As a pet parent, it is only natural to obsess over your dog's health and seek out the most effective and appropriate care for it. Sometimes during the search for exceptional care, you may come across treatments, procedures, or styles of veterinary care that you aren't familiar with—and veterinary acupuncture is likely one of them.
While the practice of acupuncture has been around for thousands of years, only more recently have scientific studies been conducted to outline the specific biological effects and measurable clinical benefits of acupuncture. This has led to the practices of acupuncture being more commonly translated to commercial veterinary service offerings, like what we do at Evendale-Blue Ash Pet Hospital.
As an experienced veterinarian certified in veterinary acupuncture by the Chi Institute, I'm here to guide you through understanding what veterinary acupuncture is, the benefits it offers, and a few signs that can help you determine if acupuncture may be right for your dog. Let's get started.
What Is Veterinary Acupuncture? And How Does It Help?
Understanding what veterinary acupuncture is and isn't is crucial to developing the foundational knowledge of the practice that will help you determine whether or not it's something you should talk to your veterinarian about as a potential treatment option or regular addition to your dog's wellness plan.
Veterinary acupuncture is essentially a form of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TVCM) that involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on an animal's body known as acupuncture points, which are located along meridians, or energy channels, that are believed to correspond to different organs and systems within the body. When an experienced veterinarian stimulates these points through acupuncture, they are working to restore balance and amplify the function of the body's natural healing processes and mechanisms. If the thought of your dog being pricked with needles has you feeling worried, rest assured that acupuncture is in no way painful for animals. The precision of acupuncture leaves it virtually painless and feeling more akin to a small mosquito or bug bite.
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There are a few different types of acupuncture that can be performed, including manual acupuncture or "dry needling" (DN), aquapuncture, moxibustion, and electroacupuncture (EA), among others, so it's always best to thoroughly discuss any type of acupuncture procedure with your veterinarian beforehand so you know exactly what to expect for your dog.
Acupuncture helps in a number of ways that center around the promotion of natural healing within an animal's body. A few benefits or outcomes of veterinary acupuncture include:
- Pain Relief: Acupuncture is a great option for providing pain relief to animals after surgical procedures or for those who suffer from chronic conditions. Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins and other natural pain-relieving substances, providing relief from chronic pain and discomfort.
- Improved Circulation: Because of the strategic stimulation of certain points throughout the body, acupuncture promotes better blood circulation, which aids in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs, facilitating healing and reducing inflammation.
- Regulation of the Nervous System: Acupuncture regulates the body's nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing stress and anxiety. A study on acupuncture in humans reports that "acupuncture can control autonomic nerve system (ANS) functions including blood pressure, pupil size, skin conductance, skin temperature, muscle sympathetic nerve activities, heart rate and/or pulse rate, and heart rate variability."
- Enhanced Healing: By supporting the body's own natural healing processes, acupuncture for animals can accelerate recovery from injuries, surgeries, and assorted chronic health conditions.
If you have questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (513) 563-0410, or you can email us at info@ebapethospital.com. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram.