Did you know that acupuncture is becoming more and more popular in the veterinary world? This ancient practice has helped people deal with pain and injuries for thousands of years, but it’s now also being used to help our furry friends. Read on as a Frisco, TX veterinarian discusses acupuncture for pets.

Basics

As you may know, acupuncture is based around the use of thin needles. These needles are inserted into the body at specific points, which are typically nerve centers. Traditionally, this was thought to manipulate energy fields in the body. To look at it from a more clinical point of view, studies indicate that the needles stimulate the release of beneficial hormones that relieve pain and reduce inflammation. It can also improve circulation, which can help with the removal of metabolic wastes and toxins, and promote healing.

Painless Procedure

Although it may not sound pleasant to have needles inserted into your skin, because the needles used in acupuncture are so thin, the process is actually painless. In facts, many pets visibly relax while undergoing treatment. Some of our furry patients even fall asleep!

Conditions Acupuncture Can Help With

Acupuncture is becoming more and more widely used to reduce pain and improve mobility in our furry friends. The practice can also help treat a wide variety of ailments in pets, including bone/joint issues, circulation problems, gastro-intestinal issues, liver and kidney trouble, reproductive issues, and mobility problems. Many pet owners report seeing marked improvements in their pets after treatment.

Other Benefits

Because acupuncture does not use chemicals or medicine, the treatments can be repeated as often as necessary. The practice is also quite safe: side effects or complications are extremely rare. Another great thing about acupuncture is that it does not require any recovery time, though your furry friend may be a bit sleepy after a session. Acupuncture can also be used very effectively in conjunction with traditional veterinary procedures and therapies. However, this doesn’t mean that acupuncture is necessarily the right course to take for every pet. Treatment options, including acupuncture, should always be discussed on a case-by-case basis, after a diagnosis has been made. Talk to your vet for more specific advice and recommendations. If you have any questions about pet acupuncture, please don’t hesitate to contact us. As your Frisco, TX animal clinic, we are here to serve all your pet’s veterinary care needs.