"What?  Now I've heard it all!"

    For those who may be a little leery of "veterinary acupuncture" let me say - it works!  I am not one to jump into something I don't understand without a little detective work.  The events in this article are actual - it really happened!

    My pet (15 1/2 years) whom I recently lost was most appreciative of this procedure.  She was well into her "golden years" and always so happy to see us when we came home.  It was her normal routine to greet us enthusiastically each day and this particular day her enthusiasm found her at the bottom of the steps of our front porch.  It was only three steps, but when you are in your "golden years" that is alot.  After her accident she had a somewhat difficult time getting around and we could not even take her for her evening walk.  I took her to my vet and explained what happened.   X-rays were taken and the problem was revealed.  The treatment options were a)medicinal or b)acupuncture.  My vet began to explain the acupuncture procedure.   I have to admit - I was very leery.  My question at that point was this - "If she has the acupuncture treatment will I be able to take her on our evening walks again?"  The answer was - yes!  The decision was obvious.  Acupuncture it was.  The result was tremendous.  I took my 15 year old poodle home that evening and she was literally running, I said running around the house.  By the way acupuncture is painless.

What is acupuncture?  Acupuncture may be defined as the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to cause a desired healing effect.  This technique has been used in veterinary practice in China for at least 3000 years to treat many ailments.  Acupuncture is used all over the world, either by itself or in conjunction with Western medicine, to treat a wide variety of maladies in every species of domestic animal and in exotic animals.  Modern veterinary acupuncturists use solid needles, hypodermic needles, bleeding needles, electricity, heat, massage, and low power lasers to stimulate acupuncture points.   Acupuncture is not a cure-all, but can work very well when it is indicated.

For which conditions is acupuncture indicated?  Acupuncture is indicated mainly for functional problems such as those that involve paralysis, noninfectious inflammation (such as allergies), and pain.   For small animals, the following are some of the general conditions which may be treated with acupuncture.

• Musculoskeletal problems, such as arthritis or vertebral disc pathology
• Skin problems, such as lick granuloma
• Respiratory problems, such as feeling asthma
• Gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea
• Selected reproductive problems

For large animals, acupuncture is again commonly used for functional problems.  Some of the general conditions where it might be applied are the following:

• Musculoskeletal problems, such as sore backs or downer cow syndrome
• Nervous system problems, such as facial nerve paralysis
• Skin problems, such as allergic dermatitis
• Respiratory problems, such as heaves and "Bleeders"
• Gastrointestinal problems, such as nonsurgical colic
• Selected reproductive disorders

In addition, regular acupuncture treatments can treat minor sports injuries as they occur. 

How does acupuncture work?  According to ancient Chinese medical philosophy, disease is the result of an imbalance of energy in the body.  Acupuncture is believed to balance this energy and, thereby, assist the body to heal disease.  In Western terms, acupuncture can assist the body to heal itself by affecting certain physiological changes.  For example, acupuncture can stimulate nerves, increase blood circulation, relieve muscle spasm, and cause the release of hormones, such as endorphins (one of the body's pain control chemicals) and cortisol (a natural steroid). 

Is acupuncture painful?  For small animals, the insertion of acupuncture needles is virtually painless.  The larger needles necessary for large animals may cause some pain as the needle passes through the skin.  In all animals, once the needles are in place, there should be no pain.  Most animals become very relaxed and even become sleepy.

Is acupuncture safe for animals?  Acupuncture is one of the safest forms of medical treatment for animals when it is administered by a properly trained veterinarian.  Side effects are rare, but they do exist.

How should I choose an acupuncturist for my animals?  There are two important criteria you should look for in a veterinary acupuncturist:  1.  Your veterinary acupuncturist must be a licensed veterinarian.  2)  Your veterinary acupuncturist should have formal training in the practice of acupuncture for animals.  (For example, the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society is the only accredited certification program for veterinary acupuncturists)

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