ACUPUNCTURE

ACUPUNCTURE FOR ANIMALS Needles Work Wonders on Pets

by Julie Peterson

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Needlesmakemostpetparents cringe,butthoseusedforacupuncturedon’thurtanimals, theyhelp. Theyarewhattraditional Chineseveterinarymedicinehasused forthousandsofyearstoenhanceblood circulation,balancethenervoussystem andpromotereleaseofpain-relieving hormonesinanimalsrangingfromrabbitstohorses. “It’saholisticapproachthatpinpoints theissues,unlikemedicinesthatmustgo throughtheentirebody,”saysC.J.Schnier, coachfortheUniversityofWisconsin women’spoloteam.Thefivethoroughbreds andaquarterhorseonherVerona,Wisconsin,farmhaveastandingappointment everythreeweekswithaveterinarianthat performsacupuncturefortheirinjuries, arthritis,colicandimmunesystems. SincethefoundingoftheBoulder, Colorado-basedInternationalVeterinary AcupunctureSocietyin1974,thenumber ofcertifiedanimalacupuncturistshas grownfrom80toabout1,800,makingthe specialtymoreaccessibleworldwide.

Treating the Ark Beyondtheusualfour-leggedfriends, acupuncturehelpsanimalssuchasreptiles, rabbitsandlivestockasacomplementto Westernmedicineorotherbodywork toalleviatepainandspeedrecovery.“All animalscanhaveacupuncture,”says veterinarianCarolJeanTillman,ofthe AnimalKingdomVeterinaryHospital,in LasVegas.Sheusesacupuncturefordogs andcatswithmusculoskeletalconditions suchaslamenessduetoinjuries,arthritis andparalysis,andalsofindsithelpfulfor allergies,immunesystemproblemsand digestiveissues. A2016reviewofveterinaryacupunctureclinicaltrialspublishedinthe American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicineconcludedthatit wassafeandeffectiveintreatingawide rangeofmedicalconditionslikecanine hipdysplasia,painfromosteoarthritisand surgery,intervertebraldiscdisease,seizure disorders,vomiting,inflammatorybowel disease,cardiacandrespiratoryproblems, anddepressionandanxiety.

The Many Methods Dryneedleacupunctureiswhatmostpeoplerecognize—the useofthin,solid,metallicneedlesinsertedintospecificmeridianacupointsonabody. Thereisalsoaquapuncture,that involvesinjectionofaliquid,suchasdilutedvitaminB 12 ,into anacupointtorelievemusclepainanddiscomfort. Moxibustionisatechniqueusedforjointstiffnessorallergiesinwhich aheatedChineseherbalcompoundisappliedtoorheldover acupoints. Electrostimulation,sendinganelectricalcurrent throughpairsofinsertedneedles,takeslesstimeandcreates longer-lastingeffects. “Electrostimulationisveryeffectivefortreatingneurological conditionssuchasradialnerveparalysis,facialnerveparalysis, discdiseaseandanyconditionthatrequiresstrongstimulation,”saysveterinarianBernadetteAleksey,attheAdorablePets VeterinaryCenter,inHaddam,Connecticut.Sheregularlytreats dogs,catsandhorsesforarthritis,neckandbackpain,aswellas neurologicalandgastrointestinalproblems. Resultssimilartoacupuncturecanbeobtainedwithout usingneedles.Acupressureusinghands,cuppingtherapyusing specialcupsorcoollaserstimulationusinglowlevelsoflightcan stimulatehard-to-reachacupointsorworkforanimalsthataretoo restlessforneedles.“Dependingontheseverityofthecondition, acupuncturetreatmentcouldberecommendeddailyforseveral days,thenspacedouttoeveryweek,thenas-neededoroncea month,”saysTillman. Preciseplacementoftinyneedlesintoanailingdogoramassivehorseseemsfraughtwithrisk,buttheanimalsonlyneedtobe gentlyrestrainedandpliedwithtreatsduringthefirsttreatment. Theygenerallyrelaxquietlyforsubsequenttreatments. EvenSienna,Schnier’stypicallyreactivethoroughbredmare, standsstillforacupuncturearoundaswolleneye.“Sheknowsit’s beingdonetohelpher,”Schniersays.Andher17-year-oldcat heldstillfortinyneedlesplacedinthesinusareasthathelpedit breathebetter. Inaclinicalsetting,petsmaybemoreapprehensive,but thereareworkaroundssuchaslasersoraquapuncture.“We providearelaxingenvironment.Thelightingisdimmed,weplay relaxingmusicandtreatsareencouraged,”saysAleksey. Petparentscansearchforacertifiedveterinaryacupuncturistativas.org/vets. It’s a holistic approach that pinpoints the issues, unlike medicines that must go through the entire body. ~C.J. Schnier PROOF

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