Acupuncture for animals
What is it?Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles through the skin into particular places called acupuncture points. According to traditional Chinese medicine, this helps to balance and restore the flow of energy (known as Qi) around the body, encouraging the body to heal.
How does it work?As mentioned above, traditional Chinese medicine endeavours to balance Qi in the body. There are a number of methods used to determine where needles should be placed, including Five Elements theory and the Eight Principles. According to scientific studies, insertion of needles causes the release of many of the body’s natural chemicals, such as endorphins and anti-inflammatories. The flow of blood to the area improves, muscles relax and immunity of the local tissues is enhanced. While some of the effects of acupuncture have been scientifically proven to occur, science has yet to discover how all of the observed effects are caused.
What kind of problems can it be used to treat?
Acupuncture is useful for treatment of a variety of medical conditions, and to provide pain relief. Some of the conditions that often respond well are:
* Musculoskeletal problems, e.g. sore backs, degenerative joint disease, arthritis, muscle trigger points
* Respiratory problems such as feline asthma
* Nervous disorders such as facial nerve paralysis
* Gastrointestinal issues including vomiting and diarrhea (the travel sickness bands you wear on your wrist stimulate an acupuncture point)
* Allergies such as atopy.
Acupuncture can be used to help with treatment of many medical disorders and can be used in conjunction with most standard veterinary treatments. But remember, it should usually be considered as an additional treatment option for your animal, not as a replacement for normal veterinary care. It is important to understand that conditions such as arthritis will not be cured (i.e. it will not disappear!), but acupuncture can provide very good pain relief and reduce dependency on painkillers.
How do I know if my animal will benefit?
Animals suffering from the conditions listed above (and many others!) can benefit from acupuncture. Acupuncture can be used in conjunction with other treatments, in both complementary (e.g. chiropractic) and mainstream veterinary care. The benefits can be synergistic – for example, it may be possible to reduce the amount of painkiller your animal is on if they have regular acupuncture treatments.
Are there any contraindications?
All needles are sterile and infection is very rare. It is also very rare for needles to break, as they are very thin and flexible and are only used once before disposal. There may be a small amount of bleeding – according to traditional Chinese medicine this is desirable in some circumstances! However animals with bleeding disorders should not be given acupuncture treatment using needles, although other methods of delivering acupuncture (e.g. acupressure or laser acupuncture) can be used.
You must make it clear if your animal is pregnant, as there are some acupuncture points that must be avoided during pregnancy. Needles should never be inserted into infected areas or tumours. Care should always taken to prevent animals from ingesting needles.
How many treatments, how long does it take and what happens afterwards?
The number of treatments will depend on the condition being treated, how severe and chronic it is, and your animal’s individual response to treatment. For anything other than mild, acute conditions a minimum initial course of four treatments is recommended, although in a few cases up to ten might be needed before a response is seen. More might be required to see a response in animals with severe and chronic problems. Sometimes you only need one treatment!
Needles are generally left in place for 10-20 minutes. The number of needles used will depend on the condition being treated, but is commonly between 5 and 15.
When animals with painful conditions are examined they can show signs of discomfort – that’s how they let us know where they hurt! Insertion of acupuncture needles is not usually painful, but sore or sensitive animals may react when the needles are first put in. After a few minutes they usually become very calm and relaxed. They may even remain sleepy for a few days after treatment. Sometimes their condition may improve straight away, but don’t be surprised if they temporarily look a little worse – this is very common and should disappear within a day or two.
What species of animals can be treated?
Horses, dogs and cats are commonly treated, although other species can also benefit.
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