What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture stimulates specific points on your pet’s body to produce a healing response. Acupuncture helps the body heal by stimulating local nerves that affect nearby muscles, connective tissue, vessels, and the nervous system to cause physiological changes. This can be seen through relieving muscle spasms and tension, decreasing inflammation, improving circulation, stimulating nerves, improving mobility, and increasing blood flow to provide natural pain relief and accelerate the healing process. Stimulating specific points is achieved through pressure using small needles alone or electroacupuncture (electrical stimulation of needles) to enhance nerve stimulation and blood circulation.
How can my pet benefit from acupuncture?
Most commonly, acupuncture is used as a primary or added treatment for pain in animals. However, it can be used for almost any condition to help restore the body to normal function. Some examples of conditions that can benefit from acupuncture include musculoskeletal (arthritis, hip/elbow dysplasia, trauma, muscle strain, peak performance for agility/herding/dock diving), pain management, neurologic (nerve disorders, lack of muscle coordination, intervertebral disease, epilepsy, gastrointestinal (chronic constipation, poor appetite), urologic (inappropriate urination, urinary incontinence), and eye disorders (dry eye).
How often does my pet need acupuncture?
Every pet responds differently to their acupuncture treatments. Some will respond after the first treatment, and some may need between three to five treatments to see a positive response. Treatment plans will be customized to your pet’s condition and response to acupuncture therapy. Most pets are treated once to twice weekly for their initial visits. The frequency of treatments will be discussed at each appointment.
What can I expect?
Your pet will be treated with specific points based on your pet’s condition, history, diagnostic acupuncture exam, and your pet’s tolerance to needles. There will be a reevaluation before each acupuncture session. Acupuncture is very safe, and most patients do not notice the insertion of the needles. Some will have mild reactions and can be distracted with treats to make it a positive experience if needed. Ultimately, most patients relax and enjoy their treatments.
