• Hydrotherapy With Underwater Treadmill
• Chiropractic Care
• Take Home Physical Therapy Exercises

What is it?

Acupuncture may be defined as the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to produce a desired healing effect. This technique has been used in veterinary practice in China for at least 3000 years. Acupuncture is used all over the world, either by itself or in conjunction with Western medicine.

For which conditions is it indicated?

Pain

Musculoskeletal: arthritis, spinal disc pathology, hip dysplasia, cauda equina syndrome, stifle (knee) disorders

Skin: lick granuloma, allergies, demodectic mange

Respiratory: feline asthma, chronic upper respiratory problems, chronic bronchitis

Gastrointestinal: chronic diarrhea, constipation, gingivitis

Neurologic: paralysis, paresis, seizures

Immune System disorders

Geriatric conditions: senility, stroke

Sports Injuries

Injury prevention

General Well Being

Behavior Issues

How does it work?

According to Ancient Chinese Medical philosophy, disease is the result of imbalance of energy within the body. Acupuncture is believed to balance this energy and thereby assist the body to heal disease.

In less philosophical terms, acupuncture can help the body 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. Chemical mediators such as endorphins (a pain control chemical) and cortisol (a natural steroid) can be affected. Many of acupuncture’s physiological effects are still unknown. Further research is ongoing to discover all of acupuncture’s effects and proper uses in veterinary medicine.

Is it safe for animals?

Acupuncture is one of the safest forms of medical treatment for your animal when properly administered by a licensed trained veterinarian.

Is it painful?

The insertion of acupuncture needles is usually painless. Nevertheless, treatment may cause some sensation, presumed to be those of tingles which are described by humans and which may cause an animal to show a reaction. Most animals become very relaxed and may even become sleepy!

How frequent are the treatments and how long do they last?

The length and frequency of acupuncture treatments depends on the condition of the patient and the method of stimulation. Stimulation of an individual point may last as little as 10 seconds or as long as 20 minutes. Multiple treatments usually begin intensively and are then tapered to allow the greatest amount of symptom free time between treatments. Patients often start with 1-3 treatments weekly for several weeks and then taper. A positive response is usually seen after the fourth treatment.

What about the day of treatment?

You are encouraged to be with your pet during treatment. Do not bathe your animal. Do not feed 1 hour prior to treatment. Do not exercise heavily 2 hours prior to treatment. Long hair coats are not a problem unless they are matted. We will not cut any hair.