ACCUPUNCTURE

What is Acupuncture:

Acupuncture is the practice of inserting fine, solid needles into the body for pain relief, to promote healing and to ease symptoms such as nausea.

There are two types of acupuncture practiced in veterinary medicine- traditional Chinese acupuncture which uses needles placed along meridians to balance Qi and Western Veterinary Acupuncture. Western Veterinary Acupuncture uses needles inserted into specific acupuncture points and trigger points.

Acupuncture has gained increasing recognition as a useful complementary therapy to medical treatment. Veterinary Acupuncture must be performed by a trained Veterinary Surgeon or Nurse under the direction of a veterinarian.

How does it work:

There is an increasing body of scientific research to show that acupuncture can be beneficial to pets, to decrease chronic pain caused by musculoskeletal disorders and improve healing. The needles inserted will stimulate your pet’s nervous system, blocking pain messages to the brain and encouraging the brain and central nervous system to produce natural pain relief. Acupuncture can also help to reset the body’s normal functioning.

Acupuncture should follow a clinical diagnosis and evaluation of treatment options. In most cases acupuncture is used in conjunction with conventional medicine. In some cases, acupuncture may be used as the sole treatment.

Acupuncture is extremely safe when practiced correctly and is usually tolerated very well by our veterinary patients including dogs, cats and rabbits.

What conditions can be treated:

• Chronic pain including that caused by arthritis

• Musculoskeletal pain

• Pain secondary to disc disease

• Promoting wound healing

• Nausea

• Chronic digestive disturbances

• Skin conditions

How long will my pet be treated:

If we haven’t seen your pet before we will book you in for a 45 minute consultation. This will allow us to take a full history, perform a clinical examination and carry out the initial acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture is usually repeated weekly to biweekly for the next 4-6 weeks. After that treatments can be repeated as required by your pet. Some pets will not need treatment to be repeated.

The response rate in pets is approximately 80% as like in humans not all pets will respond to treatment.

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For any more information or if you would like to book please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to take referrals from other vets so you need not be registered at the practice.