Jesse is an adorable 8 lb Yorkshire Terrier. Jesse originally lived with Lita’s mother until her passing nine years ago. Jesse and Lita have been together ever since.
“Before getting Jesse my mother made me promise to take him when she passed. He was her constant companion and stayed by her side till the end. When he looks at me sometimes I swear I see her eyes.”
– Lita
Lita adored Jesse from the beginning. Now, at 15 ½ years old, Lita fondly describes Jesse as an elderly curmudgeon. Old age isn’t easy, but Lita has found cold laser therapy provides great relief for her aging pup. Learn more about Jesse in our Q&A with Lita below.
Q: What led you to Cold Laser Therapy at Sunvet?
Jesse’s had a luxating patella since birth. His knee joint in his left rear leg goes out of joint. When dogs are young it pops back in easily, but it can cause problems as they age. Around November/December last year I noticed it was not popping back in, so I took him to see Dr. Laurel. She recommended that I take him to see a surgeon in South Asheville to confirm the diagnosis that the ligament was stretched out from age and wouldn’t allow the knee cap to go back in. The surgeon confirmed and recommended cold laser therapy to help with pain and inflammation. The surgeon provided the first cold laser treatments, and we’ve been regularly getting cold laser therapy at Sunvet ever since.
Q: What results have you seen?
Before cold laser therapy, Jesse was in so much distress. Instead of going for walks down the road, he was riding in a carriage. I’d take him out and let him sniff and put him back in. He couldn’t walk because his left leg would just collapse under him.
After the cold laser, he’s walking and doing all the things he normally did. I saw an impact after the very first session. I take him once per week, and now he has full range of motion back, or as much as you could hope for with an older dog.
He does need cold laser therapy regularly to maintain mobility. After about 10 days without treatment, I notice his leg weakening again. I’m in it for the long haul, and I want to make sure he is as healthy and comfortable as he can be.
Q: How has your experience been with Dr. Laurel and the Sunvet team?
I made a conscious decision to take my animals to Dr. Laurel because I’m not a fan of allopathic medicine. So for my animal’s well-being, she’s the best vet in town.
“I think the world of Dr. Laurel and what she’s doing at Sunvet. I know she goes against the grain with the allopathic veterinary system. She always says you could give this prescription drug, or we could try this instead.”
She doesn’t push medication. That would be a last resort for me and Jesse, and Dr. Laurel is respectful of that.
Q: Any words of wisdom for others experiencing similar challenges?
I thought Jesse was going to die 6 months ago. I’ve told strangers off the street about Sunvet and the impact of cold laser therapy. Anyone experiencing inflammation should give cold laser therapy a try.