Are you interested in a non-pharmaceutical, nonsurgical treatment that is very safe, administered once or twice weekly, and can help in reducing pain, anxiety, promoting balance, and improving immune function? If so, acupuncture with Dr. Mosley may be a good choice for your pet!
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a method of treating your pet using their own internal processes – essentially, tapping into your pet’s own natural pharmacy – releasing healing influences and pain-relieving substances.
Medical acupuncture is based on the physical anatomy of your pet. Knowing the physical location of nerves, muscles, and blood vessels, we are able to determine areas of importance for certain conditions. Similarly to a person having a heart attack and experiencing pain along the length of the arm, nerves that innervate the heart also have impacts in other areas of the body. Medical acupuncture was developed using this knowledge and a wealth of research done all over the world. Veterinary medical acupuncture uses a truly integrative approach by merging a traditionally Chinese treatment technique with a more Western-guided approach.
What does Acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture helps with more than just pain! It works to increase circulation, reduce inflammation, release chemicals in the brain, relieve muscle spasms, stimulate nerves, and help improve the body’s natural defense systems, all to promote a healthy, balanced, and well pet.
- Musculoskeletal and Neurological – arthritis, hip dysplasia, disc disease (IVDD), nerve injuries/paralysis, back pain, lameness, tendon injuries
- Skin Problems – lick granuloma, allergies, wound healing
- Urinary Tract Disorders – feline lower urinary tract disorder, cystitis
- Gastrointestinal Disorders – diarrhea, vomiting, chronic conditions, pancreatitis, IBD
- Respiratory Disorders – asthma, chronic upper respiratory tract infections/disease, bronchitis
- Ocular Disorders – KCS (Dry Eye), corneal ulcers
What will happen? Is it painful?
On your first visit, a full history, physical examination, and myofascial palpation – a hands-on systemic evaluation of soft tissues to identify patterns of strain or discomfort indicating underlying disease or injury – will be performed. To your pet, this should simply feel like a gentle full-body massage. An acupuncture treatment plan is created based on these diagnostics. Some acupuncture needles are then placed to see how your pet responds to the needling itself, as well as to the stimulation the needles cause. Some pets may react to the initial skin penetration by the needles, but many will then visibly relax. Some pets will actually fall asleep during treatment!
What can I expect after the treatment?
With some chronic conditions, your pet may sleep more in the few days after the first couple of treatments. This is simply because your pet may have been painful and not sleeping well prior to the treatments. Afterwards, we expect to see improvement in how your pet is acting and in the general health and wellbeing of your pet.
Are there any side effects?
Acupuncture is one of the safest treatment modalities available, if performed by a certified acupuncturist. Very rarely, a pet may seem to worsen after the first treatment or two, but this effect should be short-lived – 24-36 hours. This is similar to us feeling sore after a deep tissue massage. Acupuncture works to bring your pet’s body systems back into balance without the use of drugs or chemicals; therefore, complications will be very rare, if ever.
How long does it take?
Treatment sessions can range from under 5 minutes to 30–45 minutes, depending on the condition being treated, your individual pet, and the stage of treatment your pet is in. Each treatment is performed after a full examination and palpation of your pet has been performed to determine what should be targeted during that session. Each session stimulates different points for differing lengths of time. Frequently, we will perform treatments 1–2 times a week for 4–6 weeks; improvements should be seen after the first 5–6 treatments.