Hi, I’m Darien, Co-owner of Photonic Therapy NW, and the photo is of Cash & June, the two Rottweilers my husband and I rescued a few years ago.  When we got them, Cash was estimated to be about a year and a half old, and June approximately 3 years old. The theory is that he is her pup!  I’ll be sharing stories about them in the blog so I hope you’ll check back regularly. For this first blog, I thought I would share why Cash and June are largely responsible for the fact that I am now a Light Therapist, and why they each get Light Therapy almost every day. 

These pups may not know how the light works, but they definitely love how it makes them feel.  Animals don’t have preconceived notions about how they’re going to feel. The reactions from these dogs to Light Therapy is amazing and it’s what made a complete believer out of me. I’ve seen what Light can do mentally and emotionally for a dog, as well as what it can do physically for recovery from an injury, or for the control of pain. That is why I am now a Light Therapist not just for animals, but for people, as well. I owe so much to my dogs for the love they’ve given me and the trust they’ve placed in me. Now I can give them something natural, and free of harmful side effects, to help them feel better.

Being rescues, we didn’t have much information about Cash & June or their history when we decided to adopt them. We knew they were found abandoned out in the Woodinville/Duvall area and that it took the amazing rescuers from Dogs-a-Jammin about 8 hours, and a couple of packs of hot dogs, to get Cash to trust them enough to allow them to get close to him & June. Through a joint effort of  Dogs-a-Jammin & Useless Bay Animal Sanctuary the dogs got medical care, obedience training and LOTS of love.

We were warned that Cash had a bum carpus/wrist, and that June had likely been abused, probably by a man, since she was very fearful of men. Having had rescue dogs before, and dogs with special needs, we happily took them in.  We had x-rays done on Cash to get a better understanding of what was going on with his carpus, and to have his hips checked out (we had noticed he had an unusual gait). Turns out the poor guy has a severe case of hip dysplasia – one of the worst the vet had seen. Cash has a hip ball but no socket for it to fit into – there’s just a flat plate – and this is true of both hips.  We met with a couple of surgeons to discuss hip replacement, but it was suggested that we wait as long as possible to do surgery, and instead try to keep him as comfortable as possible with pain medication and anti-inflammatories. His carpus had what appeared to be calcified deposits over the joint from a prior injury that was left untreated. It was recommended that we have the joint fused to stabilize it and to help it handle the increased weight and pressure that Cash was transferring to it due to his sore hips. We took it under advisement.

Meanwhile, June’s fear and anxiety issues were readily apparent (my poor husband patiently endured months of barking directed at him) and, when she tore a cruciate ligament, the trauma she experienced from the surgery to repair it was off the charts. So much so that the surgeon said it pained him to see a dog so stressed and terrified. We put June on, essentially, Prozac, to try to help her get some measure of relief from her stress, fear, and anxiety.  I would say the results were apparent but marginal. After a long recovery period she was able to comfortably walk on her surgically repaired leg without pain/anti-inflammatory medication. We kept her on the Prozac.

Fast forward a year and June tore her other cruciate ligament and we had to again give her pain meds and anti-inflammatories, and even so, she hopped around on three legs.  There was no way I was going to put her through the terror and trauma of another surgery – I needed a viable alternative. It was about that time that Lee (my mom) told me about Light Therapy. She had been researching it and thought it might help both dogs.  I bought my first Light Therapy device – a small battery-operated pad with red wavelength LEDs, originally designed for use with horses.  I used it for about 15 minutes each day on June’s leg. It was only a few days before she started dropping the injured leg to let it rest on the floor. After a couple of weeks she was putting weight on it and using it to walk, but still limping. After a couple of months, she was weaned off all pain and anti-inflammatory meds and walking normally. To be safe, we continued to restrict her activity and after less than 6 months she was back to running around the yard, and she now goes to the dog park again. You would never know she tore the ligament.  All of it achieved with only Light Therapy, no surgery.  June still gets regular light therapy to help her ligaments and tendons stay strong, and to aid with her anxiety. She may always be somewhat fearful of new things, but she’s a different dog since receiving Light Therapy. She is more calm, doesn’t jump at every movement or sound, can go on walks without shaking head-to-tail, and my husband no longer has to endure being barked at every time he enters a room, coughs, sneezes, or stands-up. In addition, she used to be afraid of the light from a flashlight. Now she gets multicolored light pads placed on different parts of her body (even her head), as well as a Photopuncture torch (the device looks just light a flashlight), with no fear what-so-ever. In fact, when I turn on a torch to use on myself, she comes to me “asking” to have it used on her.  For us, in our experience with her, this is nothing short of miraculous.

And then there’s Cash.  After giving him regular Light Therapy sessions for his hips, carpus, and shoulders, he is noticeably more active, and for longer periods of time. It’s obvious that he’s more comfortable standing, walking, and even short bursts of running, than he was prior to the lights. I am currently experimenting with backing him off his pain and anti-inflammatory medications. So far, over the past month, I’ve cut his dosage in half without him showing any sign of pain or discomfort.  I would much rather give him daily Light Therapy sessions than daily medication, to control pain and inflammation. He will literally “ask” for Light Therapy, and “assume the position” on his bed when I pick up the pads. He knows that one pad will go under his shoulder and waits to lie down until I place the pad. He especially loves the larger pad that spans his hips. After a few minutes he gives a big release, usually in the form of a very deep sigh, or a series of yawns. There is no doubt in my mind Cash understands that I am helping him, and our bond has grown exponentially stronger. He’s still young, and has a long road ahead, but I feel so much better knowing that I can control his pain with Light instead of medications.

My goal for our dogs is for them to be comfortable, happy, and able to be their true selves, without the need for medication. I believe that medication and surgery have their place, but I’m grateful for a safe, side-effect-free alternative. We are also fortunate to work with an amazing vet who is open to new therapies and works with us to achieve the best outcome for our sweet, four-legged family members.

If you have questions about Light Therapy, or how it might help you or your pets, please contact us. We want to help, we’re here to help, and we’re excited for other people to see a positive change in the well-being of their pets, and themselves! contactus@photonictherapynw.com