Summary
Veterinary rehabilitation specialist Dr. Erica Ancier discusses PEMF therapy as a safe, non-invasive tool for managing pain and inflammation in dogs, including those with cancer. She explains how PEMF uses inductive coils to deliver electromagnetic fields into tissues, stimulating nitric oxide release, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, improving circulation, and increasing growth factors, with mechanisms similar to laser therapy but using a different energy source. The episode covers the safety profile of PEMF for cancer patients, noting that no evidence exists of PEMF increasing cancer growth, though theoretical concerns about angiogenesis remain. Studies show PEMF can inhibit breast cancer cell growth while leaving healthy cells unharmed, and may improve chemotherapy uptake when used in conjunction. Dr. Ancier uses PEMF on her own dog with active liver cancer and recommends it as part of multimodal pain management. Producer Kate Baysdow shares her personal experience using both the Assisi Loop and Response Systems PEMF bed on her dogs, describing how one dog with a severe neck injury managed long-term pain primarily through PEMF treatments rather than chronic NSAID use. The episode covers device options from companies like Assisi, Response Systems, and Beamer, along with practical home use guidelines.
Key Points
- PEMF is generally considered safe for dogs with cancer; no evidence of it increasing cancer growth has been found
- Contraindications include active hemorrhage, pacemakers, and open growth plates in growing animals
- Studies show PEMF can inhibit breast cancer cell growth while improving health of normal cells
- Combining PEMF with chemotherapy may improve drug uptake and effectiveness
- PEMF devices range from simple one-button Assisi Loops to adjustable mats from Response Systems and Beamer
- The Assisi Loop calmer canine device showed improved separation anxiety in dogs
- PEMF can reduce reliance on NSAIDs for chronic pain, preserving organ function long-term
- Home PEMF treatment is affordable and can be done on the dog's schedule without clinic stress
Key Moments
PEMF mechanisms for pain relief and inflammation
Dr. Ancier explains how PEMF stimulates cells similarly to laser therapy, increasing nitric oxide which triggers cytokine release for inflammation and pain reduction, while also improving circulation and increasing growth factors.
"It's increasing nitric oxide. So that simulates the release of some cytokines that help with inflammation, help with pain. So just like when you take NSAIDs or anti-inflammatories, those inhibit, you know, COX-2 and prostaglandins. It can have those effects. It can also improve circulation and increase growth factors. So part of the concern is that"
No evidence of PEMF increasing cancer in dogs or humans
Despite theoretical concerns about PEMF promoting angiogenesis, Dr. Ancier states there has been no evidence of PEMF increasing cancer. PEMF works more on healthy cells and vasculature, while cancer makes abnormal blood vessels that do not respond the same way.
"looking into it a little bit, some will say, well, it really kind of works more on healthy cells and vasculature. And when cancer makes blood vessels, it makes these torturous kind of weird vessels and they don't kind of play by the same rules, so to speak. And so there has been no evidence of it actually increasing cancer ever. And it has been studied to some extent different ways. Okay. So no evidence of any adverse effects."
PEMF combined with chemotherapy improves drug uptake
Studies on mice with melanoma showed that combining PEMF with chemotherapy produced better effects than either therapy alone. PEMF improves circulation, helping chemotherapy drugs distribute better through the body and potentially allowing dose reductions.
"Yeah. So those studies in particular, those were actually just done, you know, petri dish style on a cell line. Okay. There's been other studies where they did it, you know, on mice, for example, that had melanoma and, you know, same thing, they combined it with chemotherapy and they saw that had better effects than the chemotherapy alone and better effects than the PEMF alone. So combining it with chemotherapy is actually, I think, a really good use for it."
Dog with neck injury managed pain long-term with PEMF instead of NSAIDs
Producer Kate Baysdow shares how her dog Lina's severe neck injury with bridging in the spine was managed long-term using the Assisi Loop PEMF device rather than chronic NSAID use, preserving organ function while maintaining pain control for years.
"which resulted in horrible, horrible pain. She was screaming, extremely uncomfortable and upset. And as well as medications, she was on muscle relaxers and a brief course of Pred to get the inflammation down fast. I was also using the Assisi loop on her neck, which was perfect because I could just put it over her head. She wore it like a collar or a necklace and could move around and do what she wanted. Oh, I see. And it definitely made a difference for her."
