Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years but still fairly new in the veterinary industry. Veterinarians have used acupuncture only for the last few decades and it’s becoming a much more common practice for our patients. Veterinarians have always used what we call a multi-modal approach to treat any ailment which means we will use an array of different kinds of treatments when we are dealing with an issue. Acupuncture is a big part of the multi-modal approach for many conditions and we are seeing some great benefits with it.
Acupuncture is the practice of using very small, fine needles and placing them in very specific locations depending on the patients ailment and allowing those acupuncture points to open the channels within the body to decrease stagnation, reduce inflammation and allow the systems to work as a whole to help the body heal. The patients tolerate this treatment usually very well and sometimes even fall asleep. The needles usually need to stay in place for 30-40 minutes for the body to receive the full effect and need to come back anywhere from a week to a month depending on how the patient is responding to the treatment.
Acupuncture is usually used alongside supplements, pharmaceutical medications, and maybe even physical rehabilitation if suggested. Acupuncture has been used to help with the treatment of the following:
Allergies and asthma
Anxiety
Arthritis
Back pain
Spinal injuries
Neurologic Disorders
Recovering from surgery
Recovering from injuries
Orthopedic ailments
Gastrointestinal disorders
Reproductive Issues
Chronic pain
Joint disease
As you can see, acupuncture can be a treatment option for many different ailments that can cause discomfort to our pets. Acupuncture is a great non-invasive option that most pets tolerate very well. We will continue to see acupuncture be utilized as an option for thousands of more years and it will continue to be a great option to help many more pets.