Thinking about red light therapy for your pet? What to know first

Red light therapy for pets is getting more attention, and you may have seen devices for dogs, cats or horses advertised online. If you’re wondering whether red light therapy for pets at home is a good idea, this page explains what’s known so far, how vets use light, and why your vet’s advice matters most. It doesn’t recommend any device and makes no claims about what light does for any animal.

Before you read on: research on light therapy in animals is limited, and we found no neutral research looking specifically at home light devices for pets.

This is general information, not veterinary advice.

Why is a vet the best first step before using any light device on a pet?

Before using any light device on your pet, talk to your vet. They can examine your pet and tell you whether it’s suitable.

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) says that “a veterinarian should examine an animal and establish a preliminary diagnosis” before anything is started. Its position statement covers complementary and alternative therapies in general, not light therapy specifically. It also says claims of safety and effectiveness should ultimately be backed by the scientific method and evidence-based principles.[1]

RSPCA Australia, writing about pet care in general, says that when any animal is unwell, “they should be assessed by a veterinarian”.[2]

Who regulates light devices for animals in Australia?

Rules for animal devices differ from those for human medical devices, and it isn’t always straightforward to work out which rules apply, so ask your vet.

Don’t assume a listing, a badge or a claim made for a human device tells you anything about using it on an animal. For what ARTG listings mean for human devices, see TGA and ARTG explained.

What does apply to any plug-in device, whether it’s used on people or pets, is electrical safety. Energy Safe Victoria says mains-operated household equipment sold in Australia is required to carry the RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark).[3] For more on electrical safety marks and buying in Australia, see buying a device in Australia.

What is photobiomodulation, and how is it used in veterinary practice?

A 2023 systematic review in veterinary medicine described it this way: “Light therapy, or photobiomodulation, is a collective name for methods where tissue is irradiated with different types of light”.[4] You may also see it called low-level light therapy (LLLT), laser therapy or “cold laser”. See the glossary for these terms.

The MSD Veterinary Manual says veterinary devices “typically use red (630–680 nm) or near infrared (700–1100 nm) light”. Some use lasers and some use LEDs, and “debate continues about the relative value and differences between laser light and LEDs”.[5]

The word “cold” can mislead. The MSD Manual notes that “Class IV devices, for example, routinely heat tissue, rendering the term ‘cold laser’ inaccurate.”[5]

For how red and near-infrared light are thought to work in general, see how red light works. For how light devices differ from lasers and other options, see comparisons.

What does animal research say so far?

Research on light therapy in animals is still limited and inconsistent. The 2023 systematic review by Millis and Bergh found:[4]

• The research base is small. It included 45 articles. Of these, 24 studied dogs, 1 studied cats and the rest studied horses.
• Methods vary a lot. Studies used widely varying wavelengths, doses and session frequencies, which makes results hard to compare.
• Quality is a concern. The authors found “a general lack of quality evidence”.
• There’s no agreement yet. They found no consensus on the best protocols for light therapy, or on how well it works in clinical practice.

So for red light therapy for dogs, cats or horses, there isn’t enough good-quality research to say much with confidence.

How can you keep your pet’s eyes and skin safe around light devices?

The MSD Veterinary Manual describes the main risks of laser therapy in veterinary practice: “The main risks of laser therapy involve retinal damage and thermal burns when improperly applied.” It adds: “Proper eye protection guidelines should be followed at all times.”[5] Those risks are described for vet laser therapy, not home LED devices. We found no neutral source that looks specifically at home LED devices on animals.

If you do use any light device near your pet, keep it general and cautious:

• Keep light away from your pet’s eyes. Never shine a device towards an animal’s face or eyes.
• Follow the maker’s instructions.
• Ask your vet first. They can tell you whether a device is suitable for your pet.

For how eye safety applies to people, see is red light therapy safe?. For what device specifications mean, see how to choose a device.

What questions could you ask your vet?

• Is light therapy suitable for my pet, and why or why not?
• Is there anything you’d want to check before trying it?
• Would you use clinic equipment, and what settings would you choose?
• Is it reasonable to use a home device, and if so, what should I watch for?
• How should I protect my pet’s eyes, and my own?
• How will we know whether to stop?

FAQ

Is red light therapy safe for dogs? There’s no simple yes or no. The MSD Veterinary Manual says the main risks of laser therapy in vet practice are retinal damage and thermal burns when improperly applied.[5] Ask your vet before using any light device on your dog.

Is red light therapy safe for dogs’ eyes? Keep any light device away from your dog’s eyes. In vet practice, the MSD Manual says proper eye protection guidelines should be followed at all times.[5]

Is red light therapy for dogs in Australia regulated? It isn’t always straightforward to work out which rules apply to animal devices, so ask your vet. Any mains-operated household device sold in Australia must carry the RCM.[3]

What about red light therapy for cats? Very little research has looked at cats. The 2023 review included just one cat study among 45 articles.[4] Talk to your vet first.

Can I use red light therapy for pets at home? Ask your vet first. We found no neutral research looking specifically at home light devices for pets.

A note from us: Alpha Red Light Therapy’s pet range is coming soon. When it’s ready, we’ll share it here, and we’ll still recommend checking with your vet first.

For advice about your pet, please talk with your vet.

Related reading on our blog

• Photobiomodulation explained: the science behind red light
• Red light therapy side effects and safety: what to know first

Sources

1. Australian Veterinary Association. Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (position statement, ratified 27 July 2012). https://www.ava.com.au/policy/complementary-and-alternative-veterinary-medicine
2. RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase. Are homeopathic treatments beneficial for my companion animal? (updated 18 June 2024; cited for its general vet-assessment line only). https://kb.rspca.org.au/categories/companion-animals/pet-ownership/are-homeopathic-treatments-beneficial-for-my-companion-animal
3. Energy Safe Victoria. Online marketplace: buyer’s guide (reviewed 12 February 2025). https://www.energysafe.vic.gov.au/community-safety/buying-safe-appliances/electrical-appliances/online-marketplace-buyers-guide
4. Millis DL, Bergh A. A systematic literature review of complementary and alternative veterinary medicine: laser therapy. Animals. 2023;13(4):667. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040667 (open access: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9951699/)
5. Robinson NG. Photomedicine in veterinary patients (laser therapy, light-emitting diode therapy). MSD Veterinary Manual. Full review September 2022, last updated October 2025. https://www.msdvetmanual.com/therapeutics/integrative-complementary-and-alternative-veterinary-medicine/photomedicine-in-veterinary-patients