Acupuncture for Pets: An Ancient Practice for Modern Pet Care
Does your furry friend suffer from chronic pain or stiffness due to issues such as arthritis or hip dysplasia? If so, your pet may benefit from acupuncture. This ancient practice actually originated as veterinary treatments for horses before being tried on humans. Wise & Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center, your Sonoma County veterinarian, offers some more information on acupuncture and its benefits for pets.
You may be familiar with the general concept of acupuncture. The procedure involves the insertion of tiny needles under the skin at specific points. Eastern and Western views on this subject vary slightly. In traditional Eastern medicine, needles help harness and control the flow of energy—or chi—through the body, much like wires control electricity in a house. Modern Western medicine views it slightly differently: the needles are inserted at nerve centers, which leads to some positive and tangible reactions. These include increased circulation, stimulating the release of natural hormones and painkillers, and reducing stiffness and inflammation.
Benefits
Acupuncture offers several unique and beneficial advantages. Although getting needles inserted under your skin may not sound very pleasant, it's painless. Your pet won't need to be shaved, and there is no anesthesia or surgery required. Acupuncture does not require the use of drugs, and it can be used safely in conjunction with other methods. Treatments are relatively quick, which makes them easy to fit into your schedule. There's no recovery time needed aside from some extra belly rubs. Of course, the most important thing is the fact that it works!
Uses
As mentioned above, acupuncture in the veterinary world is most often used to treat arthritis and hip dysplasia in dogs. However, those aren't the only uses. It can also help pets that suffer from many different issues, including anxiety, diabetes, kidney or liver failure, pancreatitis, Cushing's disease, and Addison's disease, to name a few. Acupuncture can also help reduce nausea and increase appetite, which are beneficial in their own right.
Acupuncture is both safe and effective. However, that doesn't mean it's the right option for all of our furry patients. Ask your Santa Rosa Veterinarian at Wise & Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center if your animal could benefit. It never hurts to learn more!
Do you want to learn more about pet acupuncture? Call Wise and Wonderful — 707-546-4646
