Multi Radiance Medical has a solution for veterinarians who recommend laser therapy but struggle with client compliance. The Solon, Ohio, manufacturer unveiled a rental program Tuesday that sends pet owners home with the handheld TQ Solo so they can administer laser therapy to their dogs and cats. A companion website, www.RentMyPetLaser.com, directs pet owners to a participating veterinarian to receive an official diagnosis and treatment plan. The veterinarian determines how much to charge for the rental. “Vets set the price based on their market and what they think is an appropriate price,” said J. Mark Strong, national sales director of Multi Radiance’s veterinary division. The battery-powered TQ Solo, which comes in a kit that includes instructions and a treatment-tracking form, is designed for pain relief and healing. No goggles are needed because of the laser’s super-pulse technology. The rental time should be measured in days, not months, Strong said. “When you have a week or two of consistent treatment, you get a good outcome,” he said. More clients are asking about laser therapy, Strong said. “It has continued to grow and grow,” he said. “Pet owners have been hearing about it. They do online research. Sometimes it’s the consumer saying to the vet, ‘Do you have laser therapy?’” Multi Radiance tested the rental program for over a year with more than 100 veterinarians before rolling it out to the public. “We took all the field testing and said, ‘This needs to go directly to the pet owner,’ Strong said. “We’re saying to the vets, ‘Let’s go to the next step.’” One of the participating veterinarians was Stacey Huber, DVM, of Animal Oasis Veterinary Hospital in Naples, Fla. “I’m seeing great results with these super-pulsed lasers in my patients, and compliance has gone way up,” Dr. Huber said. The take-home model appeals to clients, said Max Kanarsky, president and CEO of Multi Radiance. “Getting a series of treatments for painful senior dog conditions, like osteoarthritis, is inconvenient to owners and stressful for pets, especially cats,” Kanarsky said. “Now they receive the diagnosis from their veterinarian and are prescribed a safe and very effective modality to use in the comfort of home.” The TQ Solo may be rented only for approved cases, Strong said. “The veterinarian is the key and the heart and soul of this,” he said. “They’ve formed the diagnosis. The veterinarian is the one who rents the laser if he or she is convinced it’s the appropriate treatment.” Multi Radiance has done business on the human medicine side for 24 years and established the veterinary division in 2010.
