This page aggregates peer-reviewed research, reference texts, professional publications, and association links related to veterinary CO2 laser surgery. To improve clarity and navigation, the most relevant and recent peer-reviewed studies are featured first, followed by books and expert commentary, additional references, practice-oriented publications, and associations.

Featured Peer-Reviewed Research

Reference Books and Expert Commentary

Expert Commentary

George M. Peavy DVM, DABVP
Director Comparative Medicine Programs
Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic
University of California

“I have 20 years of CO2 laser surgical experience…
There are pros and cons to each type of delivery system. The articulated arm units retain a collimated beam (photons moving parallel and in phase with each other) that is directed through a lens, therefore, permit higher power densities by being able to focus the power into beam diameters of 0.2 mm or less. On the other hand, you generally end up having to position your hand further away from the tissue making incision or precision ablation a little more challenging, and the bulk of the handpiece and articulated arm make visualization in confined spaces (e.g. pharynx) a major hassle.

Articulated arm units require HeNe beam superimposition over the invisible CO2 laser beam for accurate beam direction onto the incision/ablation site. Articulated arms can be knocked out of alignment, requiring technical adjustment to regain superimposition of the beams or re-centering of beam on the lens, and certainly could have HeNe beam performance problems (but that is not common).

Now then, since beam delivery may not be the only factor of concern to selection of a laser system here, let me comment on a few other factors that I would use in CO2 laser system selection. These are general comments and are not intended to endorse or criticize any specific product.

It is important to have all 3 power modes: continuous wave, pulsed (millisecond pulse combinations) and superpulse (microsecond domain pulses) capabilities.

Power output of the unit is important – I would not select a unit that had a maximum output any less than 20 W. Superpulse needs to provide at least 10W average power, and the individual micropulses need to be 700 microseconds or less in duration, and are generally 50-100W peak power each.

With an articulated arm unit I would check beam quality by directing the beam in a defocused manner onto a paper surface and look to see if the burn was uniform or spotty within the beam diameter (this test is not applicable to a waveguide delivery system, that is a subject for another post at another time).

The laser tube/chamber will be glass with synthetic gaskets or stainless steel – you probably can guess the difference in life expectancy between the two designs. Check on the rated performance life of the tube/chamber of the unit that you are considering (number of hours of use that can be expected before tube/chamber replacement), and the cost of tube replacement (not just the cost of the tube, but labor, shipping and availability of service).

Is the unit water or air cooled? (Water cooled units add another layer of performance and replacement concerns). Check out availability of technical support – can you get a laser technician or laser engineer on the phone or is the sales rep the technical support? Is service of the unit available locally, within the US or does the unit have to be returned to China? What is the typical turnaround time for service and can you get a loan unit while yours is out for service? What does the warranty cover and for how long? Can you get a service policy, what does it cover and what will it cost? And lastly, what kind of training support do you get from the company?”

Reference Textbook

Noel Berger and Peter H. Eeg
Veterinary Laser Surgery, A Practical Guide
Blackwell Publishing, ISBN 978-0-8138-0678-5

  • Page 101, “Pain Management…”

    We… have a steadfast belief in the reduction of recurrent pain response when proper CO2 laser energy is applied to a target tissue.


  • Pages 70-71, “Delivery Systems”

    CO2 lasers employ either an articulated arm or a hollow waveguide.


    Articulated arms … can be cumbersome to use. The mirrors can also cloud or become misaligned over time. This may require off-site servicing and be costly, and they are not always easy to change out. Most articulated arms are less maneuverable, especially when working in the oral cavity or ear, and require more care when handling.


    Flexible waveguides are more versatile in restricted areas. They allow for easier maneuvering of the handpiece intra-operatively. … Hollow waveguides are considered by many to be the latest technological advance … These devices are very maneuverable and positioning is often more natural. … The per-unit cost of these delivery systems is also less than that of articulated-arm transmission systems.


  • Pages 71-72, “Age of Equipment”

    The most current technology uses an RF-excited laser medium… The RF allows for minimal creation of heat…, which in turn allows for use of simpler passive cooling of the unit that does not require refilling, pumping, or repair.


    Older technology uses… DC electrical energy to excite the molecules to emit photons. A much greater amount of heat is generated during this process. This type of technology requires … cooling via a radiator and cooling fluid passed over the canister to dissipate heat. These older systems also have O-rings at the end of the canisters that continually expand and contract during heating. These O-rings can eventually crack, permitting the molecules inside the canister to leak out.


    Newer laser devices use power calibration … that gives accurate readings of actual energy output from the tip of the laser handpiece. This better assures the user that the correct power density is being achieved. The operator, without technical support, can also perform this calibration. Sharing of (surgical) techniques is also more accurate when this type of equipment power calibration is available.


