Acupuncture

What Is Pet Acupuncture?

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) has four main components: acupuncture, herbal medicine, food therapy, and Tui-na (medical manipulation). Pet acupuncture usually involves the insertion of thin sterile needles into discrete and specific points on the body in order to cause a therapeutic effect but may include another method such as electrical stimulation.

Is Acupuncture Safe?

Yes! Acupuncture is a very safe medical procedure when administered by a qualified practitioner. Very few negative effects have been found in clinical cases.

How Long Does Each Treatment Take?

Each session may take 20 to 45 minutes; the first session usually takes longer than follow-up appointments.

How Soon Can We Expect Results?

Some results can be seen immediately but others will require several treatments 1-2 weeks apart for chronic conditions are needed before one can expect notable improvement.

How Many Treatments Are Needed?

As in all medicine, this depends on the situation and treatments can be done daily, weekly, monthly, or even further apart depending on the severity and chronicity of the condition.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

Rarely! Acupuncture is not painful because acupuncture points are stimulated using very fine needles, almost as thin as a hair. Over 95% of patients are comfortable with acupuncture therapy. Due to the relaxation effect, some animals will fall asleep during acupuncture treatments. In general, sedation is not needed before acupuncture treatment.

What Physiological Affects Are Induced By Acupuncture?

Studies have shown that acupuncture stimulation induces the following physiological effects:

• Pain relief
• Promotion of tissue healing processes
• Regulation of Gastrointestinal Motility
• Anti-inflammatory effects
• Immunoregulation
• Hormone and reproductive regulation
• Antifebrile effects

When Is Pet Acupuncture Recommended?

Clinical trials indicate that acupuncture therapy can be effective in the following conditions:

• Musculoskeletal problems: muscle soreness, back pain, osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint disease.
• Neurological disorders: seizures, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), laryngeal hemiplegia, and facial and radial nerve paralysis.
• Gastrointestinal disorders: diarrhea, gastric ulcers, colic, vomiting, constipation, and impactions.
• Other chronic conditions: skin problems, asthma, cough, uveitis, kidney failure, chronic liver diseases, behavioral problems, infertility, Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, geriatric weakness.
• Quality of life, cancer, and hospice care.