Acupuncture for Pets:
A Path to Healing and Wellness
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What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient practice dating back at least 2,500 years, rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body to cause a therapeutic effect. These points correspond to pathways of energy, or “qi,” which help restore balance and promote healing.
Acupuncture can be a powerful tool for managing pain, improving mobility, and supporting overall health.
Benefits of Acupuncture
The physiological effects of acupuncture are extensive and can significantly benefit your pet’s health. Key advantages include:
- Pain Relief: Acupuncture effectively alleviates pain by triggering the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals and modulating pain perception through targeted nerve pathways.
- Reduced Inflammation: This therapy helps decrease swelling and fosters healing in affected areas, promoting overall recovery.
- Muscle Relaxation: By engaging the nervous system and increasing blood flow, acupuncture promotes relaxation in tight or spasmodic muscles—though these are not the only mechanisms at work—enhancing mobility and overall comfort.
- Support for Neurological Disorders: Acupuncture can improve nerve function and enhance signaling, making it especially beneficial for pets with spinal cord or peripheral nerve conditions.
- Enhanced Circulation: Improved blood flow aids in the recovery of injured tissues and contributes to your pet’s overall well-being.
- Immune Response Regulation: Acupuncture helps balance the immune system by modulating its response—boosting activity when necessary and downregulating it in cases of overactivity, such as allergies or autoimmune disorders
When To Consider Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be beneficial for a variety of conditions, including but not limited to:
- Musculoskeletal Disorders: Arthritis, hip dysplasia, back pain, and soft tissue injuries.
- Neurological Issues: Intervertebral disc disease, nerve damage, epilepsy, and Wobbler’s syndrome.
- Gastrointestinal Problems: Inflammatory bowel disease, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.
- Respiratory and Cardiovascular Conditions: Asthma, chronic cough, bronchitis, and congestive heart failure.
- Internal Medicine Conditions: Chronic kidney disease, hypo- or hyperthyroidism, and diabetes.
- Other Ailments: Behavioral disorders, anxiety, stress, and skin conditions such as non-healing wounds and allergies
A Tailored Approach
At My Friendly Vet, we understand that each pet is unique. Our experienced veterinarian performs a thorough evaluation to create a customized treatment plan that may involve various acupuncture techniques:
- Dry Needle Acupuncture: Fine needles are used to stimulate specific points on the body.
- Electroacupuncture: Gentle electrical currents are applied to enhance the effects of treatment.
- Aqua Acupuncture: Fluid is injected under the skin or into the muscle to improve therapeutic outcomes.
- Laser Acupuncture: A laser machine is used to stimulate acupuncture points, which is ideal for pets who may be anxious about needles, improving their overall experience.
The Treatment Experience
Many pets find acupuncture to be a relaxing experience, often drifting off to sleep during their sessions. Our clinic is designed to create a calm and soothing environment, ensuring that your pet feels safe and comfortable throughout their treatment.
In-Home Treatments for Added Convenience
To better serve your pet’s needs, we offer in-home acupuncture treatments as part of our comprehensive care approach. This allows us to provide treatment in the familiar surroundings of your home, making the experience even more pleasant for your furry friend.
Ready to Explore Acupuncture for Your Pet?
If you’re interested in learning more about how acupuncture can benefit your pet, please reach out to us at 561-228-8822. Our dedicated team is here to answer any questions and help you schedule an appointment. Together, we can embark on a journey to enhance your pet’s health and well-being!
We look forward to supporting your pet’s healing journey with compassionate care and expert guidance at My Friendly Vet Integrative Medical Center.
Frecuently asked Questions
Acupuncture is supported by modern research, which indicates that acupoints are located in areas with a high density of free nerve endings, mast cells, small arterioles, and lymphatic vessels. Studies show that stimulating acupoints triggers the release of beta-endorphins, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters. The National Institute of Health (NIH) website states that both animal and human studies, including those utilizing imaging techniques to observe brain activity, have demonstrated that acupuncture can influence nervous system function. Research has suggested that acupuncture may be beneficial for various pain conditions, such as back or neck pain, knee pain related to osteoarthritis, and postoperative pain. It may also help alleviate joint pain associated with the use of aromatase inhibitors, which are medications used in breast cancer treatment. An analysis of data from 20 studies involving 6,376 participants with painful conditions, including back pain, osteoarthritis, neck pain, or headaches, revealed that the positive effects of acupuncture persisted for a year after the completion of treatment for all conditions except neck pain. Additionally, evidence indicates that acupuncture may aid in relieving symptoms of seasonal allergies, stress incontinence in women, and nausea and vomiting associated with cancer treatment. It may also help alleviate symptoms and enhance the quality of life for individuals with asthma.
Here are just a few examples of literature with findings surrounding acupuncture:
NIH Consensus Statement. Acupuncture. NIH Consensus Statement Online. 1997;15(5):1–34.
Silva, Nuno E.O.F, et al. “Effect of acupuncture on pain and quality of life in canine neurological and musculoskeletal diseases.” The Canadian Veterinary Journal 2017 Sep; 58(9): 941-951.
Chiu JH, Chung MS, Cheng HC, Yeh TC, Hsieh JC, Chang CY, Kuo WY, Cheng H, Ho LT. Different central manifestations in response to electroacupuncture at analgesic and nonanalgesic acupoints in rats: a manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Can J Vet Res. 2003;67(2):94–101.
Leung MC, Yip KK, Ho YS, Siu FK, Li WC, Garner B. mechanisms underlying the effect of acupuncture on cognitive improvement: a systematic review of animal studies. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2014;9:492–507.
Acupuncture is a very safe medical procedure when administered by a qualified practitioner. In most states this means a licensed veterinarian who is certified in veterinary acupuncture.
Rarely does acupuncture hurt since acupuncture points are stimulated using very fine needles. Over 95% of patients are comfortable with acupuncture therapy. Due to the relaxation effect, some animals will fall asleep during their treatment.
While some results may be immediate, most chronic (long-standing) conditions will require multiple treatments. Typically, a minimum of 3-5 treatments spaced 1-2 weeks apart is necessary before a noticeable improvement can be observed.
Treatments can be performed daily or weekly. Once the condition is stable, they are usually less frequent, such as monthly, depending on severity and duration of the condition.