Acupuncture

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Acupuncture

When your pet’s life force energy, or Qi (chee), is blocked, pain and other symptoms may occur. Acupuncture is used to resolve this blockage by methodically inserting small, stainless steel needles into predetermined points (acupoints). Acupuncture balances the body, and a balanced body will naturally heal itself.

The Science

Acupoints are areas where there is a high density of free nerve endings, mast cells, small arterioles, and lymphatic vessels. Most acupoints are motor points — where a nerve enters a muscle. There are 361 acupoints in dogs plus classical points. Stimulating acupoints relieves any blockage, restores the flow of Qi, and facilitates self-healing. Homeostasis is restored when Yin and Yang are in balance. Modern medical research has shown that stimulating acupoints induces the release of beta-endorphins, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters. These lead to natural pain relief and inner balance.

Safety and Procedure

As a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA), Dr. G administers the safest acupuncture procedures. Most pets don’t even realize the needles are being placed and often fall asleep during treatment. Each session lasts about 40 to 60 minutes. During the first 15 minutes, your pet’s health is assessed along with a history and physical exam. The following 30 minutes is dedicated to needle placement and treatment time. The number of acupuncture treatments needed depends on the nature, severity, and duration of a disease. A single treatment may be enough for an acute condition. A series of three to ten treatments can resolve many chronic problems; however, some chronic conditions may need monthly treatments spread over time. A pet will typically be mildly lethargic or drowsy for 24–48 hours after an acupuncture session.

Conditions That Can Be Treated With Acupuncture

Musculoskeletal

  • Accidental injury
  • Elbow/shoulder dysplasia
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Joint pain
  • Muscle soreness
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Post-surgical pain

Neurological

  • Epilepsy
  • Facial & radial nerve paralysis
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Paralysis
  • Peripheral nerve disease
  • Seizures
  • Urinary & fecal incontinence

Gastrointestinal

  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain (pancreatitis, colitis, inflammatory conditions)
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Gastric ulcers
  • Impaction
  • Poor appetite
  • Vomiting

Other chronic conditions

  • Asthma
  • Behavioral problems
  • Patients in hospice care
  • Cancer
  • Cough
  • Cushing’s disease
  • Geriatric weakness
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Immune disorders
  • Renal failure
  • Skin problems
  • Uveitis

Acupuncture is cautiously used with the following conditions:

  • Fracture
  • Infectious diseases
  • Pregnancy
  • Open wound

Numerous studies indicate that acupuncture induces the following physiological effects:

  • Pain relief
  • Regulation of gastrointestinal motility
  • Anti-inflammatory effect
  • Immunoregulation
  • Hormone and reproductive regulation
  • Anti-febrile effect; microcirculation promotion
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