Dr. Candy’s Journey to Low-Level Laser Therapy – Healing with Light

By Dr. Candy Akers

As a holistic veterinarian, I have been using cold laser technology to heal pets for 8-9 years. I was on the fence and wasn’t sure if it really worked. A friend of mine is a functional medicine and chiropractic doctor. My partner had a chronic shoulder injury that kept flaring up. It got to the point where she could not lift objects that were over about 5 pounds.


We went to the chiropractor, had x-rays, and e-stim performed. After her shoulder muscles relaxed a bit, the doctor arranged a heat pad and positioned a small hand-held laser device at the front of the shoulder joint. The treatment lasted ten minutes, felt nice, and was relaxing. The next day the shoulder pain and limb weakness was gone.

The following information is a summary and review based on Dr. Candy’s professional experience and recommendations. Any summary or statement has not been provided nor influenced by the manufacturer.

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We were amazed that a chronic condition occurring for multiple years was healed by a hokey looking red blinking light. What was that weird red blinking light? My partner’s pain went away and did not come back. When we thanked the doctor and discussed the use of cold laser technology for pets, he gave us a device to take home and try for a couple of weeks.


During the week, I decided to try a treatment on myself. I wanted to see how it felt and if it made any difference for me. I had been dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome for a few years, even though I was only a little over 30 years old (a little bonus gift from vet school). My wrists went through cycles. Sometimes it was just one wrist. Other times it would get better for a while and then flare up. At that time, it had become so painful and bothersome that I had to sleep with wrist braces and compression gloves. I decided to give the cold laser a try and casually moved the laser around both my wrists on a variable setting for five minutes total. 


 It didn’t hurt, it wasn’t hot, there was no swelling, and no change to my skin. The next day I did one more five-minute laser treatment. Incredibly, the pain and discomfort of the carpal tunnel syndrome never came back.

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I bought my first laser by the end of the week. It was the same make and model that the doctor used, and I dove headfirst into researching this little magic device. The research evidence showed me that the cold laser technology was safe and VERY effective.

Today, I have three lasers that I loan out to pet parents to heal their pets. I’ve learned a lot about the technology over the years and have healed everything from bug bites to fractured bones. It has helped paralyzed pets walk again and healed tons of knee injuries without surgery.

I love sharing what I have learned over the years, and I love all the nerdy ways that cold laser technology helps families heal. 

Check out some of my other articles to learn more about how you can heal dogs, cats, and other family members:

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Dr. Candy Akers

About the Author

Holistic Veterinarian, Veterinary Clinic Owner, Veterinary Medical Supervisory Board Leader, Certified Raw Dog Food Nutrition Specialist, and Author Dr. Candy completed her undergraduate studies at The University of Delaware and graduated veterinary school in 2009 from Oklahoma State University. In high school, she was drawn to wildlife rehabilitation. Wildlife rehab gave her unparalleled experience in animal healing in a field that has limited resources and a wide variety of conditions to treat. Before vet school, Dr. Akers spent two years working full time providing oil spill response for wildlife all over the country. Since graduating with her Degree of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in 2009, Dr. Candy has specialized in companion animal nutrition. Extensive education in nutrition has made her a firm believer in species specific-biologically appropriate diets. One of her passions is educating pet parents about the natural alternatives that actually work. She brings the best of holistic health and conventional medicine together in a unique approach to pet health. This approach is often applied to chronic diseases, allergies, and autoimmune conditions. She started her own veterinary practice 9 years ago in Colorado. Overall, she has dedicated her entire life to improving the health and happiness of animals everywhere.