What is Veterinary Acupuncture?

Acupuncture has been used in animals to treat a wide variety of conditions for thousands of years.   It has time proven roots in traditional Chinese medicine and in recent decades science and research have fine tuned this practice as we have learned more about the anatomy and nervous systems of the animals we treat.   This lovely blend of traditional medicine and modern science allows us to use the best of both worlds for the most benefit of our pets.

Acupuncture uses small sterile needles in very specific points within the indicated channels to create a healing effect.   These channels  were originally described as channels of energy (or chi) and the specific points were thought to be locations that altered the energy in a specific way to affect a certain organ or body part.   It is now known that these channels actually parallel major nerves and/or vessels and the acupuncture points we use coincide with areas that are dense with nerve endings or important junctions with other nerves or muscles.   

Acupuncture needles are very different than most needles that you think of.  They are an order of magnitude smaller than hypodermic needles and are solid as opposed to hollow.  They are coated or smooth in order to decrease any pain on insertion and come in sterile packaging for safety. 

Acupuncture treatments can be used to treat specific problems but are also frequently used as prevention or to maintain health and wellbeing.  Depending on the points used, it can create healing effects in the area right around where the needle is inserted or systemically through the entire body.  

Inserting acupuncture needles in specific points increases blood flow to the area, stimulates the surrounding nerves, releases endorphins,  relaxes the muscles, and decreases inflammation.   These effects tend to relax the patient and frequently aids in anxiety and stress reduction.   Local effects are seen the quickest, but all of these have wide spread effects along the entire spinal cord and systemically to affect the entire body both physical and metabolically.  The exact points and length of treatment vary with each patient and their individual needs.   

Acupuncture can be used for a wide variety of conditions.  A few of the most common include, but are not limited to: 

• Pain / Lameness

• Arthritis

• Muscle Soreness 

• Respiratory Issues

• Inflammation

• Myofascial Trigger Points

• Preventive care to keep your pet happy and healthy

• GI Issues such as colic, diarrhea, vomiting, not eating, etc.

• Neurological Diseases to include nerve damage, wobblers,  paralysis, disk disease, etc. 

• Skin conditions

• Healing after surgery or trauma 

• Improving Immune System function

• Some behavioral conditions

• Chronic Pain or Wind Up

• Some reproductive disorders