Acupuncture, acupressure, food energy therapy, moxibustion—these are only some of the types of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine that are popular among vets and pet owners. But how effective are these senior dog treatments, really?
Veterinary acupuncture is arguably the most popular of the lot. By inserting needles, the body is allowed to heal by itself after carefully balancing blood circulation, relieving hormones, and stimulating the nervous system. During veterinary acupuncture, your body’s muscles are relaxed and pain is thus relieved. What’s more, the effects of your pet’s medications and supplements won’t be adversely affected by the acupuncture treatment.
While the most popular type of acupuncture treatment is the insertion of needles, there are many other types, such as acupressure, aquapuncture, moxibustion, electrostimulation and laser.
Acupressure involves inserting needles to acupuncture points that are hard to reach and for dogs that are hard to control. In aquapuncture, liquids that contain a mixture of nutrients and medications are inserted to push the tissue out of the way. Moxibustion is about applying heated Chinese herbs to the needles. Electrostimulation, on the other hand, is about coursing electric currents in the dog’s body to relax muscle spasms. Lastly, in laser acupuncture, laser energy is used to stimulate the body’s acupuncture points.
Acupuncture is great for a lot of medical conditions, like arthritis, degenerative joint disease, trauma, cancer and metabolic disease—all recurrent among older dogs. No wonder it’s been hugely popular among senior dogs!
Understanding The Best: Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
What Environment is Best for Veterinary Acupuncture Treatment?
House call based veterinary acupuncture alleviates the physical and behavioral stress associated with transportation to and from a veterinary facility. Additionally, as animal hospitals are traditionally places of illness, the potential for exposure infectious disease is reduced when a pet is treated at home.
How Frequently Does My Pet Need Veterinary Acupuncture Treatment?
Dogs and cats start with more frequent treatments then are tapered off to a less frequent interval for maintenance. Most patients benefit from one to three sessions per week during the initial few weeks. The goal is to achieve the greatest duration of time where a pet’s condition appears improved or has resolved. (Read more here)
Veterinary acupuncture has firmly established its place in veterinary medicine. If you’re not comfortable with it just yet, it’s perfectly fine to consult veterinarians or talk to other people who have tried it out. After all, we all want what’s best for our fur babies, right?