Veterinary Acupuncture
Acupuncture for dogs and cats, like acupuncture for humans, is an alternative medical practice that involves inserting hair-thin needles into the skin to stimulate points on the body and produce a physiologic and healing response.
Acupuncture has its origins in traditional Chinese medicine and has been used for thousands of years. It is usually used to treat inflammation and pain, and in traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is said to restore the appropriate flow of chi, or energy, throughout pathways in the body.
In Western medicine, acupuncture is believed to work by stimulating neural-hormonal pathways to release the body’s natural pain killers (endorphins), hormones (cortisol), and neurotransmitters (serotonin), that reduce pain and inflammation, and improve blood circulation at the points of insertion.
Specific acupuncture points have been well-charted for both humans and animals, and are connected with each other via meridians and channels. These channels trace the path of the body’s major nerve trunks. This nerve relationship is what we use to select points to treat and predict what physiologic response is likely to occur with treatment. This allows us to treat a point on the skin and expect changes to occur internally.
Which acupuncture points are stimulated, the depth of needle insertion, the type of stimulation applied to the needles, and the duration of each treatment session depends on the patient’s tolerance and the condition being treated.
In veterinary medicine, there is evidence of the success of acupuncture for treating:
- Musculoskeletal problems, such as chronic pain from degenerative joint disease or arthritis
- Neurologic disorders, such as traumatic nerve injuries, intervertebral disc disease, epilepsy, or degenerative myelopathy
- Reproductive problems
- Pulmonary disorders
- Gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia
- Dermatologic problems
- Kidney and liver problems
- Bladder disorders such as incontinence, cystitis, or inappropriate urination
Dr. Hein is our certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncturist at Indian Tree.