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5 Reasons IVDD Parents are Using Red Light When Surgery is Not an Option
Conservative treatment works for some dogs, but fails for others. The difference? What some IVDD parents do differently.
By Jade M.
Last Updated Mar 25, 2024
If your dog is on conservative treatment right now, you're doing the right thing. The crate rest prevents more damage. The meds control the pain and inflammation. But here's what most vets don't tell you about why some dogs recover and others don't.
When IVDD happens, 2 things attack your dog's spine at the same time:
#1 - Nerve Damage
When the disc slips or ruptures, it pushes into the spinal cord and damages the nerves.
The slipped disc is crushing the nerves so hard that it causes intense pain and paralysis.
The nerves can't send messages from the brain to the legs anymore.
Messages blocked = can't walk.
But here's the thing:
When the nerves get damaged, the cells start dying.
And the more cells die, the harder recovery becomes.
That's why some dogs never walk again.
#2 - Chronic Inflammation
When the disc breaks and pushes into the nerves, your dog's body thinks: "Something is hurt! We need to protect it!"
So the body sends helpers (special cells) to the area to clean things up and try to fix the injury.
This is called inflammation.
Inflammation means: Swelling. Heat. Pain.
But here's the problem:
Your dog's spinal cord sits inside hard bones. There isn't much room to swell.
So when the area swells, it presses even more on the spinal cord and nerves.
That makes it even harder for messages to go from the brain to the legs.
And more painful for your dog.
So now you've got two things pressing against the spinal cord:
1. The ruptured disc
2. The swelling
And if this goes on too long, the nerves start dying.
This is why rest and meds alone aren't enough. Meds reduce the swelling and mask the pain. Strict rest prevents further injury because moving too much can make the back injury worse. BUT The nerves are still damaged. Massively damaged.
Meds reduce swelling. But they don't heal the nerves. Rest prevents more damage. But it doesn't heal the nerves.
1. Gives Damaged Nerves Energy to Regenerate
When nerves are injured, the cells run out of energy. They can't repair themselves.
Red light therapy uses 850nm near infrared light to penetrate deep enough to reach the damaged nerve cells and recharge them.
It gives those nerves the cellular energy they need to regenerate, which is what makes them able to send signals from brain to legs again.
Think of it like jump-starting a dead car battery.
The injury drained your dog's cells. Red light gives them the power to fix themselves.
2. Increases Blood Flow to Injured Nerves
Injured nerves are starving. They need oxygen and nutrients to heal.
Red light opens up the blood vessels and floods the injury with fresh, oxygen-rich blood.
Damaged nerves get the oxygen they're desperately missing, which helps them regenerate.
More blood = faster healing.
That's it.
3. Works Alongside Conservative Treatment
Strict rest prevents further injury because moving too much can make the back injury worse.
Pain meds keep your dog comfortable and reduce inflammation.
Anti-inflammatories bring down the swelling.
Red light therapy gives the damaged nerves the energy they need to regenerate.
Your dog needs ALL of it working together. Each one does something different.
Rest creates the safe environment for healing. Meds control the pain and swelling. Red light gives the nerves energy to actually regenerate.
This is why IVDD parents who use red light don't stop doing crate rest or meds. They do it ALL.
Because getting your baby back isn't about choosing one thing, it's about giving him every advantage possible.
4. Penetrates Deep Enough to Reach the Spinal Cord (Unlike Cheap Devices)
Most red light devices are 10-30 mW/cm². They're designed for skin care. Not nerve regeneration.
They can't even get through your dog's fur, let alone reach the damaged nerves deep in the spine.
Your dog's spinal cord is buried under fur, skin, muscle, and bone.
A weak device might warm the surface. But it's not reaching the injury.
A therapeutic-grade device delivers 100+ mW/cm².
At that power level, the light penetrates deep enough to reach the spinal cord where the damaged nerves are.
That's where the healing happens.
This is why some IVDD parents try red light and see nothing, and others see their dog start moving again.
It's not that red light doesn't work.
It's that most devices aren't strong enough to do the job.
5. Real IVDD Parents Are Giving Their Dogs the Chance to Walk Again
This is backed by real IVDD recovery stories.
IVDD parents are using red light alongside conservative treatment, and their dogs are recovering.
The pattern they're seeing:
Week 1-2: Toe pinch response
Week 3-4: Bearing weight when stood up
Week 5-6: Voluntary leg movement
Week 8-10: Walking with support
Week 12+: Running and playing again
Not every dog recovers the same way or on the same timeline.
But giving your dog every possible advantage? That's something you CAN control.
Join 2,000+ IVDD Parents Helping Their Dogs Walk Again and get up to 50% off today!
Backed by Real Recovery Stories
"My girl couldn’t walk. no surgery, CuraPet red light three times a day for 6 weeks she was walking after 3 weeks took her for acupuncture and she she almost brand new."
Kelly K., Doxie Mom
Trusted by 2,000+ IVDD Parents
Real IVDD Parents, Real Recovery Stories
Our doxie recovered from stage IV, without surgery. Crate rest for 8ish weeks and red light at home. (From Curapet) We did every day or second day for 20 minutes and still do, after 4 months. I will never going to be able to tell if it helped or made a difference but we believe in it.
Sera A.
We bought curapet and it seemed to help our dog. She noticeably relaxed during treatment and went from dragging her back legs to running now. Our vet said dont bother, the only thing that will save her is surgery. We opted to do cold laser therapy at home because no one in our area offered it. I have also used it on my knee, which has been swollen for more than 10 years, and the swelling and pain has reduced significantly. Can’t speak for everyone, but for us this has helped immensely and I highly recommend it.
Laura S.
I have used this red light therapy device daily when my frenchie had her active IVDD injury. It definitely helped a lot! I can see she was much more comfortable and relaxed. Now that her injury is healed, I still use the device a couple of times a week to help prevent future injuries and help reduce inflammation. Red light therapy has so many health benefits. I use this device and love it.
Larry P.
We bought this device with the help of our vet. We use it every day during a flare up along with his meds. Does help!
Jane J.
I just got one for my dog who got recently got diagnosed with IVDD, we went non-procedure route with strict crate rest. We’ve been putting it on him slowly and easing into the levels with time. We’ve eased into level 2/5 today for an increment of 7 minutes and he absolutely loves it. He seems so much more relaxed and calm when it’s on him! Praying for more improvement throughout the journey using this!
Tori M.
Iv been using cerapet red light and it's been amazing its definitely made a difference to my dogs recovery
Isabel C.
I started it yesterday with my girl. I feel like I noticed improvement but it could have been a coincidence. Her issues started Saturday and she has not walked or peed outside since. Yesterday evening was the first she managed to wobble out and pee a few hours after her first red light therapy session. I plan on doing it once a day because she cannot take steroids or anti inflammatory meds because of her kidneys so we have to find other methods.
Paige L.
90 Day Money Back Guarantee
Use it for 90 days alongside your rest and meds. If you don't see any improvement, any sign that something is changing, send it back.
We're not saying it's a miracle. Our customers' dogs didn't walk overnight.
But within a few weeks, they saw something. A flicker of response. A tiny movement. Enough to give them hope.
That's all we're asking you to look for.
If you don't see it, you get your money back. no questions asked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Don't wait until...
Every Day You Wait Is Another Day of Damage
Every day you wait is another day damaged nerves aren't healing.
The longer nerves stay oxygen starved, the more cells die.
The more cells die, the harder recovery becomes.
But here's the good news:
IVDD parents who start red light therapy early see faster results.
Week 2 instead of Week 6 for toe pinch response. Week 8 instead of Week 12 for walking.
Don't look back 3 months from now wishing you'd started today.
Your dog's nerves need help NOW, not next week, not next month.