Are you aware that dogs (and cats) can benefit from acupuncture treatment? The practice is a traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM) discipline that is just one of the tools we veterinarians can use to help improve our patients’ health.I primarily use acupuncture to help reduce the pain pets experience as a result of being affected by osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), trauma (surgical, other), cancer, and more. Yet, any condition could potentially benefit from acupuncture treatment.
Besides needles, some patients get:
Electrostimulation (bolded)- electric current run between two acupuncture points, which can help quell back pain caused by IVDD and muscle spasming
Moxibustion (bolded)- heat applied to acupuncture points via a cigar-like heating source, which helps bring warmth to achy, arthritis-affected joints
Aquapuncture (bolded)- liquid (Vitamin B12, Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan, other) injected into acupuncture points, which stimulates the area for longer than what needle treatment can solely provide.
Laser (bolded)- Low to mid-class laser treatment applied to acupuncture points to stimulate like mechanical (hand/finger, other) or needles
I incorporate all the above for my patients, yet the treatment is tailored specifically to the patient’s needs and changes at each session pending the patient’s prior response and current needs.
I always recommend that owners seek acupuncture from an experienced veterinary having a CVA (Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist) degree from an accredited program. As we veterinarians are trained specifically in animal diseases, we can best understand the integration of a pet’s diagnosis and the needs for treatment from the TCVM perspective.
I recently had the opportunity to contribute to an article about veterinary acupuncture for PetCoach author Paula Fitzsimmons. Learn more by clicking on 5 Ways Acupuncture Can Help Dogs and please share it with your fellow pet aficionados. Feel free to contribute your perspective in the Comments section.
Dr. Patrick Mahaney
Please leave your constructive perspective in the below Comments section and communicate with me and follow my adventures in veterinary medicine and life via Instagram (@PatrickMahaney), Twitter (@PatrickMahaney), and Facebook (Patrick Mahaney: Veterinarian Acupuncture Pain Management for Your Pets).
Copyright of this article (2019) is owned by Dr. Patrick Mahaney, Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and Certified Veterinary Journalist. Republishing any portion of this article must first be authorized by Dr. Patrick Mahaney. Requests for republishing must be approved by Dr. Patrick Mahaney and received in written format.
Related Articles