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Pain Free Pets: NY/NJ Holistic Veterinarian Offers Laser Treatments

NEW YORK (CBS 2) - If you have a pet with a chronic illness like diabetes or arthritis, you know how hard it can be to get it under control.

Luckily, there's a new, non-invasive treatment for those conditions and more, that some pet owners are calling a "veterinary medical miracle."

New Jersey resident Ron Torres said that less than two years ago, his 6-year-old dog Preston's hind legs were paralyzed. "He had a herniated disk and a pinched nerve," Torres told CBS 2's Kristine Johnson.

Six months ago, Kelly Collins-Garrod thought she was losing her 13-year-old cat, Mr. Man, to Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a chronic and deadly disease. "It was so saddening," Garrod said.

After several costly veterinary visits, both Torres and Garrod said they had all but given up.  However, both pet owners now say Preston and Mr. Man are the picture of health.

Torres and Garrod credit their pets' turnaround to a low-level laser treatment offered by Holistic Vet Dr. Jill Elliot.

Lasers have been used to treat everything from arthritis to chronic bronchitis in people, but veterinarians like Elliot say they're having tremendous success using them on pets.

"These lasers have been used for about 40 years in people," said Elliot. Lasers are used on animals with diabetes, Cushing's Disease, lung problems, arthritis, skin problem and allergies, according to Elliot.

The laser treatment works by stimulating healthy cells in the damaged area to start restoring and repairing the problem, said Elliot. Vets are also using lasers on horses for pain management.

"It's painless, it's non-invasive and you don't feel anything," said Elliot. "There is no medicine that they have to give the animal, and they usually see results within the first day or two."

Despite being told Preston had less than a 10 percent chance of walking again if he had surgery, Torres says his beloved dachshund was up and walking within a month of laser and chiropractic treatments.

Mr. Man's condition started to improve within five visits.  "I'm just thrilled, I can't say enough good things about it, I wish I could shout it from the rooftops," said Garrod.

Veterinarians recommend 4 to 12 treatments with a cost of about $60 per session.

Click here for more information on pet laser treatments

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