In recent years, pet owners have started adding more holistic treatments to their traditional veterinary care. From nutrition and enrichment play to medical treatments such as massage, water therapy, and pet acupuncture, owners are seeking out these various methods at either their primary vet offices or at a veterinary specialty center.
Acupuncture for dogs and cats supports a wide variety of medical problems, from acute to chronic conditions, including pain, osteoarthritis, chronic cough/respiratory conditions, and gastrointestinal, immunologic, and neurologic conditions (paresis/paralysis) as a result of acute injury, general aging, or chronic disease.
What Is Pet Acupuncture?
For thousands of years, the traditional Chinese technique of acupuncture has been used on humans and animals to treat chronic pain and other health problems. The earliest documented treatment was during the Chou Dynasty (1066 to 221 B.C.) and involved horses that were used in warfare and agriculture.
Pet acupuncture was introduced to the United States in the 1970s and in 1974 the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) was formed by a group of U.S. veterinarians to promote the use of veterinary acupuncture and to increase education.
Today, according to the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture, a veterinary acupuncturist must be a licensed veterinarian, and, in most states, it is illegal for other practitioners to practice pet acupuncture. A veterinary acupuncturist should have completed training by one of the major foundation course providers (international Veterinary Acupuncture Society, Chi Institute, or Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians) and some have enough advanced training to have earned advanced status as a “Fellow of the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture” (FAAVA).
Partner’s Dr. Keri Levinson is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist through Chi University uses pet acupuncture at Partner’s veterinary specialty center to help restore balance and heal animals who are suffering. You can listen to her recent podcast—“Can Acupuncture Help My Pet”—where she talks in depth about what acupuncture is, how it benefits companion animals, and why it should be used for both sick and healthy pets.
Dr. Levinson explains how the body is a list of checks and balances, and when one thing is off, it’s going to set everything else off. Pet acupuncture treats the whole body versus a specific disease by restoring balance within the body. It is also just one specific treatment modality under an umbrella of multiple modalities within traditional Chinese medicine herbal medicine, which include diet/food therapy, massage, and pressure-point therapy.
How Does It Work for Pets?
Acupuncture stimulates places on the body along the channels of energy—in Chinese medicine they call them meridians. Trained veterinarians stimulate these points with tiny-gauged needles to restore balance and heal the body as a whole. “Coincidentally,” says Dr. Levinson, “these points are located in areas where there is a high density of nerve endings. There is a ton of scientific benefits of stimulating these points to have some purpose. We’re not just choosing random points on the body.” Ultimately, by doing this, practitioners are helping pets with pain relief by stimulating release of endorphins and serotonin. Typically, they will choose a local point for the trouble area and other points to balance out the problem.
Common Conditions Treated with Acupuncture
Pet acupuncture can be used as a preventative treatment and to optimize a sick pet’s quality of life. “While acupuncture isn’t going to ultimately cure an underlying disease,” says Dr. Levinson, “it can help with chronic mobility issues like arthritis or help during the postoperative recovery phases of healing.” Pet acupuncture can also be used as an additional treatment for a pet with underlying gastrointestinal issues, anxiety and stress, respiratory issues, and even some behavioral problems.
What to Expect During a Session
A session of acupuncture for dogs or cats will vary some from a routine vet appointment. For instance, Dr. Levinson asks all clients to complete a pre-appointment questionnaire to share the pet’s medical history, any current medications, and what the pet’s typical personality is like. “I will ask what their sleep patterns are through the night—if they’re waking at certain times, I want to know what a typical day is like for a patient, and what the owner is hoping to achieve for their pet with acupuncture.”
During the first visit, Dr. Levinson performs an Eastern exam, which focuses more on the tongue and pulses of the pet. “I going to look at more subtleties within the tongue color and to see if it has a certain coating to it, and then I’ll really take my time to feel their pulses because they’ll have certain qualities that tells us a lot about the individual animal.” All of this is important for formulating an individual treatment plan for the pet.
Some pets might be nervous during the initial treatment. If this happens, Dr. Levinson uses high-value treats to help distract the cat or dog. There are also multiple types of acupuncture treatments that can be used. “For instance,” says Dr. Levinson, “a timid or anxious dog who will not tolerate sitting for a full 20- to 30-minute session with needles in place may be a better candidate for something called aqua acupuncture where a small amount of vitamin B12 or saline is injected into to the acupuncture point, which can continue to stimulate the point after the needle is removed.”
There are also calming points that are often used, which can help pets relax into a session. Dr. Levinson will gradually introduce placing needles and play some Zen-like music, which helps relax the owner and, in turn, the pet. She finds that most pets will settle in after the first couple sessions.
Is It Right for Your Pet?
Pet acupuncture is not limited to sick or older pets. It’s a modality that can be beneficial to all companion animals. The biggest thing to remember is that it’s not a miracle cure and that there is no immediate fix. “I always talk to clients about what to expect and manage their expectations,” says Dr. Levinson. “Acupuncture is meant to be used in conjunction with everything else that they have. If they’re getting a certain type of medication, I still want them to follow the recommendation from their primary veterinarian. Acupuncture is meant to optimize their treatment and their outcome might not be an immediate fix. It can take a couple of sessions and you have to be dedicated and patient with the results.”
For pets who are more acutely painful, it’s possible to see more of an immediate response whereas a pet who is undergoing treatment for a chronic condition, like chronic arthritis or some type of underlying chronic disease, may take a couple of treatments. “I think it’s all about managing expectations and our goals and what we hope to see with acupuncture treatment,” says Dr. Levinson.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to our pets, there care and well-being is paramount. Adding holistic treatments like pet acupuncture into the routine can benefit our animal’s quality of life, making them more comfortable and ultimately happier.
If you’re curious about to learn more, talk to your primary veterinarian or read about Dr. Levinson and acupuncture at Partner.
Curious about Partner’s other specialty offerings? Contact us and we’ll help guide you to the right specialist.
Should you find yourself in a veterinary emergency, we can help!
Call our Frederick location at 301.200.8185
Call our Richmond location at 804.206.9122