Acupuncture

A gentle, non-invasive, ancient Chinese approach.

Is acupuncture the right therapy for your pet?

Acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of conditions and disease processes. Here we discuss some of the benefits of veterinary acupuncture so you can decide if this is the right treatment for your cat or dog.

1. What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is one of many alternative treatment modalities and can be used to treat a variety of illnesses and symptoms. It is based off of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) and should be performed by a trained professional. It is a safe and effective therapy that can be used to treat disease and support pets during all life stages. Acupuncture theory is based off of the idea that you can designate areas for "chi" or body energy to flow by inserting fine needles into specific sites which will encourage the body to heal itself.

An acupuncture visit will start with a thorough patient history and TCVM exam to determine the appropriate treatment plan for your cat or dog which may also include other recommendations for conventional diagnostics and medications. If it is determined that acupuncture treatment is a good option for your pet your TCVM practitioner will insert special acupuncture needles into certain sites where blood vessels and nerve bundles live. These needles help to stimulate the release of chemicals, such as endorphins and serotonin, and encourage blood flow as well as direct chi flow to balance the body's energy.

2. Benefits:

There are many benefits to the use of TCVM for pets, including but not limited to the following:

Stimulate the release of endorphins which are an anti-inflammatory substance and the body's natural pain relievers
Create increased blood flow and oxygenation to tissues and improve waste removal
Localized pain relief and relaxation of muscles that occurs at the needle insertion site
Unlike most pharmaceutical medications there are no negative side effects on internal organs
There are no adverse interactions with other medications or supplements so this is a great adjunctive treatment for many chronic illnesses

3. Conditions Acupuncture Treats:

There are many different diseases and conditions that can be treated and managed with the use of veterinary acupuncture. Chronic pain and inflammatory conditions tend to be especially response to treatments. Please consult with your veterinarian to see if acupuncture is the right option for your pet.

Arthritis and Degenerative Joint Disease: Acupuncture can help decrease pain and stiffness and increase mobility in pets suffering from chronic joint disease. Regular use of acupuncture can also decrease the need for certain pharmaceutical medications that may have adverse side effects
Cancer: Acupuncture stimulates blood flow and helps support the body’s immune system which helps improve the body's ability to heal. Acupuncture can help relieve symptoms of both cancer itself and some of the side effects associated with certain cancer treatments
Metabolic Disease: Acupuncture can help regulate the body's hormonal system, relieve oxidative stress, and improve digestion. It can also improve blood flow to increase tissue oxygenation and remove toxins and waste products
Trauma: Acupuncture can be very helpful in the treatment of pain and inflammation and help your pet recover more quickly and more comfortably from an injury.

If you’d like to learn more about acupuncture or you’d like to schedule a consultation for your pet, call us at (518) 355-0260.