Main Navigation What is Acupuncture? Acupuncture, a form of holistic veterinary care, is stimulation of specific points on the body with needles, light, heat or electricity to achieve healing and balance energy flow. It is one of the five branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The ancient Chinese people discovered and mapped points in animals called acupuncture points or "Shu-xu".
Modern research shows stimulation of these points releases beta-endorphin, serotonin and other neurotransmitters. Acupuncture for pain relief is well established, and it's benefits in treating seizure, hormonal imbalances, diarrhea, constipation, cough, allergies, kidney disease and asthma are also documented. Acupuncture is safe when performed by a certified veterinary acupuncturist CVA who uses sterile disposable needles.
It is practically painless and many animals find it relaxing. Pet owners frequently hold their dogs or cats in their lap or sit near them during the treatment. For animals who are too painful to tolerate needles cold laser needless acupuncture is available. Side effects are rare but do occur. An animal may become sleepy or their symptoms may worsen for 24 hours after a session. These effects are an indication that physiological changes are taking place and is most often followed by improvement in the animal's condition.
On rare occasions a needle may break and require surgical retrieval. Treatments last from 20 minutes to an hour depending on the temperament of the animal, the complexity of the disease, and the type of acupuncture required.
The acupuncturist may use electrical stimulation, cold laser, or injections to augment the effects of a dry needle session, and, at times, suggest other forms of holistic veterinary that may benefit your pet. Three to eight sessions one to two weeks apart are generally necessary to evaluate response, but benefits are often noted in the hours after treatment. Healing effects are compounded over time and number of treatments. Chronic disease will often require periodic sessions to maintain the benefits of acupuncture.
