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Acupuncture
What is Acupuncture and how does it work?
Acupuncture is the insertion of needles into specific points on the body. How acupuncture works can be explored from either a scientific (or Western) perspective or a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective.
From a scientific perspective, acupuncture represents a form of nerve stimulation.
From a TCM perspective, acupuncture involves stimulation of points along channels or meridians on the outer surface of the body to alter the Qi, or “vital energy,” within the body.
Acupuncture is most often used for chronic conditions and as an adjunct to your pet’s conventional therapies. The goal is not always a cure but to help alleviate symptoms, decrease medications, and make your pet more comfortable.
What to Expect?
The first visit will last approximately one hour. The doctor will review your pet’s history. Past and present medical history, medications, daily routine, and behavior questions will help the doctor to understand your pet and any concerns for your pet.
Follow-up visits will generally be scheduled for 30 minutes, unless you have any new concerns with your pet.
Generally, 3 to 4 treatments are needed to see improvement. We ask that you be prepared to commit to a minimum of 6 treatments when seeking acupuncture for your pet.
Initially, treatments are performed weekly. Once an improvement is seen, the treatments are sometimes tapered to allow the greatest symptom-free time between sessions.
We truly believe integrating acupuncture with conventional medical care can help your pet to feel his or her best. Musculoskeletal diseases (arthritis, disk disease), neurological problems, skin diseases, respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal concerns are just a few of the chronic conditions manageable with acupuncture.
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