Pet Acupuncture – A Natural Cure
More and more pet owners have made it a cause to find ways to relieve their beloved pets from pain brought about by sickness. Surgery once thought as the best solution to musculoskeletal disorders or gastric disorder, have been frowned upon by dog owners who find surgical procedure too expensive or too intrusive.
Veterinary practitioners as well as pet owners are now turning to veterinary acupuncture for their pet’s relief. Acupuncture is an ancient therapy with the use of fine needles that are put at pressure points. Orientals believe that disease is caused by the imbalance of energy. Acupuncture is said to aid the body in fixing itself up. Fine needles poked in certain areas throughout the body cause physiological alterations. A soon as a set of needles prick a strategic point, nerves are stimulated and blood circulation to the ailing spot is increased. An aching spot in the body signals a larger amount of blood flow to a specific area. If an ache becomes an unbearable pain, acupuncture can aid the release of endorphins- natural painkillers manufactured in the body. Swelling can subside once acupuncture needles stimulate the release of the steroid, cortisol.
Though widely opted as a substitute for surgery, the use of acupuncture in veterinary medicine is as an additional therapy and not as a replacement for surgery. Pain relief is a main application of acupuncture, while the address of disorders and problems are secondary. Problems concerning bone alignment or replacement of ligament may only be cured through corrective surgery especially in old pets.
Veterinary acupuncture has 5 variations, which can be used, on different cases of pet disorder or disease depending on your Veterinarian’s assessment and diagnosis of your pet’s ailment.
Dry needle- these are the traditional thin needles pricked at pressure points at the source of pain. This treatment is the basic variation used in pain management, minor ailments or disorders and behavior modifiers for aggressive pets (especially dogs).
Acupuncture laser- with the use of a Helium-Neon Laser, this treatment is concentrated at the diseased cells. This treatment improves blood circulation and in the process heals the tissue. Treatment lasers are usually held above the problem areas for about 30 minutes.
Electro acupuncture- this treatment makes use of needles that are hooked up to a pulse stimulator. Treatment can vary according to the amount of electric current needed for a specific disease or discomfort. Some veterinarian acupuncturists have vitamin B12 injected to aid in nerve stimulation.
Moxibustion- uses the herb Mugwort and heat. The acupuncture points have burnt herbs at the tip. This treatment is usually pricked on or above the skin.
Acupuncture implants- these are gold or stainless steel pinheads implanted surgically at the localized pressure points. When hooked up to a stimulator, this provides pain relief.
Pet acupuncture, though first started years ago in America, is today’s trend in pet relief. The different variations available address a spectrum of diseases and disorders. Having a pet pumped with a lot of medication is more than a pet owner can bear. Luckily for pet owners, veterinary medicine has turned an age-old remedy into present-day treatment.
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