Acupuncture For Dogs: Everything You Need To Know
Although acupuncture for dogs seems new, the truth is that this medicinal practice started being applied to animals, not humans. Surprising, isn’t it?
Most people know that acupuncture is a traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine practice used for thousands of years. We know that the technique is based on inserting needles at specific points on the body to provide relief and numb certain areas at certain times.
It is important to clarify that this is an alternative therapy, which does not replace veterinary diagnosis and treatment in any case, but it can help to improve the quality of life of the animal, avoiding the pain caused by different pathologies. It is even common to find veterinarians who perform the technique in their own clinics.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture consists of inserting very fine needles, about 0.02 mm in diameter, at specific points on the body. These points are distributed in a series of lines, called meridians, which run through the animal’s entire body.
There are hundreds of dots located on dogs, each corresponding to a specific location and function.
Points are related to different organs, tissues, bones and joints, and their stimulation helps to improve health and combat pain. The treatment of pain is often the main goal of acupuncture for dogs.
Acupuncture points coincide with the path of nerve fibers or areas where nerve endings are concentrated. Its stimulation can release neurotransmitters, such as endorphins, which relieve pain and provide a feeling of well-being. In the long term, in animals with chronic pain, acupuncture is a good option to improve the quality of life.
How is acupuncture for dogs performed?
To start acupuncture treatment, you need to know the dog’s medical history, what his illnesses are, whether he is in pain, what symptoms he has, etc. In the first session, an exhaustive examination of the animal, a thorough exploration, and a series of palpations is performed to assess muscle tone and look for pain points or more sensitive areas.
The number of sessions in each case is different depending on the disease and the animal’s health status. In acupuncture, there are different techniques, such as electroacupuncture, in which a small electrical current is applied to needles inserted into the points.
Acupuncture for dogs is a painless technique and does not require anesthesia. In fact, animals tend to relax a lot during sessions, which usually last an hour or two.
Acupuncture Results
Acupuncture has been shown to “modify” chronic pain caused by certain diseases, and helps to combat problems in the locomotor system that appear with age. It is a technique widely used in rehabilitation to treat mobility problems. Some of the most common applications of acupuncture in dogs are:
- Allergy
- Infertility
- Aggressiveness
- Disc hernias
- Paralysis or paresis
- kidney problems
- hip dysplasia
- locomotion problems
- Arthritis, arthrosis and rheumatism
- Pain of undefined origin
- dermatological problems
- Chronic and acute gastroenteritis
- Spinal disorders
In the case of acute problems, few sessions are needed to be able to observe the effects ; however, in the case of patients with chronic diseases or cancer, a greater number of sessions is needed. It is even recommended to perform them periodically to increase the quality of life of these animals.
Acupuncture does not only exist for dogs, it can also be applied to other animal species, such as cats, rabbits, ferrets, horses or wild animals with some disease. It is essential to always seek a specialized veterinary professional to carry out the practice.
