What is medical acupuncture?
Acupuncture involves inserting tiny hairlike needles at specific locations in the body. These points can influence the nervous system, the vascular system, muscles, connective tissue, and even internal organ function.
Acupuncture has existed for thousands of years but has only recently become more understood via a large and continuously growing number of scientific studies.
How can acupuncture help your pet?
It works at multiple levels of the nervous system to help with pain control, inflammation, muscle relaxation, and even anxiety. There is a substantial amount of published evidence which shows that the majority of patients will get, at minimum, some obvious pain relief. There are even studies that show that specific acupuncture points can help with nausea, appetite stimulation, pancreatitis, kidney disease, etc.
Different sizes and types of needles are used, depending on patient preference and sensitivity. In addition, we often use electrical stimulation (electroacupuncture) to further prompt the nervous system (for example, in dogs with disc or neurodegenerative disease), to help with arthritic pain, and to treat painful areas that are too sore to be needled.
In general, the tiny needles are well tolerated and some pets will even fall asleep after they are in place. The first points we place are used to promote feelings of calm. You may even notice your pet’s nose dripping as they settle into a session.
Acupuncture works well on any species, and even cats are quite tolerant and respond well to the needles!
Some of the most obvious changes we have seen:
Improved energy in senior pets
Grumbly, arthritic dogs become less grumbly without having to add in more pain meds
Dogs with intervertebral disc disease may walk earlier on and show less pain
Sports dogs have improved performance
Improved appetite and less nausea in sick patients
Fascia is less tight, improving overall mobility and comfort