Acupuncture For Dogs
An Alternative Treatment For Pets In Pain!
Acupuncture for dogs has evolved from an ancient therapy used to treat various health conditions.
The origin of acupuncture, also known as stylostixis, is a subject for debate, but many would agree that its roots lie in China where it has been practiced for centuries along with other oriental health therapies.
Getting NeedledWhat Does Veterinary Acupuncture Involve?
The treatment involves piercing the skin with fine needles at specific points of the dog's body, known as meridians, in order to relieve pain, initiate a healing cascade, or to restore balance between the body's energy pathways.
These points are where nerves and blood vessels converge and once needles are inserted enhance energy flow and blood circulation.
Meridian pathways or acupuncture points, which were discovered and mapped out a very long time ago, connect to every part of a pet's body and cross many points that can be stimulated for healing purposes.
Acupuncture For Dogs And Other Animals
While acupuncture is more commonly performed on dogs and cats, it has been used to benefit other animals such as horses, rabbits, and even chickens.
This type of intervention has been helping animals for thousands of years. In fact, historians have found evidence that Indians would treat elephants with acupuncture over 3000 years ago!
Although this type of alternative healing is an ancient art, it was not until the 20th century that it started to gain acceptance as a veterinary treatment for dogs.
Nowadays, while it is one of many holistic drug-free therapies for dogs, it is often used in conjunction with conventional veterinary protocols.
What Dog Conditions Are Treated With Acupuncture?
Acupuncture for dogs has been performed to benefit a wide range of canine health problems.
Here are some of the more familiar issues and how the acupuncture is carried out to relieve pain once the pet has been evaluated by a trained professional:
- Arthritis
- Epilepsy
- Hip dysplasia,
- Anxiety
- Tendonitis,
- Deafness,
- Urinary problems
- Asthma
- Cancer
I'll elaborate on some of these issues further down this page.
Canines With Arthritis
Depending on the severity of the arthritis, the number of needles placed and the individual treatment time, is variable, but can take up to 20 minutes.
Likewise, the number of sessions a pet receives per week could be two to three at the start and then be adjusted according to the outcome.
Even though some pets will have a noticeable response after the first treatment, others will need to have sessions for a few weeks before positive results are seen.
In general, the effects from each treatment will usually last a few days and some dogs will have weekly sessions.
Before You Begin...
- Consult with a professional that has been trained in veterinary acupuncture before beginning treatments for arthritis.
- Talk to your veterinarian about any medications your dog is taking to help the pain. Not all dogs taking steroids are good candidates for canine acupuncture so it is important to keep your doctor informed.
- Be aware that as dogs get older, arthritis can be debilitating
and the use of acupuncture can help to keep your pet comfortable, improving the quality of
life your dog has. It can also keep your dog interested in taking walks which is very necessary in slowing down the progression of the disease.
Acupuncture And Epilepsy In Dogs
Epilepsy in dogs is traditionally treated medically, usually with Phenobarbital, but the use of medications may not always be enough. Canines with Epilepsy also have the option of trying acupuncture.
Gold bead implants are a form of permanent acupuncture that can greatly decrease the frequency of seizures. It has been shown that some of the pets receiving gold bead implants will not only quit having seizures, but will also be able to discontinue medications as well.
Those pets that continue medications will usually be on reduced doses. Of course, not every dog will benefit from gold bead implants, but many dogs will begin living seizure free lives as a result of this treatment.
Acupuncture Uses In Canine Surgery
Surgery is another area where acupuncture has been used for dogs to lessen bleeding and can help maintain a steady depth of anesthesia.
Not all treatments will work in every dog and not every dog is a good candidate for acupuncture.
The first step is to talk to your veterinarian about what treatments are right for your pet.
Pet Anxiety Issues
Dogs with anxiety issues can benefit greatly from acupuncture. An anxious dog can become destructive and aggressive.
Finding drug-free ways to calm your pet before his behavior escalates to a safety issue is an important step to take, especially if there are children in the family.
Most holistic veterinary offices are set up to create a relaxing environment for your pet's treatment. They also usually schedule fewer clients coming in at one time, resulting in a less stressful waiting room.
The use of aromatherapy together with pet music is often used to further induce calm feelings as your dog enters the office.
Owners are encouraged to remain with their dogs during the treatments, usually lasting about 10-15 minutes, in order to reduce any separation anxiety that may occur if the owner stays in the waiting area.
The calming effects of one session can last from days to weeks and will usually improve with each treatment.
Make An Informed Decision For Your Pet
Quite a few dog health problems are treatable with alternative holistic remedies such as acupuncture, but some will need a vet's mainstream approach, or a combination of both.
Another alternative therapy that can be used at home by pet parents is acupressure.
This is an ancient technique based on Chinese medicine and involves applying gentle pressure to certain points on a dog's body known as meridians.
The outcome is aimed at balancing and restoring the flow of energy to help a pet's body heal itself.
The important thing is to learn about the available treatment options so that you and your vet can select the best remedy for your pet!
Consult With An Experienced Veterinarian
When you are considering acupuncture for your dog, it is important to consult with a veterinarian that has been certified in this procedure and discuss problems you would like addressed. And also the outcomes you can expect!
If you are meeting with a new pet specialist, don't forget to take along your pet's medical history as well as any medications your dog is currently taking that may have a bearing on treatment options.
This information will help the vet select a treatment that is best for your pet and can also help you to understand what you can and should expect after each treatment session.
Today acupuncture, as well as acupressure, are quite common interventions and have been used to help a variety of conditions in addition to those mentioned above, including hip dysplasia, tendonitis, deafness, urinary problems and asthma to name a few.
More recently, it has also played a complementary role in addressing canine cancer.
Thousands of years of acupuncture history has been written about the benefits of this ancient art and thanks to holistic veterinarians, thousands more years will be written.
Selecting A Vet
We recommend every dog owner select both a mainstream vet as well as one that practices holistic pet medicine, before getting a dog.
Here are sources for finding a vet, as well as finding out if their services include acupuncture for dogs:
- The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) aahanet.org,
- The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association ahvma.org.
Some vets are well-versed in both approaches which is reassuring when you need advice on important dog health problems.
Acupuncture For Dogs - Educational Books to Read
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- Always consult your veterinarian when you have health-related questions. Information on this website is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified professional.
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