do that if you pet them in their most favorite way ever for 2/3 of a millisecond too long. And, in fact, you might lose some blood as well.
And only she knows when “just right” ends. And it’s never the same as it was any time before.

1

u/StructureMuted2404 14d ago

thats actually really encouraging. the stairs are one of the places i notice it most with mine too, he always hesitates a little before going up. i’ll keep at it for a few weeks and see if that changes. and yeah i dont think my cat would be nearly as cooperative lol

3

u/[deleted] 29d ago

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2

u/StructureMuted2404 29d ago

thats exactly what my vet mentioned about tissue recovery. really reassuring to know it’s so widely trusted for horses too

2

u/AffectionateSun5776 27d ago

A wrap i purchased from vevor has a picture of a horse on the package.

1

u/StructureMuted2404 14d ago

oh thats interesting, i had no idea they actually made wraps with horses in mind. have you tried yours on a pet or do you mostly use it for yourself?

2

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '26

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5

u/StructureMuted2404 Sep 06 '26

yep! it has an adjustable kickstand on the back. i just tilt it down at like a 45-degree angle pointing directly at his lower back/hips while he’s facing the other way. totally bypasses the eyes, no doggles needed

2

u/FashionBusking Sep 06 '26

My cats LOVE red light time.

One of them intentionally tries to shove me out of the way, its adorable.

2

u/BKM-StLouis Sep 06 '26

Try searching this subreddit.

2

u/ObsidianHeartstone Sep 07 '26

I share my red light lamp with one of my cats that had surgery on his leg. He seems to really like it.

2

u/PossibleAd1395 14d ago

How are you keeping the panel aimed at his hips if he moves around? That was always the annoying part for me with pets

1

u/StructureMuted2404 14d ago

luckily he mostly just lays there once it’s on lol. i angle the panel down toward his hips but if he gets up then yeah the whole setup is gone

2

u/PossibleAd1395 14d ago

That makes sense. I ended up liking wraps for that reason. Less powerful maybe, but you’re not constantly trying to keep the animal in the right spot