Thank you!
Amount Raised
Thank you for helping reach our goal!
Tarra turned 48 on February 14, 2022, and Bo just turned 35 on January 22, 2022. Help us celebrate their birthdays with a gift of health. We're raising $16,200 for state-of-the-art cold laser therapy equipment to ensure Tarra, Bo and the other residents of Elephant Refuge North America (ERNA) have access to the best tools to maintain their health as they age.
Together we can give Tarra and Bo a birthday gift that will help them maintain youth in their steps and manage joint pain as they grow older.
Why does Tarra need laser treatments?
Six years ago, while living at a different facility, Tarra developed osteoarthritis, which is manageable with exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding confinement and walking on hard surfaces, living in a warm climate and treatments, including cold laser therapy.
Why does Bo need laser treatments?
As a preventive measure. Bo spent the majority of his life performing, so as he ages it’s reasonable to expect he could use laser therapy to keep him healthy.
Cold Laser Therapy: What It Is and What It Does
What is cold laser therapy?
Cold laser therapy stimulates healing using low levels of penetrating, focused light. Laser treatment is considered an alternative therapy that, similar to acupuncture and massage, can be used with or instead of medication to manage pain, inflammation and wound healing.
What is cold laser therapy used for?
Laser therapy is used mainly for tissue repair and relief from pain and inflammation. It’s also used to treat chronic arthritis, surgical incisions, tendon and ligament injuries and traumatic injuries.
How does cold laser therapy work?
During a treatment, a hand-held laser wand emits low-level light of different wavelengths and outputs directly to a targeted area. As the tissue absorbs the light waves, the damaged cells respond with a physiological reaction that promotes growth, proliferation, migration and repair.
Laser therapy treatments help tissue heal by:
- stimulating the release of endorphins
- increasing blood flow to bring in oxygen and cells involved in the healing process
- relaxing muscles
- decreasing inflammation
- promoting faster healing and repair
The procedure, which typically takes only a few minutes, is painless, noninvasive and quiet. All the recipient feels is the touch of the wand, which may even produce a warm, pleasant sensation most animals seem to enjoy and find relaxing.
What does cold laser therapy treat in elephants?
Inflammation, arthritis and abscesses, especially in feet.
