What is Veterinary Acupuncture & Can It Help Your Dog?

Acupuncture originated in China and has been practiced for thousands of years. It is one of the safest therapies available. It can be used along with other treatment methods and acts in a complementary fashion. The procedure involves the stimulation of very specific points on the body. There are many ways to achieve stimulation; including the insertion of very thin needles at these points, heat (moxabustion), electrical stimulation (electroacupuncture) and the injection of solutions (aquapuncture), or a combination of these various techniques. It helps to maintain the flow of energy (Qi), relieving areas of stagnation and unbalance. Acupuncture may help to restore the balance and allow the body to heal.

Acupuncture is not painful and your pet may only feel the needle as it goes through the skin for a second, if at all. This is referred to as the “deqi” response and is a signal that is strived for as it confirms that the acupuncture point was stimulated at the optimal position. Treatment time and lengths vary dependent upon the patient’s needs and the response to treatment can also vary. Usually at least 3 treatments are required to be able to assess if acupuncture is the appropriate therapy for your pets’ condition. Dr. Selmer will customize the treatment schedule based on your pet’s needs.

Before performing acupuncture on your pet, Dr. Selmer will ask you to bring your pet in for a consultation where he will conduct a complete physical examination and discuss your pets medical history. This will be accomplished to help determine if this complementary therapy is the right choice for you and your pet.

Here are just some of the conditions that respond to Acupuncture:

• Pain
• Hip Dysplasia
• Limping
• Seizures
• Diarrhea and Vomiting
• Allergies
• Itching and Scratching
• Behavioral problems
• Heart Failure and Heart Murmurs
• Kidney Disease
• Liver Disease
• Cancer
• And many many more…..

If you are interested in acupuncture for your pet please email [email protected] and put in the subject line Acupuncture Case.

To learn more about Dr. Selmer and the Advanced Animal Care Center you can visit our website at www.advancedcareforpets.com or like our page on Facebook at The Caring Vet (www.facebook.com/TheCaringVet) or call us at 631-FOR-PETS (367-7387).