Acupuncture at Himler Veterinary Services
Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years and was originated in China. Now there are many medical professionals who practice acupuncture, even licensed veterinarians. Many people are familiar with acupuncture in humans but animals can also benefit from acupuncture.
What is acupuncture?
Many people have heard of acupuncture but not many people really understand the process of acupuncture. Acupuncture is the use of fine sterile needles that are inserted into certain points of the animal. As stated in “Integrative Ways to Optimize Mobility in Older Animals.” by Narda G. Robinson. She explains how the metal needle engages with muscle and collagen fibers, leading to a small amount of local tissue reaction which then relaxes, thus causing blood flow to normalize.
How do I know it’s safe?
“Acupuncture is one of the safest interventional techniques available, when practiced by a veterinary professional.” (Narda G. Robinson pg. 3). Never practice acupuncture with your pet unless you are a medical/ veterinary professional! If there are any complications, they are usually mild and resolve quickly.
How do I know the treatment is working?
Every animal is different and experiences recovery differently. It also depends on what the problem is. Some animals may also have multiple problems. However, there is a range of 3-4 treatments until you can visibly see results. The veterinarian is going to be the best at knowing if the treatments are working since they are the ones that gauge the amount of resistance that the needle encounters (Narda G. Robinson pg. 3).
Reasons to consider acupuncture for your pet.
Reasons to give acupuncture a try for your furry friend would be if they are suffering from arthritis, asthma, trauma, metabolic disease, seizures, back pain, neurologic disorders, and even cancer. Acupuncture is not for everyone, just like it’s not for every pet.
Other treatments used with acupuncture.
There are a couple other treatments that can be used alongside acupuncture to help your pet. We offer the K Laser which is one of those forms of treatment. Laser therapy works by using specific wavelengths of light to create therapeutic effects which is a painless, drug free treatment option which helps reduce inflammation, swelling, pain, and stiffness. Just like acupuncture you are probably not going to see results with just one treatment. Multiple treatments will be needed.
Conclusion
Acupuncture is something you should look into with your veterinarian if your pet experiences any of the listed conditions or if you think they might be eligible to try acupuncture. Just like humans, animals get old and tend to have more problems with age and acupuncture may be something to help their pain. Scheduling a visit with your veterinarian to talk about it can be a great start!
Some tips for helping your furry friends!
If your pet has trouble walking on hard surfaces, try and keep their nails trimmed and consider getting area rugs or carpet runners. Another helpful tip would be to make sure their bedding is clean and appropriate for their needs. Some animals that have problems with getting up and walking prefer a firmer bed that gives them some structure and support (Narda G. Robinson pg. 4). Something else to consider is researching simple, safe massage techniques to use on your pets to help improve circulation. Just keep in mind if your pet is too painful that you cannot even touch a certain area on their body, they should probably be seen by a veterinarian and assessed further.