Acupuncture FAQs

Acupuncture is the practice of inserting small needles into the skin at specific points along the body. These acupuncture points are located along channels, or meridians, and carry energy or Qi(pronounced ‘chee’) to specific locations for healing properties and various effects. Acupuncture is believed to have originated in China around the Stone Age and has been used in animals for over 3,000 years. Originally developed in the veterinary field to cure the Emperor’s horses of various ailments, acupuncture is now utilized for various conditions across many domestic and exotic animals of all sizes.

Acupuncture is generally thought of as having a place in the management of Acute or Chronic pain and Musculoskeletal disorders such as Arthritis, Muscle atrophy or Degeneration. However, various indications for acupuncture exist in the treatment of many other medical conditions:
  • Arthritis
  • Chronic diseases such as kidney, liver or heart failure
  • Obesity management
  • Allergies
  • Skin allergies
  • Behavioral disorders
  • Endocrine diseases such as Diabetes, Cushing’s or Addison’s disease
  • Seizures and epilepsy
  • Liver disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Incontinence
  • Treatment of various cancers and the side effects of chemotherapy
  • Chronic pain
  • Idiopathic Vestibular Syndrome (“stroke-like” disorder)
  • Neurological conditions such as IBD, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
  • Maintenance of health and decreasing the use of traditional medications for chronic disease

A Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist is a veterinarian or veterinary student nearing completion of their veterinary curriculum, who has completed extensive training in veterinary acupuncture, indications and treatment modalities, as well as the their traditional veterinary training.

Acupuncture is one of the safest forms of medical treatment when administered by an appropriately trained veterinarian. Very few side effects exist with acupuncture. Occasionally, your pet may seem worse for up to 48 hours following a treatment session. Other animals may become sleepy or lethargic for about 24 hours following therapy. These effects are rare, but when they occur, they indicate that physiological changes are occurring and are most often followed by an improvement in the patient’s condition and energy level.

Contraindications to acupuncture may arise regarding electroacupuncture. Certain conditions may prevent the use of this type of therapy. These conditions may include pregnancy, seizure disorders, heart disease, and certain types of tumors. These conditions would include pregnancy, seizure disorders, heart disease and certain types of tumors. If any of these conditions exist in your pet, please inform the acupuncturist so that they may best adjust your pet’s treatment protocol.

For most patients, the insertion of acupuncture needles is virtually painless. For some animals, very mild pain is associated with passing the needle through the skin. In all animals, including humans, once the needles are placed, there should be no pain. Most animals become very relaxed and may even fall asleep. Some sensations can occur, such as tingling, numbness or local contraction of muscles around the needles, but most human patients report a feeling of heaviness and sedation which frequently causes relaxation and comfort for our patients throughout treatment.

Results are frequently noted within minutes to hours following treatment. For some acute conditions such as intervertebral disc disease, nausea, vomiting, fever, or pain, clinical signs can be alleviated as quickly as they appear. For chronic conditions which may take longer to develop, multiple treatment sessions are required to notice small improvements over time.

It is recommended for any condition, that a minimum of 3 treatment sessions be tried before determining if acupuncture will work for your pet. Based on the nature of your pet’s condition and the severity of their clinical signs, treatments may be recommended anywhere from a few times a week to every 2-6 months. Initially, most patients are recommended to return for a recheck exam and treatment every two weeks until improvement in clinical signs is noted. Over time, these sessions are spread out until maintenance appointments every 3-6 months are sufficient. Treatment intensity can be adjusted in order to accommodate schedule availability, finances, and travel schedules.

Acupuncture FAQs

Acupuncture is the practice of inserting small needles into the skin at specific points along the body. These acupuncture points are located along channels, or meridians, and carry energy or Qi(pronounced ‘chee’) to specific locations for healing properties and various effects. Acupuncture is believed to have originated in China around the Stone Age and has been used in animals for over 3,000 years. Originally developed in the veterinary field to cure the Emperor’s horses of various ailments, acupuncture is now utilized for various conditions across many domestic and exotic animals of all sizes.

Acupuncture is generally thought of as having a place in the management of Acute or Chronic pain and Musculoskeletal disorders such as Arthritis, Muscle atrophy or Degeneration. However, various indications for acupuncture exist in the treatment of many other medical conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Chronic diseases such as kidney, liver or heart failure
  • Obesity management
  • Allergies
  • Skin allergies
  • Behavioral disorders
  • Endocrine diseases such as Diabetes, Cushing’s or Addison’s disease
  • Seizures and epilepsy
  • Liver disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Incontinence
  • Treatment of various cancers and the side effects of chemotherapy
  • Chronic pain
  • Idiopathic Vestibular Syndrome (“stroke-like” disorder)
  • Neurological conditions such as IBD, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
  • Maintenance of health and decreasing the use of traditional medications for chronic disease

A Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist is a veterinarian or veterinary student nearing completion of their veterinary curriculum, who has completed extensive training in veterinary acupuncture, indications and treatment modalities, as well as the their traditional veterinary training.

