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770-955-1291

5565 New Northside Drive Atlanta, GA, 30339

Acupuncture

Acupuncture

Q: What is acupuncture?

At Power Ferry Animal Hospital we utilize acupuncture primarily for the treatment of musculoskeletal issues, chronic pain, and neurologic conditions.   For small animals, the following are some of the general conditions which may be treated with acupuncture:

  • Generalized Arthritis
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease
  • Sprain/Strain
  • Chronic Muscle Pain
  • Degenerative Neurologic Conditions

 

In addition, regular acupuncture treatment can treat minor sports injuries as they occur and help to keep muscles and tendons resistant to injury. World-class professional and amateur athletes often use acupuncture as a routine part of their training. If your animals are involved in any athletic endeavor, acupuncture can help keep them in top physical condition.

Q: For which conditions is acupuncture indicated? 

Acupuncture is indicated mainly for functional problems such as those that involve paralysis, noninfectious inflammation (such as allergies), and pain. For small animals, the following are some of the general conditions which may be treated with acupuncture:
• Musculoskeletal problems, such as arthritis or
vertebral disc pathology
• Skin problems, such as lick granuloma
• Respiratory problems, such as feline asthma
• Gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea
• Selected reproductive problems
In addition, regular acupuncture treatment can treat minor sports injuries as they occur and help to keep muscles and tendons resistant to injury. World-class professional and amateur athletes often use acupuncture as a routine part of their training. If your animals are involved in any athletic endeavor, such as racing, jumping, or showing, acupuncture can help keep them in top physical condition.

Q: How does acupuncture work?
According to ancient Chinese medical philosophy, disease is the result of an imbalance of energy in the body. Acupuncture is believed to balance this energy and, thereby, assist the body to heal disease.
In Western terms, acupuncture can assist the body to heal itself by affecting certain physiological changes. For example, acupuncture can stimulate nerves, increase blood circulation, relieve muscle spasm, and cause the release of hormones, such as endorphins (one of the body’s pain control chemicals) and cortisol (a natural steroid). Although many of acupuncture’s physiological effects have been studied, many more are still unknown. Further research must be to discover all of acupuncture’s effects and its proper uses in veterinary medicine.

Q: Is acupuncture painful?
For small animals, the insertion of acupuncture needles is virtually painless. Once the needles are in place, there should be no pain. Most animals become very relaxed and may even become sleepy. Nevertheless, acupuncture treatment may cause some sensation, presumed to be those such as tingles, cramps, or numbness which can occur in humans and which may be uncomfortable to some animals.

Q: Is acupuncture safe for animals?
Acupuncture is one of the safest forms of medical treatment for animals when it is administered by a properly trained veterinarian. Side effects of acupuncture are rare, but they do exist. An animal’s condition may seem worse for up to 48 hours after a treatment. Other animals may become sleepy or lethargic for 24 hours after acupuncture. These effects are an indication that some physiological changes are developing, and they are most often followed by an improvement in the animal’s condition.

Q: How long do acupuncture treatments last and how often are they given?

The length and frequency of acupuncture treatments depends on the condition of the patient and the method of stimulation that is used by the veterinary acupuncturist. Stimulation of an individual acupuncture point may take as little as 10 seconds or as much as 30 minutes. A simple acute problem, such as a sprain, may require only one treatment, whereas more severe or chronic ailments may need several or several dozen treatments.

When multiple treatments are necessary, we usually begin intensively and are tapered to maximum efficiency. Patients often start with 1 treatment per week for 6 weeks. A positive response is usually seen after the first to third treatments. Once a maximum positive response is achieved (usually after 4-6 treatments), treatments are tapered off so that the greatest amount of symptom free time elapses between them. Many animals with chronic conditions can taper off to 1 treatment every 4-8 weeks.