Acupuncture for dogs is one of many holistic dog care treatments that can be used alongside
conventional veterinary medicine for a variety of pet health problems.
Acupuncture is an ancient art that has been helping animals for thousands of years.
Historians have found evidence that Indians would treat elephants with acupuncture over 3000
years ago. The use of acupuncture for dogs today is common and can help your canine friend
treat problems including anxiety, arthritis and even epilepsy.
Acupuncture is also used in
surgery to lessen bleeding and can help maintain a steady depth of anesthesia. Not all
treatments will work in every dog and not every dog is a good candidate for acupuncture.
The first step is to talk to your veterinarian about what treatments are right for your pet.
Dogs with anxiety issues can benefit greatly from acupuncture. An anxious dog can become
destructive and aggressive so finding drug-free ways to calm your pet can be very
important. Most holistic veterinarians offices are set up with your pet’s relaxation in
mind. They usually schedule fewer clients coming in at one time, resulting in a less stressful
waiting room.
The use of aromatherapy together with
pet music is often used to further induce
calming feelings as your dog enters the office.
Owners are encouraged to remain with their
dogs during the treatments, usually lasting about
10-15 minutes, in order to reduce anxiety
due to separation. The calming effects of acupuncture
can last from days to weeks and will
usually improve with each treatment.
Acupuncture For Dogs With Arthritis
Treatment sessions for arthritic dogs usually take longer and may continue for up to 20
minutes. The effects from each treatment will usually last a few days and some dogs will be treated weekly.
Before beginning treatments for arthritis, talk to your veterinarian about any medications your dog is
taking to help the pain. Not all dogs taking steroids are good candidates for canine acupuncture so it is
important to keep your doctor informed. As dogs get older, arthritis can be debilitating
and the use of acupuncture can help to keep your pet comfortable, improving the quality of
life your dog has.
Acupuncture For Dogs With Epilepsy
Epilepsy in dogs is traditionally treated medically usually with Phenobarbital, but the
use of medications may not always be enough. Canines with Epilepsy dogs also have the option of trying
acupuncture.
Gold bead implants are a form of permanent acupuncture that can greatly
decrease the frequency of seizures. It has been shown that some of the pets receiving gold
bead implants will not only quit having seizures but will also be able to discontinue
medications as well.
Those pets that continue medications will usually be on reduced doses.
Of course, not every dog will benefit from gold bead implants, but many dogs will begin
living seizure free lives as a result of this treatment.
Acupuncture For Dogs - Become Informed
Quite a few dog health
problems are treatable with alternative holistic remedies such as
acupuncture, but some will need a vet's mainstream approach, or a combination of both.
The important thing is to learn about the available options so that you can select
the best remedy for your pet!
When you are considering acupuncture for your dog, it is important to discuss problems you would
like addressed and also the
outcomes you expect. You should also let your vet know
about any medications your dog is currently taking that may have a bearing on treatment options.
This information will help your vet select a treatment that is best for your pet and can
also help you to understand what you can and should expect after each treatment session.
Thousands of years of acupuncture history has been written about the benefits of this
ancient art and thanks to holistic veterinarians, thousands more years will be written.
Selecting A Vet
We recommend that every dog owner to select a both a mainstream vet as well as one that
practices holistic pet medicine, before getting a dog.
Here are sources for finding a vet, as well as finding out if their services include acupuncture
for dogs
: the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) aahanet.org, and The American
Holistic Veterinary Medical Association ahvma.org. Some vets are well-versed in both
approaches which is reassuring when you need advice on important dog health problems.
pet music
