Acupuncture for Pets

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a form of therapy in which fine needles are inserted into specific points on the body.

Single-use, sterile, disposable needles are used at all times. The needles are very fine and do not cause pain, just a small sensation on insertion.

In the UK, acupuncture for animals is considered to be an act of veterinary surgery and as such can only be performed by a fully qualified veterinary surgeon.

Many people are surprised that acupuncture can be performed on animals. Most animals actually accept acupuncture very well and often become relaxed and sleepy. There is no need to worry if the animal lies down or moves around during the treatment.

For more information on acupuncture in animals, have a look at the ABVA website.

Conditions

There are many conditions which can benefit from acupuncture.

Acupuncture works best in the treatment of chronic pain conditions. These include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Spondylosis
• Inter-vertebral disc disease (IVDD)

Acupuncture can also be useful as part of a pet’s rehabilitation following orthopaedic or spinal surgery.

Acupuncture can also be of benefit in the treatment of some medical conditions.

Please contact us if you would like to know if your pet’s condition would benefit from acupuncture treatment. An initial email exchange or phone conversation is free of charge and will help you decide whether acupuncture could be suitable for your pet.

Electro-acupuncture

The main form of acupuncture we use is manual acupuncture (‘dry needling’).

This is usually sufficient for dogs and cats with chronic pain conditions such as osteoarthritis or spondylosis of the spine.

Electro-acupuncture can also be used for chronic pain but its main indication is for nerve damage and muscle atrophy that has developed as a result of a nerve injury.

This technique uses an alternating electrical impulse through the needles which can enhance the benefit. At no point will the animal feel any discomfort from the treatment. The aim is to provide as much stimulation as possible whilst keeping the animal within its own tolerance range.

Kate will use electro-acupuncture as part of the treatment if needed and there is no extra charge for this.