Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine treatment that has been around for thousands of years. It uses needles to stimulate points on the body. That stimulus travels along the meridian to different areas of the body restoring balance and helping the body to heal. It is most often used to help with pain and neurologic weakness.
Dr Lee is certified in veterinary acupuncture and is available to discuss treatment options. We will schedule the first visit for an hour, at which time Dr Lee will perform a traditional Chinese veterinary medicine exam as well as an orthopedic and neurologic exam. She will then have a good understanding of your pet’s condition and make a treatment plan that may include other modalities like cold laser therapy, physical therapy and massage. Subsequent visits with Dr Lee are generally scheduled for 30 minutes. Dr Lee is available for acupuncture on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
Is acupuncture right for my dog?
Most dogs tolerate the needles very well. Occasionally, a pet may be too nervous to continue with treatment or the treatment will need to be shortened in duration. Dr Lee closely monitors a pet’s reaction to the treatment and will make recommendations accordingly. Rarely, a pet may have a condition that Acupuncture is contraindicated for. Please discuss all medical conditions, past and present, with Dr Lee at your first appointment.
Does Acupuncture work?
A study published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal in 2017 reported that “use of acupuncture alone or in combination with analgesics reduced pain and improved quality of life in dogs with musculoskeletal or neurologic diseases. Perhaps more telling than that is the successful treatment of humans that has spanned thousands of years.
Acupuncture can be helpful in treating the following ailments.
- Arthritis / Degenerative Joint Disease
- Neurologic Disease
- Gastrointestinal Disease
- Skin Disease
- Respiratory Disease
- Cardiac Disease
- Renal Disease
- Cancer