Acupuncture is one of the safest forms of medical treatment when administered by an appropriately trained veterinarian. Very few side effects exist with acupuncture. Occasionally, your pet may seem worse for up to 48 hours following a treatment session. Other animals may become sleepy or lethargic for about 24 hours following therapy. These effects are rare, but when they occur, they indicate that physiological changes are occurring and are most often followed by an improvement in the patient’s condition and energy level.

Contraindications to acupuncture may arise regarding electroacupuncture. Certain conditions may prevent the use of this type of therapy. These conditions may include pregnancy, seizure disorders, heart disease, and certain types of tumors. These conditions would include pregnancy, seizure disorders, heart disease and certain types of tumors. If any of these conditions exist in your pet, please inform the acupuncturist so that they may best adjust your pet’s treatment protocol.

For most patients, the insertion of acupuncture needles is virtually painless. For some animals, very mild pain is associated with passing the needle through the skin. In all animals, including humans, once the needles are placed, there should be no pain. Most animals become very relaxed and may even fall asleep. Some sensations can occur, such as tingling, numbness or local contraction of muscles around the needles, but most human patients report a feeling of heaviness and sedation which frequently causes relaxation and comfort for our patients throughout treatment.

Results are frequently noted within minutes to hours following treatment. For some acute conditions such as intervertebral disc disease, nausea, vomiting, fever, or pain, clinical signs can be alleviated as quickly as they appear. For chronic conditions which may take longer to develop, multiple treatment sessions are required to notice small improvements over time.

It is recommended for any condition, that a minimum of 3 treatment sessions be tried before determining if acupuncture will work for your pet. Based on the nature of your pet’s condition and the severity of their clinical signs, treatments may be recommended anywhere from a few times a week to every 2-6 months. Initially, most patients are recommended to return for a recheck exam and treatment every two weeks until improvement in clinical signs is noted. Over time, these sessions are spread out until maintenance appointments every 3-6 months are sufficient. Treatment intensity can be adjusted in order to accommodate schedule availability, finances, and travel schedules.

Gold Bead Therapy FAQs

  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Spondylosis
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Wobblers Disease
  • Epilepsy (seizures)

Your pet would be placed under sedation and/or anesthesia depending on your individual pet’s needs. Four to six gold beads are placed through large bore needles directly into specific acupuncture points. The number and location of points for placement of gold beads varies based upon your pet’s specific needs.

It varies A LOT! Sometimes we see improvement within 24 hours, while other times it is a progressive improvement over a matter of weeks or months.

Complications are very rare in acupuncture treatment. It is recommended to NOT bathe your pet or allow your pet to get wet (no swimming) for 14 days from the date of the procedure. Antibiotics will be prescribed to your pet for 10-14 days to prevent infection.

Remember that gold beads once implanted, cannot be removed. Your pet may receive radiographs (x-rays) and CT scans. The only contraindication is an MRI.

Additional holistic therapy may be needed such as herbal therapy, ozone, or western therapy to receive the maximum treatment response. Results will vary, and sometimes only partial or no results are seen as with any treatment, western or eastern. We typically expect that if your pet responds to acupuncture or acupressure, they will continue to have the same response with life-long effects.

Gold Bead Therapy FAQs

  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Spondylosis
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Wobblers Disease
  • Epilepsy (seizures)

Your pet would be placed under sedation and/or anesthesia depending on your individual pet’s needs. Four to six gold beads are placed through large bore needles directly into specific acupuncture points. The number and location of points for placement of gold beads varies based upon your pet’s specific needs.

It varies A LOT! Sometimes we see improvement within 24 hours, while other times it is a progressive improvement over a matter of weeks or months.

Complications are very rare in acupuncture treatment. It is recommended to NOT bathe your pet or allow your pet to get wet (no swimming) for 14 days from the date of the procedure. Antibiotics will be prescribed to your pet for 10-14 days to prevent infection.

Remember that gold beads once implanted, cannot be removed. Your pet may receive radiographs (x-rays) and CT scans. The only contraindication is an MRI.

Additional holistic therapy may be needed such as herbal therapy, ozone, or western therapy to receive the maximum treatment response. Results will vary, and sometimes only partial or no results are seen as with any treatment, western or eastern. We typically expect that if your pet responds to acupuncture or acupressure, they will continue to have the same response with life-long effects.