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News March 2015 Acupuncture for Our Pets by Laura Binnie BVM&S, BSc, MRCVS The ancient art of acupuncture has been practiced for over 3000 years but is only recently becoming a much more accepted treatment option for our pets with chronic pain and other ailments. It can be used to minimise or even eliminate the animal’s need for pain relief and other medications, and importantly, their side effects. The act of acupuncture involves inserting a very fine, non-traumatic needle into predetermined acupuncture points and trigger points (‘knots’ in muscles that cause pain and are the result of tension or injury). This tricks the animal’s brain into preparing itself for some pain and trauma, when no trauma ensues and hence no pain is felt, this resets the pain level back to an acceptable intensity. This new stimulus out- competes with the ongoing chronic pain and can stop the brain recognising it as ‘pain’. In addition, ‘feel-good’ hormones are released by the animal’s central nervous system and these result in a feeling of well-being. We are running acupuncture clinics at Paragon for all dogs, cats and rabbits, and for those suffering from conditions such as chronic arthritis, non-healing wounds, lick granulomas and allergies. One of my favourite success stories is about an elderly Border Collie called Meg; she has had bad luck with her hips over the years and now suffers from chronic arthritis. Previously she has had her pain managed by anti inflammatory drugs and tramadol. This medication combination upset her gut and made her very drowsy. Since having her acupuncture sessions, which she pulls her owner into the building to attend, she is a lively and happy dog, and better still, she needs very little additional pain relief.
Contact us: PARAGON VETERINARY CENTRE Carlisle House, Townhead Road, Dalston,Carlisle, CA5 7JF Tel: 01228 710208 vets@paragonvet.com TOWNHEAD VETERINARY CENTRE Newbiggin, Stainton, Penrith, CA11 0HT Tel: 01768 483789 townhead@paragonvet.com LONDON ROAD SURGERY 87 London Road, Carlisle, CA1 2LG Tel: 01228 591005 pethealthcentre@paragonvet.com
For the month of March 2015 Paragon are offering an acupuncture ‘package’ discount, if you buy five sessions you’ll get one free. The first session will consist of our vet Laura Binnie taking a full clinical history, performing a full physical examination, filling out a questionnaire and the acupuncture session, it usually lasts 45 minutes. Subsequent sessions are shorter, lasting about 30 minutes.
PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP ONLINE Visit us at www.paragonvet.com or ‘like’ us on our facebook page www.facebook.com/ParagonVets.Pets
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