Veterinary acupuncture

Where conventional and holistic medicine meet

BY: TIFFANY DITTO

Staff writer

Acupuncture is a growing trend in veterinary medicine, with an increasing number of owners turning to its broad spectrum healing powers to treat their fur baby's ailments.

"Texas Dog Magazine" had the pleasure of talking with Dr. Elizabeth O'Connor Black, DVM, CVA, about the benefits of acupuncture on your pet's health.

1. How did you get into veterinary acupuncture, and how did you become certified todo acupuncture?

"I was introduced to acupuncture very briefly during veterinary school. When I graduated, the clinic I went to work for encouraged each veterinarian to specialize in something that wasn't being done at the clinic, or in the area, and acupuncture fit that description. I became certified through the international veterinary acupuncture society.

"I spent 1 week a month for 5 months learning the principles of acupuncture and practicing the hands on techniques. At the end of the course there was an exam. After you passed the exam you had to then submit 10 case reports, and 1 larger case study in order to obtain the final certification. Veterinarians certified in acupuncture are called certified veterinary acupuncturist and have the letters CVA behind their DVM."

2. What are the benefits of acupuncture?

"Acupuncture has a lot of benefits. It works on many different disease processes and has little to no side effects. Acupuncture can be used in addition to medications or other therapies that are being used, or can be used alone."

3. How long have you been doing acupuncture?

"I have been doing acupuncture for about 4 years."

4. What patients are good candidates for acupuncture?

"Pets with arthritis are great candidates for acupuncture. Acupuncture can help to modulate pain and decrease inflammation. Young dogs with dysplastic elbows and hips respond well and it can help decrease or eliminate the amount of medications they are taking. The same goes for older dogs with arthritis as well. Dogs with back injuries such as bulging discs can benefit greatly from acupuncture as well, and acupuncture can sometimes be an alternative to surgery. Acupuncture can be used to help with gastrointestinal diseases, kidney disease, respiratory disease, and palliative care for cancer patients.

"Acupuncture is also helpful for healing post operatively, especially from orthopedic procedures. Acupuncture helps the body?s ability to heal itself, which is why it works well after surgery."

5. Do you only do acupuncture on companion animals, or do you also do large animals like horses?

"Horses are actually excellent candidates for acupuncture and respond very well. You can do acupuncture on any animal. I have heard of people doing it on birds, cattle and aquatic mammals."

6. Is it painful for the animal when the needle is inserted?

"Most of the time needed insertion is not painful. However, every animal is different and some animals tolerate it better than others, or tolerate certain points on the body better than others. In the case of dogs with acute back injuries, sometimes the muscles are in spasm and it can be sensitive when a needle is inserted, but the needle placement can really facilitate the muscle relaxing."

7. What is your favorite thing about doing acupuncture?

"I really like that acupuncture can provide relief to pets in situations where modern medicine can not. In some situations, patients have concurrent disease conditions, which prevent certain medications from being used. In those situations veterinarians and owners have to pick which disease they treat. Acupuncture can treat multiple diseases at once."

Dr. Elizabeth O'Connor Black performs acupuncture on her Labrador Retriever, Bear.

Photo courtesy of North Texas Veterinary Acupuncture and Darby Kate Photography.

Dr. Elizabeth O?Connor Black is a Veterinarian and Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist at Argyle Veterinary Hospital in Argyle, Texas. She is also the owner of North Texas Veterinary Acupuncture ? an in home veterinary acupuncture practice. O?Connor-Black believes in a comprehensive approach to medicine combining both conventional and holistic medicinal approaches.

Twitter: @TiffanyDitto