Acupuncture and Your Pet

By Patricia Zook DVM, CVA
Loving Touch Animal Center
Stone Mountain, GA

Veterinary Acupuncturists use Acupuncture to promote balance in the animal's total energy system, and to promote the body's ability to heal.

The ancient theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) describe the body as having a network of energy channels, called Meridians.  Meridians conduct the flow of Qi.  Qi is the body's sustaining energy force. Qi regulates bodily functions by flowing to and through all parts of the physical body. When Qi flows in a smooth harmonious manner, health is the result.  The flow of Qi can be disrupted by many things, including: chronic injury, sudden trauma, environmental factors, poor or inappropriate nutrition, inadequate exercise or overexertion, insufficient rest, genetic weakness. When the flow of Qi is disrupted, imbalance occurs, and disease may result.

Acupuncture helps to reset the energy system 'circuit board' by balancing the flow of Qi within the body.  Fine needles are inserted into specific points of the body.  These acupuncture points influence the flow of Qi.  Acupuncture points can be stimulated by fine needles (acupuncture), sterile solutions (Aquapuncture), electrical stimulation (electro stimulation), heat or laser light.  The technique that the Veterinary Acupuncturist will use will vary according to both the type of disruption and the individual animal.  Excesses or deficiencies of Qi from inappropriate diet, exercise, sleep etc., may be addressed by herbal, dietary, and physical therapies.

As Acupuncture has become more widely used in Conventional Western Veterinary Medicine, its benefits have been translated into more Conventional Western Veterinary language.  Acupuncture has been shown to:

• Provide generalized oxygenation and increased blood flow to specific areas of treatment
• Aid in the production of endogenous cortisone and other anti-inflammatory secretions
• Release the internal production of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers
• Stimulate immunity by increasing white blood cell count and antibody production.

Acupuncture also appears to inhibit pain and to increase cardiac output, as well as to stimulate bone healing, and suppression of the cough reflex.

Acupuncture can be the only method of choice, or it may be combined with other treatment modalities such as chiropractic, homeopathy, herbal or nutritional support. Acupuncture may also be combined with more conventional western treatment modalities to enhance the body's response to the treatment.

During an Acupuncture Treatment, most of our patients will lie down and take a nap while their owners hold them.  Most animals exhibit little or no pain or discomfort. A few animals who have a very high anxiety level or who have an extreme fear reaction to being confined in a veterinary office, require more coaxing to be still. It is only in extraordinary circumstances that more restraint of the animal is necessary.  The Acupuncture treatment may last ten seconds to thirty minutes; the average length of treatment is ten minutes.

While acupuncture works harmoniously with most other forms of treatment, certain drugs can significantly alter the effects of acupuncture.  It is imperative that you inform your pet's Veterinary Acupuncturist of all supplements and medications that the animal is taking, so that the appropriate adjustments to treatment can be made.

If your Veterinarian is not a Veterinary Acupuncturist, you don’t need to change Veterinarians.  Most Veterinary Acupuncturists can work with your regular Veterinarian.

Does Your Pet Need Acupuncture?

Veterinary Acupuncture may be used to improve or help with a wide variety of conditions.  In many cases Acupuncture gives positive results with musculo-skeletal conditions, including the following:

• Chronic Degenerative Joint Disease (Arthritis)
• Hip Dysplasia
• Some cases of Tendonitis or Sprains

In some cases, Acupuncture may benefit animals with the following:

• Neurological Seizure Disorders
• Intervertebral Disc Disease
• Peripheral Nerve Paralysis
• Vestibular Syndrome
• Epilepsy
• Stroke

When used  in conjunction with Chinese Herbal Formulations, Acupuncture is sometimes beneficial for animals with the following:

• Bronchial Asthma
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Megacolon
• Esophogeal Hypomotility

Consult your Veterinary Acupuncturist for more information and to find out whether Acupuncture may benefit your pet.

Dr. Zook received her degree in Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M in 1974, and her certification in Veterinary Acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 1977. She has worked at Loving Touch Animal Center in Stone Mountain, GA since 1993.  Dr. Zook is highly regarded for her knowledge of both conventional western veterinary medicine, and also of acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal remedies and nutritional supplements. Contact at Loving Touch Animal Center 770-498-5956.