A contribution from animal health practitioner and laser therapist Tanja Schneewind
Alps. Gentle, painless and surprisingly effective: more and more animal therapists are working with laser acupuncture to relieve pain and blockages in dogs. In combination with the fine RAC signal, this becomes a highly precise diagnostic method that turns the body itself into a compass.
Gentle help for sensitive paws
Whether osteoarthritis, back problems or stress – many dogs today suffer from chronic problems that cannot be solved with medication alone. More and more owners are looking for gentle alternatives. Laser acupuncture is a real insider tip: It combines the thousands of years old teachings of Chinese acupuncture with modern light technology – without any needles, pain or side effects.
How laser acupuncture works
In laser acupuncture, the acupuncture points are used in traditional Chinese medicine, which has been around for thousands of years (TCM) described, not invasively with needles, but gently and precisely stimulated by laser light. The acupuncture points activated in this way react in exactly the same way as if they had been stimulated traditionally with needles, except that no piercing is necessary when using a laser, which is a clear plus, especially for sensitive animals.
Versatile uses in veterinary practice
The areas of application of laser acupuncture in dogs are wide-ranging. It is particularly often used for diseases of the musculoskeletal system – such as osteoarthritis, chronic joint problems or muscular tension in the back area. The method can also support the regeneration of the nerves and relieve pain in the case of neurological problems such as herniated discs or mild symptoms of paralysis.
Laser acupuncture has also proven to be effective for wound healing disorders, scar treatments and skin problems such as allergies or hot spots, as the laser light promotes blood circulation and cell regeneration. It is also used successfully in the area of internal organs – for example for gastrointestinal complaints, metabolic disorders or for the general regulation of vegetative functions. The method is also useful in behavioral medicine: in dogs with stress, fear or restlessness, gentle laser stimulation can help to harmonize the autonomic nervous system and promote relaxation.
Last but not least, laser acupuncture is ideal as an accompanying measure to physiotherapeutic or conventional medical treatments. It can support the healing process, enhance the effects of other therapies and, in many cases, help reduce the use of painkillers.
But laser therapy is not only very useful therapeutically, it also offers great diagnostic potential.
The RAC or VAS –
vegetative feedback in real time
The key to precise, individually tailored laser acupuncture lies in the so-called RAC (Auriculo Cardiac Reflex) or VAS (Vascular Autonomic Signal). This physiological reflex was discovered by the French doctor Paul Nogier in the 1960she-years described.
He observed that in humans, the pulse changes briefly when a relevant stimulus – for example by stimulating an acupuncture point – affects the system. The reflex arises via the autonomic nervous system, more precisely via parasympathetic and sympathetic regulation of vascular tension.
In dogs, RAC can be detected by palpation, usually in the femoral artery. The therapist feels a minimal change in vessel tension or pulse quality as soon as the laser is directed to an energetically relevant structure. This signal cannot be controlled voluntarily and therefore provides objective feedback about the organism's reaction.
This method can be used to determine not only the reactive acupuncture point, but also the nature of the problem. Appropriately trained therapists use different frequencies at reactive acupuncture points, which are modulated to the laser light, in order to work out a groundbreaking diagnosis.
Why the RAC is so valuable
The difference between classic laser acupuncture and the RAC-controlled variant (controlled laser acupuncture) ldepends on the individual vote. Instead of working according to fixed point schemes, each dog is viewed as a unique energetic system. The RAC helps the therapist to find exactly those points that are relevant at that moment.
This means: fewer stimulation points, more targeted effects and often faster results. This is a decisive advantage, especially in the case of chronic or complex illnesses.
Safe, gentle, but not limitless
As effective as the method is, it does not replace a veterinary diagnosis or emergency treatment. Acute infections, tumor diseases or serious internal illnesses belong in the hands of the veterinarian.
However, laser acupuncture is an ideal supplement – especially in aftercare, for pain relief or as part of a holistic treatment concept. Controlled laser acupuncture can also be helpful when looking for a cause of illness that has not yet been found using “normal” diagnostic procedures. The prerequisite is that it is carried out by specially trained veterinarians or animal health practitioners who can safely feel and interpret the RAC.
Light heals – if you know how and where
The combination of modern laser technology and traditional knowledge makes controlled laser acupuncture with RAC a fascinating bridge between science and intuition. It shows that healing doesn't always have to be invasive – sometimes a fine beam of light and a trained feeling for the pulse are enough.
Laser acupuncture in conjunction with the RAC is gentle, precise and individual. It brings light to where energy is stagnating and lets the body decide for itself what it needs. A modern, respectful form of veterinary medicine – for dogs who want healing without needles.
The author
About the author
About the author 
Tanja Schneewind, www.thp-schneewind.de, is an animal health practitioner, laser therapist and nutritionist with a focus on dogs with a mobile practice in the Alps/Lower Rhine area. It combines individually tailored nutritional advice with holistic methods such as laser and color light therapy, bioresonance and laser acupuncture. Your focus is on activating the dog's self-healing powers and bringing the dog into balance in the long term. The aim of their work is to treat complaints initially and to sustainably promote well-being.
Literature and sources
• Nogier, P. (1972). Traité d'Auriculotherapy. Maisonneuve, Paris.
• Bahr, F., & Strittmatter, B. (2007). The big book of ear acupuncture. Urban & Fischer.
• Ohshiro, T., & Calderhead, R.G. (2012). Low Level Laser Therapy: A Practical Introduction. Wiley Blackwell.
• Dyson, M. (2008). Photobiomodulation in Veterinary Medicine: Mechanisms and Clinical Applications. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 38(3), 513-528.
• Karu, T. (1999). Primary and secondary mechanisms of action of visible to near-IR radiation on cells. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 49(1), 1–17.
• Albrecht, C. (2020). Vegetative regulation and RAC in veterinary acupuncture. German Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 75(2), 112–119.
• Petermann, U. (2017). Controlled laser acupuncture for dogs and horses. Sunday.