Laser acupuncture is defined as the stimulation of traditional acupuncture points with low-intensity, non-thermal laser irradiation. Over the past 5 years, I have had an increasing interest in laser acupuncture prompted by the interesting articles of Dr. Uwe Peterman (now serving as IVAS President) on successful use of medical lasers for both direct local laser therapy (LLLT) and acupuncture. As a complimentary therapy with needles or as a sole therapy, laser acupuncture (LAP) offers benefits in the veterinary clinic. Animals that are needle phobic or acupoints that are extremely painful can be treated; the therapy is non-invasive (no risk of infection); and it eliminates the risk of a quick cat or dog grabbing a needle and swallowing it or an over-reactive horse breaking off a needle in their musculature. The question, however, remains as to what extent laser stimulation and needle stimulation of acupoints use the same neurobiological systems and comparative efficacy of the 2 methods.