Pet acupuncture is the practice of inserting fine, solid needles into the body to assist in pain relief.
It is believed to function by inhibiting pain signals in the neurological system and promoting the production of more endogenous painkillers by the brain and central nervous system. It is applied in conjunction with other modalities to treat painful ailments.
Pet acupuncture needles stimulate nerves, but they don't hurt in an uncomfortable way. Animals may occasionally react to this feeling as though they are expecting pain, but when it does not materialise, they relax. Throughout the procedure, they frequently grow calm and drowsy and typically tolerate the little needles rather well. When patients return to the office, they frequently seem eager for the next therapy.
This treatment is non-invasive and is carried out in the consulting room without the need for sedation, with most patients accepting the treatment incredibly well.
The therapist will go over treatment plans with you; they may differ based on the problem we are trying to solve.Depending on your pet's health and response, we will determine after four weeks if acupuncture is helping. If so, we will devise a strategy that often entails tapering down the therapy to prolong the desired outcome.
When administered properly, pet acupuncture is quite safe. A veterinary acupuncturist can provide you with advice as there are very few situations in which acupuncture is not appropriate.
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Pet acupuncture may be recommended for your pet for a variety of reasons, the most frequent being discomfort. This often refers to discomfort from arthritis and stresses in the muscles brought on by disc disease and abnormalities in the bony spine. There may be responses to other types of pain.
Following the inspection, many bodily areas will have needles inserted and repeatedly manipulated or stimulated. Unlike medicine, there is no predetermined "dose" for acupuncture; instead, your veterinarian will determine the appropriate amount depending on your pet's reaction both during and after the treatment. They can experience relaxation and drowsiness throughout the procedure.
When pets return home, they frequently sleep through the night. This is encouraging and indicates that your pet will benefit from pet acupuncture. If they don't seem asleep, it doesn't imply they won't respond, so don't worry. It's normal for your pet to be a bit more ecstatic than usual at times; however, keep them calm for the remainder of the day to avoid them going overboard.
If not, continue to care for your pet as usual following the pet acupuncture session. Make any dietary, pharmaceutical, or exercise changes only after consulting your veterinarian.
Three Possible Responses to Treatment:
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They could appear more uncomfortable or rigid. They will become better once again and ought to be better than they were a day or two later. But you have to let your veterinarian know so they can modify the medication for the next time.
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It's possible that you won't get any response. This is always upsetting, but it does not indicate that your pet will not improve; it can just take a little longer or that you were unable to see the full extent of their progress following the initial therapy. It is impossible to predict if they won't react till following the fourth therapy. Not every animal is a "responder" to pet acupuncture.
- There could be an improvement. In the three days following therapy, this might happen at any time. It's possible that the symptoms we're attempting to address will reappear before the next session, but that's okay. The results should persist longer with each consecutive treatment, possibly eliminating the need for more treatments for your pet for a while.