  • Page 91, “Economic Considerations…”

    …consider surveying your best 50 to 100 clients on their feelings about your proposed new charges for laser surgery. You may be surprised at how accepting they are of this type of new technology and the improvement in care it can provide for their pets.


  • Page 94, “Indirect Benefits”

    Most clinicians whom we have spoken with who use laser energy to enhance and augment their treatment options feel that laser energy increases their visibility among both clients and potential clients.


  • Page 140, “Introduction to Clinical Applications…”

    The major disadvantage of using articulated arms for transmitting laser light is their fragility. They may also be much less flexible and more unwieldy… It is also extremely difficult and costly to maintain these devices in perfect alignment for proper use.


  • Page 148, “Routine Procedure Considerations”

    The CO2 laser wavelength has a high absorption coefficient in water that makes it ideal for soft tissue incisions and ablations because it results in the least amount of collateral tissue damage…


    On the other hand, wavelengths generated by diode or Nd:YAG… lasers are poorly absorbed by cellular water…


Additional Veterinary Laser References

  • Goebel K, Musser ML, Pieper J. Carbon dioxide laser ablation as an alternative or adjunct treatment of Bowenoid in situ carcinoma (BISC) in five cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2026;0(ja).
  • Godbold JC. Why laser surgery has gotten smarter and what it means for you. Veterinary Practice News. 2026;2.
  • Pieper JB, White AG. Applications for laser in veterinary dermatology. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2025 Jan 3;S0195-5616(24)00109-8.
  • Vitruk P. Laser physics and equipment. In: Winkler CJ, ed. Laser Surgery in Veterinary Medicine. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell; 2019:3-13.
  • Vitruk P. The ideal laser scalpel. In: Winkler CJ, ed. Laser Surgery in Veterinary Medicine. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell; 2019:32-41.
  • Duclos DD. Benefits of laser surgery in veterinary dermatology: Case study. J Am Laser Study Club. 2018 Apr;1(1):14-21.
  • Lucroy MD, Bartels KE. Using biomedical lasers in veterinary practice. Vet Med. October 2000.
  • Lewis JR, Tsugawa AJ, Reiter AM. Use of CO2 laser as an adjunctive treatment for caudal stomatitis in a cat. J Vet Dent. 2007 Dec;24(4):240-9.
  • Bartels KE. Current techniques in small animal surgery IV. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins; 1998:45-52.
  • Clark G. Carbon dioxide laser surgery in dogs. Canine Sports Med Update. October 1997.
  • Moran R. Lightning fast lasers. Cats. January 1998.
  • Klause SE, Roberts SM. Lasers and veterinary surgery. Compend Contin Educ Vet. 1990 Nov;12(11).
  • Medco Forum. Laser surgery improves veterinary surgical care. January 1998.
  • Netsel A. Let there be light. Cats and Kittens. July 1998.
  • Veterinary Forum. Reducing hazards from laser and electrosurgical procedures. January 1999.
  • Wexler-Mitchell E. Latest developments in feline medicine. Cat Fancy. April 1998.
  • Wilder-Smith P, Peavey GM, Nielsen D, Arrastia-Jitosho AM. CO2 laser treatment of traumatic pulpal exposures in dogs. Lasers Surg Med. 1997;21:432-437.
  • English RV, Nasisse MP, Davidson MG. Carbon dioxide laser ablation for treatment of limbal squamous cell carcinoma in horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1990 Feb;196(3).
  • Herbert KS. Waves of the future. The Horse. 1995.
  • Schick RO, Schick MP. CO2 laser surgery in veterinary dermatology. Clin Dermatol. 1999.
  • Venugopalan V. The effect of CO2 laser pulse repetition rate on tissue ablation rate and thermal response. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 1991 Oct.
  • Walsh JT, et al. Pulsed CO2 laser tissue ablation: effect of tissue type and pulse duration on thermal damage. Lasers Surg Med. 1988;8(2).
  • Cambridge AJ, et al. Subjective and objective measurements of postoperative pain in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc. September 2000.
  • Clark GN, Sinibaldi KR. Use of carbon dioxide laser for treatment of elongated soft palate in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. June 1994.
  • Lucroy MD, Bartels KE. Surgical lasers. In: Slatter D, ed. Textbook of Small Animal Surgery. 3rd ed. 2001.
  • Apfelberg DB. Evaluation and installation of surgical laser systems. New York: Springer-Verlag; 1987.
  • Carruth JAS, McKenzie. Medical lasers: science and clinical practice. Bristol: Adam Hilger; 1986.
  • Sliney DH, Wolbash ML. Safety with lasers and other optical sources. New York: Plenum Publishing; 1980.
  • Sliney DH, Trokel SK. Medical lasers and their safe use. New York: Springer-Verlag; 1992.

Case Studies

Veterinary Associations

Last updated: August 12, 2025