Summer means more opportunities to train, compete, hike, ride, & enjoy the outdoors with our animals. But as temperatures rise, the body has to work much harder to regulate itself while maintaining performance. Even well-conditioned animals can fatigue more quickly in hot weather, & recovery often takes longer than usual.
Understanding what happens inside the body & how to better support recovery in hot, humid conditions can help keep your animal performing at its best throughout the warmer months.
Why Heat Makes Exercise Harder
Exercise naturally produces heat. During movement, muscles generate energy, producing heat that must be removed to prevent body temperature from getting too high. When the weather is hot and/or humid, the body has a harder time dissipating this heat.
As a result, more energy is directed toward cooling rather than performance. Under these conditions you may notice your animals experiencing earlier fatigue, reduced endurance, higher heart & respiratory rates, slower recovery, & other signs of having greater physical stress after exercise.
Horses and Dogs Cool Differently
Although both species rely on evaporative cooling, they use different strategies.
Horses cool themselves primarily through sweating. While effective, heavy sweating also results in significant losses of water & electrolytes that are essential for normal muscle & nerve function.
Dogs rely mainly on panting to release heat. Because they sweat very little, they can struggle to cool themselves efficiently during hot, humid weather or after intense exercise.
Recovery Is Just as Important as Performance
Many owners focus on the workout itself, but recovery is where the body repairs & adapts. Recovery is a complex process where the body needs to accomplish a number of things –
- Restore normal body temperature
- Rehydrate tissues
- Replace electrolytes
- Reduce inflammation
- Repair microscopic muscle damage
- Restore energy stores
Hot weather increases the workload required for each of these processes, meaning recovery often takes longer than it would in cooler conditions.
Supporting recovery effectively can help animals return to training feeling fresher & may reduce the cumulative effects of repeated exercise.
Where Laser Therapy Fits In
Photobiomodulation, commonly known as laser therapy, is increasingly used in both veterinary medicine & animal rehabilitation to support recovery following exercise and soft tissue strain.
By delivering specific wavelengths of light into the tissues, laser therapy helps stimulate cellular activity—particularly within the mitochondria, where cells produce energy (ATP). This increased cellular energy supports normal tissue repair & recovery.
Research has shown that laser therapy may help:
- Support healthy circulation
- Encourage lymphatic drainage
- Reduce inflammation
- Ease muscle soreness & stiffness
- Promote tissue healing
- Support overall recovery following exercise
These benefits may complement other recovery strategies by helping the body recover from the additional physical demands placed on muscles & soft tissues when exercising in hot conditions.
Why Spectra Therapy LASERwrap®?
The Spectra Therapy LASERwrap® is designed to deliver therapeutic laser treatment comfortably over larger treatment areas, making it practical for supporting muscles & joints before or after exercise. The devices run automatically & hands-free, so it’s easy to fit into an existing recovery routine without extra effort from owners & handlers. Use anywhere, anytime – in the barn, ringside at events, during travel, or overnight. 
For both dogs & horses, incorporating laser therapy into a comprehensive recovery plan may help maintain comfort & support ongoing performance.
However, it is one component of a well-rounded recovery program, not a replacement for good management & should always be used alongside appropriate hydration, nutrition, cooling, conditioning, & veterinary care.
Final Thoughts
Heat challenges every system involved in performance & recovery. If your animal shows signs of heat stress—such as excessive panting, weakness, collapse, or difficulty recovering after exercise—stop activity immediately, begin appropriate cooling measures, & seek veterinary attention if needed.
While good hydration, cooling strategies, & sensible exercise timing remain the foundation – supporting the body’s natural recovery processes can also play an important role. Laser therapy offers a non-invasive way to promote circulation, encourage tissue repair, & help reduce post-exercise inflammation & soreness.
When combined with good management practices, it can become a valuable part of helping horses & dogs stay comfortable, recover efficiently, & continue performing at their best—even when the temperature rises.
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LASERwrap® Dog Coat System
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LASERwrap® Equine ST Laser Blanket with Optional Tendon Boots
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LASERwrap® Equine Professional Laser System
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