RAINBOW BRIDGE VETERINARY SERVICES
What Is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the insertion of extremely fine, solid needles into the body for supplemental treatment of pain and a variety of medical conditions.
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How does acupuncture work?
When placed in strategic points, the needles block transmission of pain signals and encourage the brain and central nervous system to produce more of the body’s natural painkillers. In some conditions, acupuncture may help to reset the body’s normal functioning.​
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Is it painful for my pet?
Acupuncture needles can cause a mild, very short lived discomfort when inserted, but do not cause the type of persistent, unpleasant type of pain that is caused by their disease. Sometimes animals may react to this sensation as though they are expecting pain, but then relax because it does not occur. Most of the time they accept the fine needles very well and often become relaxed and sleepy during the treatment. Some even seem to look forward to the next treatment.
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Will my pet need to be sedated for this treatment?
It is uncommon for animals to need to be sedated. This would only usually happen if they were so painful that any touch or stimulus causes them to be painful. Perhaps surprisingly, cats and rabbits often accept acupuncture treatment very well.​
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How often should my pet be treated?
For most pets, the initial treatment schedule is once a week for 4 weeks. At the end of this initial treatment period, we will know whether acupuncture is working well for your pet. Then, depending on the condition and how they have responded, we will formulate a plan that usually involves gradually extending the treatment interval.​
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Is acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture is very safe, in the right hands. Legally, it must be performed by a veterinary surgeon. There have been no official reports of problems in animals, but there are some in humans and these can usually be avoided with care and a good knowledge of anatomy. There are a very few cases in which we would have to be very cautious about using acupuncture, but we will advise you of these.
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What kinds of conditions are treated with acupuncture?
Pain is the most common indication for acupuncture. Most often arthritic pain, but also pain related to muscle strains, disc disease, ligament injuries, ear infections, and wounds. Other kinds of pain may also respond. Functional conditions such as constipation in cats and dry eye in dogs may also respond.​
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What can I expect during treatment?
After examination, needles will be put into various parts of the body according to their degree of pain and tolerance to treatment. The needles may be inserted and immediately removed, left in place for up to 15 minutes, and/or moved or stimulated a few times before removal. There is not a set “dose” of acupuncture as there is for medication, so your vet will judge how much to do based on your pet’s response both during and after treatment. Some pets become sleepy and relaxed during the treatment.
The goal is for acupuncture treatment to be a calm and even pleasant experience for your pet. You can bring treats or comforting items like favourite blankets to the treatment session, but try to avoid things that may cause your pet to become overexcited.
Please do not touch the acupuncture needles during your pet’s treatment.
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And after the treatment?
Some pets go home and sleep very soundly for a long time. This is a good sign and shows that your pet will probably respond well to acupuncture. But don’t worry if they are not sleepy – this does not mean that they will not respond.
Sometimes pets seem a little more euphoric than usual; this is also a good sign, but keep them quiet for the rest of the day so as not to overdo things.
Otherwise treat your pet normally after acupuncture. Do not change exercise, diet or medication unless it has been discussed with your vet.
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What about response?
Your pet may show one of three responses to treatment:
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They may seem a little stiffer or more uncomfortable. This just means that the dose may have been a little bit too much for them, but also shows that they should respond to treatment. After a day or two they will improve again and should be better than before. However, please let your vet know at the next treatment session so the treatment dose can be adjusted.
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You may see no significant change, especially after the first couple of treatments. This is often disappointing but does not mean your pet will not respond; it may just be that they will take a little longer or that their improvement after the first treatment was too brief or small for you to observe. We cannot say that they will not respond until after the fourth treatment. Not all animals or humans are acupuncture “responders”, but about 80% will be.
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You may see an improvement, generally within the first three days after treatment. The signs that we are trying to treat may then return before the next treatment, but this is okay. After each subsequent treatment the effects should last longer, so that your pet’s treatment interval can eventually be extended.
