Acupuncture
Did you know that animals can have acupuncture? Both Sarah and David offer acupuncture here at the practice.
What is acupuncture ?
Acupuncture is the practice of placing fine solid needles in to points on the body to provide pain relief and in some cases to help with other diseases.
We perform acupuncture principally to help patients with musculoskeletal pain eg chronic arthritis or muscular discomfort.
How does acupuncture work ?
It works via the nervous system. The needles help to block or impede the pain signals and encourage the production of the bodies natural painkillers.
In conditions that are not painful it can help to “reset” the natural pathways and functions in the body.
Will it hurt my animal ?
The needles are very fine and even though some do react slightly as the needles are placed as they “expect” it to be painful then most animals will relax during the session and sometimes even become sleepy. The majority seem to enjoy the acupuncture sessions and indeed most seem to look forward to future sessions.
Would my pet need to be sedated ?
It is very uncommon for animals to need to be sedated for treatment. This would only normally happen if the patient is so painful that they can’t tolerate any touch or stimulus.
Is it safe ?
Acupuncture is very safe, in the right hands. Legally it can only be performed by a Veterinary Surgeon. There are very few cases where we would need to be cautious about using acupuncture – we can discuss any of your concerns.
How often is the treatment ?
Normally the initial course is once a week for 4 – 6 weeks. After this we can decide if the treatment is working for your pet and then, depending on the response and the condition we are addressing, we can devise a plan for future sessions. Often monthly “top ups” are required for conditions like chronic osteoarthritis.
What kind of conditions are treated with acupuncture ?
Pain and discomfort are the most common indications for acupuncture. This often is related to chronic joint problems like osteoarthritis, but also muscle strains, intervertebral disc discomfort and spondylosis can be alleviated.
“Functional” conditions like irritable bowel type conditions may also respond in some patients.
What actually happens in a session ?
After taking a history and performing a clinical examination then we will discuss the plan. The animal is comfortably settled on the floor or the table (please bring a favourite blanket with you) and the needles carefully placed in the required locations. The needles are then gently stimulated to increase the needling effect and they are normally left in place for approximately 15 minutes before being removed.
How should my animal be after the session ?
It is common for pets to not only become relaxed during the session but also to go home and have a long restful or sleepy episode on the same day. This is a good sign and indicates that he or she is likely to respond well to the acupuncture. Rarely, but occasionally some pets can be “euphoric” after sessions – this is also a good sign but do try to keep them settled so they don’t inadvertantly overdo it.
Otherwise please treat your pet as normal and don’t change any existing medication or regimes unless discussed with us or your regular vet.
How many respond ?
Patients can respond in 3 different ways:
1. They may seem a bit worse or stiffer. This means that the needling might have been a little too much but also shows that they should respond. After a day or two they should settle and then be a little better than before. Please let us know so we can adjust the “magnitude” of the needling if needed.
2. You may see no response. This is disappointing but it does not mean that they won’t respond – it might just take a little longer. We generally judge the ability to respond after 4 or sometimes 6 sessions. Not all people or animals respond to acupuncture – about 80% do however.
3. You may see an improvement. This usually is initially short lived and may wear off before the next session, but after each session the improvement is magnified and prolonged. Often patients with chronic conditions benefit from monthly sessions to maintain their improvement
If you would like to book a session or would like to discuss the benefits further with us, please call the practice on 01746 711561 or email us at hello@bridgnorthvets.co.uk
