5 Ways Cat and Dog Acupuncture Can Help Your Pet

Have you ever heard of acupuncture for pets? Did you know it’s possible to have acupuncture performed on your dog or cat for a variety of reasons? Acupuncture may not be as common for pets as it is for humans, but it is still a viable solution if you’re looking for alternative medicine options for treating your pet’s health conditions.

What is Pet Acupuncture?

Pet acupuncture is a type of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine that can be used to treat many conditions. When performed by a trained and licensed clinician, it’s very safe. Acupuncture involves inserting needles into certain points on the body to cause specific physical responses throughout the body.

Although some animals may need to be sedated for this procedure, most will be able to relax on their own after the needles have been inserted. Some animals may feel the initial insertion of the needles but will not feel the needles once they are in place.

Benefits of Cat and Dog Acupuncture

In this article, we’ll show you some of the best ways a pet acupuncturist can help a dog or cat. With the help of this information, you should be able to figure out whether this is something you want to discuss with your veterinarian about your pet.

1. Relief from Arthritis Pain

Perhaps the most common use of acupuncture in pets is relief from arthritis pain. Pets may develop arthritis for several reasons, including injuries, hip dysplasia, and old age. It’s common for pets to have this issue, and if your pet is dealing with arthritis pain, you may be looking for ways to help her manage it.

Acupuncture stimulates blood flow and reduces inflammation in affected parts of the pet’s body. This benefit, in turn, cuts back on pain and irritation and helps pets move more comfortably. Pets can regain plenty of their original mobility even when suffering from arthritis with acupuncture.

2. Relief from Digestive Health Problems

Many pets who suffer from digestive health issues find relief with acupuncture. Since acupuncture is all about stimulating blood flow to certain parts of the body, it is a great way to encourage organs to work more smoothly and function the way they’re supposed to.

By taking your pet for regular acupuncture treatments, you can help encourage her digestive system to function smoothly and operate the correct way. This treatment can ease pain and discomfort related to irritable bowel syndrome, pancreatitis, and even some digestive cancers. It’s also a good choice for pets who have nausea related to chemotherapy treatments.

3. Treatment of Neurological Conditions

If your pet is suffering from a neurological condition such as epilepsy or facial paralysis, there is a chance that acupuncture can help. Acupuncture is an excellent solution when treating paralysis issues in pets and can help improve mobility and functionality of muscles that may not be working correctly.

Epilepsy may need to be managed with a combination of medication and acupuncture, depending on the severity of your pet’s condition. If your pet’s epilepsy is mild, you may be able to manage it completely with acupuncture. Your veterinarian can give you more information about this possibility.

4. Treatment of Anxiety

Acupuncture is a very relaxing treatment that often helps pets deal with stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems. If your pet is struggling with any of these conditions and you don’t want to put her on anxiety medication just yet, you might want to try acupuncture instead.

Through the process of acupuncture, pets are encouraged to relax and enjoy the sensation of the procedure. This, in turn, helps pets learn how to relax more often at home and can encourage improvement of anxiety issues. Frequent relaxing acupuncture visits can also improve stress related to vehicle trips or going to the vet.

5. Relief from Skin Conditions

It may be possible that acupuncture can help your pet get some relief from skin conditions including lick granulomas and infections. Acupuncture can help reduce inflammation that causes irritation and leads your pet to lick and chew skin problems, making them worse.

If your pet is dealing with frequent or persistent skin health problems, talk to your vet about the possibility of acupuncture helping.

Book an Appointment with Boston Veterinary Clinic’s Pet Acupuncturists

With the help of this information, you should be able to choose whether you think acupuncture is a good choice for your pet’s treatment and management needs. This choice is entirely up to you, but keep in mind that alternative medicine can be a great solution for a variety of pet health needs.

If you do think you’re interested in acupuncture treatments for your pet, speak to your vet for more information. Your vet will be able to tell you whether your pet is a good candidate for acupuncture and can let you know if there’s a chance acupuncture can be helpful for your pet as well.

To book an appointment with the cat and dog acupuncturist at Boston Veterinary Clinic use the online form!

Looking for more information on cat and dog acupuncture? Listen to this Tails from the City podcast where Boston Veterinary Clinic’s acupuncturist, Dr. Mike McGuill, joins Dr. Brian Bourquin!