DO DOGS BENEFIT FROM RED LIGHT THERAPY? EXPERTS HAVE A SURPRISING ANSWER

Newsweek Exclusive Feature

Dogs are basking in viral red light glows—but do these at‑home treatments actually help, or just look good on camera?

Crimson-lit pet clips are flooding social-media sites, as owners perch LED face masks over dog beds or position their pets before glowing panels in the hope of longer, healthier lives.

One viral motif nods to Paris Hilton’s dogs, with users suggesting that one of Hilton's pets reached an extraordinary age, thanks to regular red-light sessions—a claim passed along in captions and on‑screen text rather than clinical guidance.

One such video shows Zelda, a Pomeranian based in Gothenburg, Sweden. Zelda's owner, who goes by @zeldathepom21 on TikTok had placed an LED mask above the mesh ceiling of the dog’s bed, so that the red light could wash over her.

"Me after hearing Paris Hilton says her dog lived to 25 because of red light therapy," an on-screen text read. The clip has been viewed more than 73,000 times.

In comments to Newsweek, Zelda’s owner, Annie Palmér, explained the impulse.

"Red light therapy is something we tried after hearing about it and being curious about potential comfort benefits, but we always follow our veterinarian’s advice and don’t view or promote it as medical treatment," Palmér said. "The video was never meant as advice—it was just a light-hearted moment that happened to resonate with a lot of people and Zelda's well-being always comes first, and we only film when she is comfortable and feels like it.

"I also think it is a trend nowadays that we are taking our dogs' health and well-being more seriously and really want to find out what's best for them to live a long, happy, healthy life."

The surge of luminous dog content raises a clear question for pet owners: beyond its algorithmic popularity, does red light therapy actually do anything for dogs—and, if so, under what circumstances?

The short answer is yes, but that ultimately depends on the device being used and how professionally it is being handled.

Experts say definitions, devices and expectations matter. Not all red light therapy devices are built the same, and the quality of the product and the light it can emit need to be guaranteed. There is also meaningful difference between clinical photobiomodulation administered by professionals and the consumer gadgets now starring in at‑home routines and viral TikTok videos.

Can Red Light Therapy Benefit Dogs?

Dermatologists and skincare experts told Newsweek that red light therapy uses low‑level wavelengths—typically between 630 and 850 nanometers—to penetrate the skin and stimulate cellular activity.

In humans, it is marketed for skin concerns including acne, wrinkles and psoriasis, with proposed effects such as encouraging collagen production, improving skin texture, boosting mood and aiding tissue repair. The veterinary application, however, falls under photobiomodulation, a broader therapeutic approach using red and near‑infrared light.

A woman wears a red light therapy mask in a spa. Credit: GETTY IMAGES

"Red light therapy is a form of photobiomodulation, which uses red/near‑infrared light to trigger cellular changes, with goals to manage pain, reduce inflammation, and improve healing," Dr. Liza Cahn, veterinarian at Embrace Pet Insurance, told Newsweek. "When delivered by a veterinarian with a therapeutic laser, photobiomodulation may be helpful as an adjunct therapy to manage arthritis, wound healing, and certain other inflammatory conditions, and there is some peer‑reviewed research in dogs to support this.

"But this is quite different from red light masks or machines that are sold for home use. Such products are extremely variable, may be ineffective, and, in the worst cases, can cause harm to sensitive tissues such as the eyes."

The divide between clinic‑grade lasers and more accessible LED panels is where much of the confusion lives.

Yana Sinkevich, founder and CEO of The Hearty Paw, an online pet supplies retailer, told Newsweek: "Red light therapy for dogs, similarly to its use in humans, has shown promising results, particularly for helping ease joint pain and other chronic inflammation, promoting healing, and improving certain skin conditions."

Although research is relatively limited, red light therapy has shown some positive results and is used as a complementary treatment to traditional therapies like medication and lifestyle changes by some canine care professionals.

"Red light therapy uses photobiomodulation, which boosts mitochondrial function and ATP production, helping generate more energy for healing, improving blood flow, and stimulating tissue repair," Sinkevich added. "It’s important to note, however, that at-home LED panels available to consumers marketed as ‘red light therapy’ deliver lower intensity and less focused light than medical-grade, clinical lasers used by veterinarians.

"Medical-grade devices used in veterinary clinics and research studies are designed with specific wavelengths, dosages, and duration protocols."

Back on social media, the vibe is knowingly tongue‑in‑cheek.

Palmér's video, with its lighthearted nod to Paris Hilton in the caption, captured exactly why the trend has traveled far. It is funny, aspirational, and crucially about pet wellness, something that has snapped up the interest of many Gen Z and millennial pet owners.

THANK YOU FOR READING

COVER IMAGE CREDIT: CURRENTBODY

READ THE FULL STORY HERE: Do Dogs Benefit From Red Light Therapy? Experts Have a Surprising Answer - Newsweek