Acupuncture is a treatment modality that has been around for thousands of years. It involves inserting thin, sterile needles into specific locations on the body. These acupoints may be
located around free nerve endings, arterioles, and mast cells. The stimulation from the needles produces a therapeutic response, namely the release of beta endorphins that can provide pain relief.

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine has four main components. Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Tui-na (Chinese massage), and food therapy. It incorporates the five element theory and
is a balance of yin and yang energy. Your life force is your qi. In health, qi moves thorough the body energy channels called meridians. Where there is imbalance, the qi may not move freely
and can become stagnant. Acupuncture works to resolve the stagnation and helps the qi move freely.

Acupuncture can help provide pain relief and improve quality of life. It can help with animals with arthritis, neurologic issues, anxiety, and general well being. It may also help with appetite, energy level, and may slow down progression of other disease processes.

Acupuncture is not generally painful and most animals don’t react to the needles being placed. They may experience a tingling or heavy sensation. Most of them will relax and their eyes become droopy. They may yawn or burp. Their noses may drip. Most animals are more relaxed at subsequent visits. Acupuncture is most effective if you get the de qi response, which is the arrival of qi. The animal may respond by reacting to the needle placement by quickly turning their head or wanting to move away. When this occurs, we may let them relax with the needles already in place.

The needles are typically in for anywhere from 5-20 minutes. We may use 5-20 needles depending on the animals comfort level. All animals respond differently, if an animal is not comfortable with acupuncture, we may use acupressure or Tui-na instead. Chinese herbs may also be used.

Most animals with more chronic issues may take 3-5 sessions before seeing a real improvement, although most people see a difference after the first session. The sessions are typically done once a week for a few sessions, then taper to two weeks, then mostly for maintenance. Chinese herbs tend to act as daily acupuncture and may make the effects of acupuncture last longer. Most people report that their animal seems to have more energy, may be moving around better, or just might see glimmers of their animal that they haven’t seen in some time. That might be things such as playing with a toy that they haven’t been interested in for some time, ability to go up the stairs better, or being more interactive with the family. We also may use other treatment modalities such as electroacupuncture or aquapuncture with vitamin B12.