Discover How Acupuncture Can Benefit Your Animal

What is veterinary acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a system of healing which has been practised in China and other Eastern countries for thousands of years. And has increasingly gained in popularity in western veterinary medicine over the past century. Acupuncture is just one approach of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). TCVM is holistic and works on the basis that there is inter-connectivity between all aspects of the body. Including to create balance between "Yin" and "Yang". A whole range of animals today benefit from acupuncture, from small pets to horses and farm animals.

Acupuncture is based upon the concept that the body has meridians, or energy lines, running along it. And when the body is out of balance, the energy lines are blocked or deficient in some way. The use of needles at appropriate acupuncture points will rebalance or redirect this energy and balance the body. The acupuncture points have been mapped over thousands of years by the Chinese. And now have even been identified with modern scientific techniques. Horses can selectively have substances such as vitamin B 12 actually injected into the acupuncture points to give a longer lasting effect. And this often makes things easier to handle than having to wait for ten or twenty minutes while the needles remain in place.

Why use veterinary acupuncture with your animal?

Whether you've a large or small animal, acupuncture can treat many different conditions. This includes:

• Musculoskeletal problems, (back problems, arthritis, etc)
• Tendon injuries or other muscle & ligament sprains/strains
• Skin problems
• Nervous system problems
• Stress related disorders
• Respiratory problems, (COPD in horses, feline asthma in cats)
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Some reproductive (fertility) problems

Is veterinary acupuncture safe?

Yes.. but…..Acupuncture should always be administered by a professionally qualified Veterinary Surgeon who has also successfully completed additional veterinary acupuncture training. Your specialist Veterinary Surgeon can ensure proper oversight of your animal, as acupuncture is capable of masking pain or other clinical signs. And so it's critical that no delay is made to using other treatments ('conventional' or complementary) if required. Also if your animal is feeling better from the acupuncture, he/ she may increase activity and delay healing or causing the original condition to worsen. So you must always follow your Vet's advice post-treatment.

Benefits of veterinary acupuncture

Some of the effects of acupuncture include:

• Pain relief
• A strong sense of well-being
• Decreased inflammation
• Increased blood flow to the area being treated.
• Additional benefits can include longevity and this refers to an increase in both the quality and quantity of life.
• Vets have noted that many older dogs who receive acupuncture have increased energy and it is a joy to watch them respond.
• Acupuncture offers a viable alternative to the use of pain killers and steroids (or a reduction in the use of), as well as surgery and has few, if any side effects when used appropriately.

Additionally, regular acupuncture sessions can treat minor sports injuries as they occur. And help to keep muscles and tendons resistant to injury. World class professional and amateur athletes often use acupuncture as a routine part of their training as a preventative measure. If your horse or other animals are involved in any athletic activity, such as racing, jumping, or showing, acupuncture can be used to assist in helping to keep them in top physical condition. It's a natural way to help keep your animal healthy.

Choosing an animal acupuncturist

Only ever use a qualified veterinary surgeon who's completed specialist training to carry out acupuncture on your animal. This is because acupuncture in animals may only be performed by vets with a thorough knowledge of veterinary anatomy and physiology.

There are professional veterinary acupuncture associations your vet could be a member of. These include Association of British Veterinary Acupuncturists and International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. These mean your vet will have received proper training to help your horse, dog or other animal.

Find out more about veterinary acupuncture with these useful links

• Ted Talk with veterinary surgeon Lara Sypniewski
• BBC article (2017) - Pet acupuncture, would you try this treatment?
• Supraspinatus Tendinopathy in 327 Dogs: A Retrospective Study - page 6 references role of acupuncture (courtesy of Royal Veterinary College)
• Association of British Veterinary Acupuncturists
• International Veterinary Acupuncture Society

Would you like information on Veterinary Acupuncturists near you, for your animal? Please email me at info@taranet.co.uk - I'll be pleased to try and assist, wherever you are in the world!

You can get more information on many complementary therapies for animals here at Taranet. Take a look at the sitemap here for a list.

About The Author
This article has been extensively researched and written by Suzanne Harris. Who is also the designer and developer of this site. A lifelong animal lover with a passion for ensuring animals can access complementary therapies for their health and wellbeing.