Finding the Balance in Animal Care

By Anita DeLelles, LMT

What Is Acupressure?

Acupressure is a holistic approach based on the time-honored principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used in acupuncture. As a non-invasive alternative, rather than using needles, pressure with the hands and fingers is applied to specific points of the body to stimulate areas that affect various organs and mechanisms of the body. Acupressure often uses a cold laser to energize these points as well. The goal is to rebalance and maintain this equilibrium of energy, or chi, in the body, triggering increases of energy where lacking and conversely, diminishing overabundance of chi and heat where needed. It’s the well-known principle of yin and yang.

TCM identifies several meridians (interconnected channels) throughout the body. Activating specific acupressure points along these meridians can affect muscles locally and other parts of the body systemically. For example, an acupressure point at the hock is on the kidney meridian and activates the kidney organ system.

Acupressure is considered an excellent strategy to manage numerous ailments and can provide relief from many physical and physiological discomforts in the body. It can also help alleviate emotional or stress issues.

What Are the Benefits of Acupressure For Animals?

As a complement to veterinary medicine, acupressure is becoming a popular avenue for the holistic treatment of animals.

Acupressure has been popular among humans for several centuries, but recently, it has emerged as a noninvasive alternative therapy for pets and performance animals. Dogs, cats, and horses experiencing joint problems, allergies, weakened immune systems, and organ dysfunction can all find relief from the practice of acupressure and cold laser therapy. Perhaps more importantly, it can keep your pets happy and healthy when used as a preventative measure by correcting imbalances of energies in the body. Acupressure is a powerful therapy, but it does not replace the need for conventional veterinary medicine. Rather, it is a holistic alternative, like a good diet and aerobic exercise.

It might be surprising to learn the vast array of conditions that can benefit through the application of acupressure. Conditions that involve chronic pain and inflammation are common targets of acupressure treatment with a high degree of effectiveness.

By boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation, increasing circulation, and releasing endorphins, acupressure can assist the animal’s body to heal itself of the following ailments, often without the side effects of medication:

• Allergies

• Arthritis

• Degenerative joint disease

• Metabolic diseases

• Trauma

• Recovery from surgery

Cold laser therapy, or biophotomodulation, is also used to access the acupressure points. Unlike acupuncture, the use of a laser is noninvasive yet highly effective. The cold laser not only activates each point but also provides the cells with the energy needed to perform optimally. It also helps the body release endorphins, increases blood flow, accelerates wound healing, stimulates collagen production, and more! During a cold laser session, your pet benefits from both the attributes of the laser and the corresponding acupoint benefits.

It is easy to see that acupressure is a useful healthcare tool to keep our pets’ bodies in their ideal healthy state and why it’s so valuable for preventive care. Regular sessions of acupressure will maintain balance and keep the health of your beloved animal at its maximum potential.

For more information on health and wellness for your pet, visit woofcenter.com. You can also call them at 435275-4536 or stop by WOOF! Wellness Center & Training Academy at 3199 Santa Clara Drive in Santa Clara, Utah.

About the Author

Anita DeLelles, LMT, Owner, WOOF! Wellness Center

Anita DeLelles, LMT, is a certified equine and small animal acupressure practitioner with accreditation from the Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute and a member of IAAMB. Her Tallgrass training has included two consecutive summers in Bath, England, near where she lived as a child, as well as coursework in Colorado and northern California. Additionally, Anita is certified in animal massage from the Northwest School of Animal Massage as well as human massage in the state of Utah and is a graduate of UNLV. In 2013, Anita and her husband, Ron, opened WOOF! Wellness Center & Training Academy to serve pets and their health-conscious pet parents. WOOF! is dedicated to improving the quality of life for companion and competitive animals through fitness and conditioning, education, and proper nutrition. Anita shares her life with Ron and their overly-pampered cats in Santa Clara, Utah.