What Are The Benefits Of Acupuncture For Pets?

Acupuncture has been around for centuries. While most people think of it as a purely human treatment, studies have shown that animals can experience virtually the same benefits from the technique that their owners do. An increasing number of veterinary clinics, including Chaparral Veterinary Medical Center, are now offering acupuncture alongside their other services.

Acupuncture involves the placement of needles into certain points of the body. These points are usually intersections of nerves and blood vessels. By placing the needles here, it is thought to stimulate the release of chemicals within the body, and these chemicals enable any imbalances to be corrected, blood flow to be optimized and overall wellness to be achieved. Here is what you need to know about the benefits of acupuncture for pets.

Acupuncture is Minimally Invasive

There’s no getting away from the fact that acupuncture uses needles. However, these needles are ultra-thin and not like the conventional needles that most people associate with medical treatment. Although your pet can’t tell you how they feel from the treatment, most humans who have undergone acupuncture treatment will say that the technique is virtually painless. Many animals become so relaxed during their treatment session that they fall asleep.

Acupuncture Can Help Counteract Pain

Animals can suffer from many different health issues, and a good percentage of these cause some degree of discomfort. This could be temporary or chronic. Unsurprisingly, owners are often keen to avoid giving their pet’s prescription pain medication. Acupuncture gives them the option to do this. Acupuncture has been shown to help improve circulation, enabling blood and nutrients to reach the areas of the body that need them most. This in turn can reduce inflammation and stiffness. Needle insertion can also trigger the release of natural pain-relieving endorphins, helping your pet to experience less discomfort without taking pain medications.

Acupuncture Can Treat a Variety of Issues

Acupuncture can be used to treat a wide range of different health issues in pets. These include, but are not limited to:

• Arthritis
  
  
  

• Chronic neck pain
  
  
  

• Chronic back pain
  
  
  

• Knee/joint problems
  
  
  

• Managing pain and inflammation
  
  
  

• Respiratory problems such as asthma
  
  
  

• Skin problems such as flea allergy dermatitis
  
  
  

• Gastrointestinal issues such as irritable bowel syndrome
  
  
  

• Selective reproductive issues
  
  

If your pet’s ailment isn’t listed here, but you would like to know more about pet acupuncture and whether they could benefit from this popular, non-invasive therapy, your vet in Cave Creek, Arizona at Chaparral Veterinary Medical Center will be happy to advise you.

Acupuncture Can be Combined with Other Treatments

Since acupuncture doesn’t involve the use of any medications, it can be safely used in conjunction with other types of treatment – conventional or alternative. This includes prescription drugs, physical therapy, and post-surgery. Your vet will be able to advise you if acupuncture would be a good complementary technique to be used alongside other treatments to help your pet achieve the greatest relief from their ailments.

If you would like more information about the benefits of acupuncture for pets, or to find out if your adored animal would be a suitable candidate for this effective treatment technique, contact Chaparral Veterinary Medical Center in Cave Creek, Arizona at (480) 595-8600 to schedule an appointment.