Does your dog suffer from chronic pain? Do they have nerve pain or allergies they can’t seem to shake? Dog acupuncture may be able to offer your dog some relief from their ailments.
This post will look at what dog acupuncture is, conditions it may be able to help treat, the benefits of having your dog get treatments, side effects they may experience, and how to determine if it is right for your dog.
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Disclaimer: This post is meant to be informative and should not be taken as medical advice. Talk to your veterinarian regarding any health concerns you may have for your dog.
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that helps to balance the flow of energy or Qi in the body. To balance this “life force”, very thin needles are inserted into the skin at specific points along the paths that the Qi flows through.
What Is Dog Acupuncture?
Dog acupuncture uses the same techniques as human acupuncture. Thin needles are inserted into the skin to help your dog with various medical conditions.
Veterinary Acupuncturists usually fall into one of two types, those that follow traditional Chinese medicine or those that follow western beliefs.
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine follows the belief that energy or Qi flows through the body. When this energy becomes unbalanced, illness can result. Using acupuncture, the Qi can become balanced, thereby reducing symptoms of the illness. This type of acupuncture treats the patient as a whole, rather than just treat their symptoms.
Veterinary Medical Acupuncture
Veterinary Medical Acupuncture follows a scientific approach that is based on research that shows the biological and clinical benefits of acupuncture.
What Conditions Can Dog Acupuncture Treat?
There are a variety of conditions or symptoms your dog may have that can be helped with this treatment. These include:
- Chronic pain.
- Arthritis.
- Allergies.
- Inflammation.
- Symptoms from various medical conditions such as:
- Hip dysplasia.
- Intervertebral disc disease.
- Nerve pain.
- Back pain.
- Spinal cord issues.
- Side effects of cancer treatment such as:
- Nausea.
- Decreased appetite.
- Diabetes.
- Liver failure.
- Cushing’s Disease.
- Addison’s Disease.
This treatment is best used for chronic conditions rather than acute ones.
Does Acupuncture Actually Work For Dogs?
Yes! It can provide your dog with relief of symptoms they may be experiencing from various medical conditions.
If you decide to get this treatment for your dog, discuss with your veterinarian how it can work together with your dog’s current treatment, as acupuncture coupled with your dog’s medical treatment can yield more favorable results.
It is also important to note that acupuncture will not cure your dog but can help give them relief from various symptoms they may be experiencing due to their medical condition.
What Are The Benefits For Dogs?
Acupuncture can provide your dog with a decrease in symptoms they may be experiencing. Treatment:
- Improves blood flow/circulation.
- Relaxes muscles.
- Relieves pain.
- Can provide anti-inflammatory benefits.
- Calms and reduces anxiety by stimulating the release of endorphins in their body.
- Improves metabolic and toxic waste removal from body
- Lowers the need for prescription medication because acupuncture triggers the release of natural opioids in the body.
According to a study published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal, “acupuncture alone or in combination with analgesics reduced pain and improved quality of life in dogs with neurological and musculoskeletal diseases”.
How Long Is A Treatment?
The length of your dog’s treatment can vary but generally lasts 20-30 minutes.
How Long Does It Take To See Results?
Your dog may need to have several treatments before they experience any relief of symptoms. This is what is known as a cumulative effect of treatment. Each treatment will benefit from the treatments given before it.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Acupuncture is considered a low risk treatment for your dog because it does not produce any systemic side effects that are harmful to them. For example, if your dog takes pain medication, a side effect could be nausea or vomiting. This would be a systemic effect of that medication.
It does not affect internal organs the way medications can.
During a treatment, your dog may become very relaxed or fall asleep.
After a treatment, your dog may seem tired.
There may also be some mild bleeding where the needles were placed.
Is Acupuncture Right For My Dog?
To determine if this treatment is right for your dog, talk to your veterinarian. They can discuss with you whether your dog’s symptoms can be treated with it and if they would receive any benefit from using it.
Who Is It NOT Good For?
While this treatment can offer various benefits for most dogs, it is not good for dogs that have a bleeding disorder or dogs that have certain types of cancer.
It is also not good for dogs that dislike needles. For these dogs, acupressure would be better. This is when finger pressure is used instead of needles.
Dog acupuncture, as mentioned above, is best for chronic conditions and not for dogs that have acute ones.
Where Should I Look For More Information?
To find out more information about dog acupuncture or to find a dog acupuncturist in your area, check out the American Academy Of Veterinary Acupuncturists, the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, or Curacore.org.
Dog acupuncture is a great complementary treatment to help your dog find relief from chronic conditions or side effects from treatments they may be receiving for other conditions. Talk to your veterinarian to determine if your dog can benefit from acupuncture and to help you find a dog acupuncturist in your area.
Please check out our other posts on Health, Indoor, Outdoor, and Travel accessories for your dog, as well as Reviews of various products and travel destinations.