Small companion animals such as cats and dogs as well as exotic animals are candidates for acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture is the 2,300 year old Traditional Chinese Medical art and science of using very fine needles inserted slightly into specific body points to  stimulate meridians and the flow of Qi, in order to effect healing changes. Acupuncture is known through research in modern times to positively influence immune system function, gastrointestinal function, and internal organ function and give pain relief.  

• Why Acupuncture?

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine practitioners use acupuncture for a large variety of medical problems and diseases including behavioral disorders such as fear, anxiety, depression and anger. Most companion animals readily accept acupuncture treatment. Although some animals experience slight discomfort, the majority of companion animals actually pull their caretakers into my office for re-checks and further treatments. It is as if they have experienced the positive effects of acupuncture and desire another treatment.

• The Benefits of Acupuncture.

Cardiovascular problems such as cardiac arrhythmias and weakness leading to heart failure or obstructive pulmonary disease are amenable to acupuncture treatment. Pulmonary weakness that may lead to exercise intolerance, chronic coughing, frequent upper respiratory tract infections or chronic nasal discharge may be successfully treated with acupuncture. Ocular disorders such as difficult to heal corneal ulcers, chronic conjunctivitis, and eyelid muscle weakness may be helped by acupuncture treatment. Many forms of dental pain, redness, swelling and inflammation may have symptoms greater reduced or relieved by acupuncture. Some forms of chronic ear problems such as external auditory canal and middle ear inflammation may be relieved more rapidly by acupuncture when used concurrently with westernmedications. Acupuncture may be best known for its positive benefit in a large variety of gastrointestinal disorders including inappetance, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation, and bloating. Hepatic disease of both infectious and endogenous origin may be soothed and hepatic  regeneration encouraged with acupuncture treatment. Various forms of renal disease including kidney failure and urinary problems such as inflammation, infection, and urinary leakage may be successfully alleviated and sometimes cured by acupuncture.

Most muscular-skeletal problems including pain, strain/sprain, inflammation, and weakness are amenable to significant benefit from acupuncture. Neurological disorders including paresis, paralysis,and vestibular disease may be resolved more quickly when acupuncture is added to the animal’s western biomedical protocol. 

• How Acupuncture Works.

Acupuncturists diagnose human illness in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) which perceives the human organism and it’s processes as flows of Qi or energy; somewhat like the currents, eddies and swirls in a stream or lake. The major currents are called channels or meridians or in Chinese: jing luo.

Twelve of the channels connect with organs in the trunk. Each of the twelve is named for the organ with which it connects. The organ channels and two other channels which follow the front (Ren channel) and rear (Du channel) midline of the body contain the acupuncture points. The names, locations and usages of the points vary with the specific school or nationality of acupuncture. Proper rate of flow and amount of Qi in the channels is the OM definition of health. The acupuncture points are needled to restore or maintain the flow.

Each of the acupuncture points has specific effects on the different currents and/or organs of the body.