Veterinary acupuncture has been used to treat animals for nearly 4,000 years in China. In North America it has been used for decades, in both domestic and exotic animals. Acupuncture is one of a variety of therapies a veterinarian may use to treat your pet.

How Does Acupuncture Work?
Ancient Chinese medical philosophy believes that disease is a result of an imbalance of energy in the body. Acupuncture is believed to balance this energy, and thereby assist the body in healing disease. In Western terms, acupuncture can assist the body’s efforts to
heal itself by causing certain physiological changes. For example, acupuncture can stimulate nerves, increase blood circulation, relieve muscle spasms, and cause the release of hormones, such as endorphins (one of the body’s pain control chemicals) or cortisol (a natural steroid).

What are some of the uses of Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is known to have therapeutic effects in a wide variety of animal diseases. Pain modifi cation is an important application of veterinary acupuncture, but there are much wider applications.

Examples of clinical conditions where veterinary acupuncture may be used are:
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Respiratory problems
• Urinary disorders
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Dermatological problems

How long do acupuncture treatments last, and how often are
they needed?
The length and frequency of treatments depends on the problem and condition of your pet. Stimulation of an individual acupuncture point may be for as little as 10 seconds or as long as 20 minutes.

Generally, acute problems require less time and frequency of treatment in chronic cases. For example, an acute sprain may require only one treatment, whereas more severe or chronic ailments may require multiple treatments. A positive response is generally seen after the first to third treatment in chronic cases. Once optimum response is achieved, treatments are tapered off so the greatest amount of symptom-free time elapses between them.