Acupuncture

Acupuncture is defined as the insertion of needles into specific point on the body to cause a desired healing effect. Acupuncture is used all over the world, either by itself or in conjunction with western medicine, to treat a wide variety of maladies in every species of domestic animals. Acupuncture is not a cure all but can work very well when indicated.

Acupuncture is indicated mainly for functional problems such as those that involve paralysis, noninfectious inflammation (such as allergies) and pain. For small animals, the following are some of the general conditions which may be treated with acupuncture:

In addition, regular acupuncture treatments can treat minor sports injuries as they occur and help to keep muscles and tendons resistant to injury.

According to ancient Chinese medical philosophy, disease is the result of an imbalance of energy in the body. Acupuncture is believed to balance this energy thereby assisting the body to heal disease.

In Western terms, acupuncture can assist the body in healing itself by affecting certain physiological changes. Acupuncture can stimulate nerves, increase blood circulation, relieve muscle spasm, and cause the release of hormones, such as endorphins and cortisol. Although many of acupuncture's physiological, effects have been studied, many more are still unknown.

The insertion of acupuncture needles is virtually painless. Once the needles are in, there should be no pain. Most animals become relaxed and may even become sleepy.

Acupuncture is one of the safest forms of medical treatment for animals when administered by a properly trained veterinarian. Side effects of acupuncture are rare but they do exist. An animals condition may seem worse for up to 48 hours after a treatment. Other animals may become sleepy or lethargic for up to 24 hours after acupuncture. These effects are an indication that some physiological changes are developing and they are most often followed by improvement in the animal's condition.

The length and frequency of acupuncture treatments depends on the condition of the patient and the method of stimulation that is used by the veterinary acupuncturist. Stimulation of an acupuncture point may take as little as 10 seconds or as much as 30 minutes. A simple acute problem, such as a sprain, may require only one treatment, whereas more severe or chronic ailments may need several or several dozen treatments.

When multiple treatments are necessary, they usually begin intensively and are tapered to maximum efficiency. Patients often start with 1-3 treatments per week for 4-6 weeks. A positive response is usually seen after the first to third treatment. Once a maximum positive response is achieved treatments are tapered off so that the greatest amount of symptom-free time lapses between them. Many animals with chronic conditions can taper to 2-4 treatments per year.

Animals undergoing athletic training can benefit from acupuncture as often as twice a week to once a month. The frequency depends on the intensity of the training and the condition of the athlete.

There are two important criteria you should look for in a veterinary acupuncturist:

Your veterinary acupuncturist must be a licensed veterinarian

Your veterinary acupuncturist should have formal training in the practice of acupuncture for animals. (For example, the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society is the only accredited certification program for veterinary acupuncturist)

In most countries, states and provinces, veterinary acupuncture is considered a surgical procedure that only licensed veterinarians may legally administer to animals. A veterinarian is in the best position to diagnose an animal's health problems and then to determine whether an animal is likely to benefit from an acupuncture treatment, or whether its problems requires chemical, surgical, or no intervention.

Ask your veterinarian about her or his training. The more your veterinarian knows about the traditional Chinese philosophy and Western scientific bases for acupuncture, the more sure you can be that your animal will be treated properly.