Acupuncture

Acupuncture can be defined as the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to cause a desired healing effect.

The Benefits

In general, the benefits of acupuncture include pain relief, a balancing of the immune system, stimulating repair of damaged tissue, a balancing of hormones and neurotransmitters, relaxation and an improved sense of well-being. Acupuncture can be used in conjunction with any treatments that a pet is already receiving (medications, surgery, etc.). It's also a viable alternative treatment when there is concern about side effects of a medication (for example, if your pet has liver or kidney issues, there may be concern about using standard medications for arthritis pain and inflammation). Acupuncture can be beneficial when a patient is not responding to medical and/or surgical treatment, or when the response to treatment is not as expected. In these cases, using acupuncture in conjunction with traditional treatments will often give better results than using either of these modalities alone.

Conditions Treated

Acupuncture is effective in treating a wide variety of medical conditions. Acupuncture is known to have positive effects on all of the major physiological systems of the body. Some of the more commonly treated ailments include: musculoskeletal issues (arthritis, hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease); neurologic problems (epilepsy and vestibular disease); gastrointestinal problems (vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion, and megacolon); anxiety disorders (separation anxiety, lick granulomas, and excessive grooming/ psychogenic alopecia); respiratory problems (asthma and sinusitis); hormonal imbalances and age-related urinary incontinence. This is only a partial list of some of the more common applications of acupuncture in veterinary medicine. If your pet is suffering from a condition not listed above, please contact us to discuss whether acupuncture might be an appropriate choice for your pet's particular situation.

How Acupuncture Works

Acupuncture needles induce tiny lesions or microtraumas in the body that promote self-healing mechanisms through neuromodulation. Neuromodulation is the cascade of events that occur from insertion of the needle into the tissues, involving nerves and the surrounding cells. Mechanical stimulation from the needle in the tissue signals the local area as well as the spinal cord and brain, promoting local blood circulation, anti-inflammatory reactions, pain control, tissue healing and immune system stimulation. Traditional Chinese theory holds that acupuncture points run along specific pathways or meridians. These meridians follow closely with nerves and vessels throughout the body. Stimulation of acupuncture points along these nerves and meridians can be used to treat a multitude of disease processes to restore and promote homeostasis.

Frequency of Treatments

For most conditions, treatments are done once a week for 4 to 8 weeks, and then spaced further and further apart. Some response may be seen after the first treatment, but it can sometimes take several treatments before a significant response is seen. Acupuncture is not treating or masking symptoms, it is actually stimulating the body's own healing mechanisms. Healing and repair take time. Most commonly, the first effects seen are more on a mental/emotional level. For example, after the first treatment, clients often report that their pet seems happier (wags tail or purrs more) and/or that their pet is more relaxed and sleeping better at night. Then, after a few more treatments, the physical symptoms start to improve. Acute conditions may require one series of treatments whereas chronic or degenerative diseases may require ongoing treatments once a month.