Everything You Need to Know About Dog Acupuncture at DePorre Veterinary Hospital
Is there more than one type of dog acupuncture?
Yes, so I do what we call dry needling acupuncture, which involves the traditional needles in certain points along the body. Then I also do electroacupuncture, where I have this little kit that I can plug some wires into and hook those up to certain dry needle points along the body to give it a little extra stimulation and a little extra kick if the dog tolerates it.
How does the use of acupuncture impact the health and well-being of a dog?
Most of the time, what we're doing with acupuncture is trying to mitigate pain. Pain can impact dogs in all sorts of ways, from changes in behavior to not being as social around the house, to not wanting to do their favorite activities like chasing a ball or going for a walk, where they have times to really bond with their owners. I think that reducing pain and giving dogs their quality of life back can help increase that human-animal bond that we're always going for, too.
How old does a dog need to be to receive acupuncture?
I have done acupuncture on dogs of all ages. My youngest patient was, I think, she was about six or eight months old. She was an English bulldog, so it was a little bit more challenging as she was busy, but I've also done it on patients up to 15 or 16. I think my oldest patient did turn 17.
What are some conditions that would benefit a dog by receiving acupuncture treatments?
Well, most of the time, we are talking about pain relief. Arthritis management, intervertebral disk disease, or back or neck pain can be addressed. We can try to release the myofascial tension or, basically, the tightening of what we would call a knot in someone's back with the dry needling and electrostimulation. It can also be beneficial in postsurgical pain management, wound healing, and for patients who are really active, like athletic dogs or hunting dogs, to ensure they don't have any muscle tension. Acupuncture can also aid in gastrointestinal issues, kidney disease, and just overall health of the patient.
Would acupuncture complement a dog's current treatments and be integrated with Western medicine?
Yeah, I think that in most cases, that is the ideal scenario where we're doing multimodal treatment. We're not just relying on acupuncture or just relying on a pain medication, but we're combining both for the maximum benefit. Integrating acupuncture with Western medicine, surgery, and medications—which are necessary so much of the time—but also incorporating some alternative therapies that are really safe and can provide the patients more comfort, is really my ideal and the most balanced plan.
Is Acupuncture Right For My Dog?
How will a veterinarian determine if acupuncture is right for my dog?
I like to have a consult with the owner to talk to them in detail about what they see at home. If owners have videos of what they see at home—because my patients don't always show me what the owners see at home—I'll analyze their gait, watching them walk away from me, towards me, and to the side to identify any lameness that we see. Then, I will do a myofascial palpation of the animal to feel for any specific areas of muscle tightness, swelling, or dysfunction that we may want to target a little bit more closely with acupuncture.
Does acupuncture work for pets?
In my opinion, it does when done appropriately and targeting the areas of problem in dogs. I do think that we can see a benefit inherently by itself.
Have you tried acupuncture on yourself?
Yes, I've tried it on myself when I was getting certified to know exactly what my patients are experiencing, and no, it's not painful.
What is the process for administering acupuncture to pets?
What you'll see me do is place the needle where I want to put it. I do a little tap on the top of the needle, and then I will twist it and put it deeper into the tissues. Some dogs may notice the little prick of the first insertion. Once it's in and I'm deepening the needle, there's really no pain associated with it, and I can vouch for that myself.
How do you keep pets calm during acupuncture?
We try to distract them with really high-value things like squeeze cheese or baby food or a toy—whatever they really enjoy—so that they don't even notice the little pinprick.
Learning More About Dog Acupuncture at DePorre Veterinary Hospital
Is acupuncture safe for pets?
It's very safe. It is a traditional Chinese medicine in its roots. It has been done for lots and lots of years, and it is very safe. We do targeted points; we feel the muscle of the patient and exactly where we want to do it. I really haven't experienced any downsides to it.
How is your acupuncture practice influenced by traditional Chinese medicine?
It has its roots in traditional Chinese medicine. When I make my notes, or you may hear me talking about putting a needle in the bladder line or the governor vessel or the small intestine line or something like that. Even though we're treating pain and arthritis and it has nothing to do with the bladder, that terminology has its roots in traditional Chinese medicine. But the acupuncture that I was taught and that I practice is based in anatomy and where major nerves and vessels and muscle groups are in the patient. So I'm not moving energy around a patient. I'm not channeling their Chi or anything like that. It really is based in science and the anatomy of a patient.
How is the first acupuncture treatment scheduled?
I typically try to do the first treatment at the first consult too, if the owners feel like it's something they want to pursue. I usually schedule that for an hour so I have lots of time to analyze the dog's gait and talk to the owner about the things that they've noticed at home that are bringing them concern. So, about an hour for the initial one, and then once I learn the patient's tolerance and what works for them, our maintenance acupuncture appointments are scheduled for 30 minutes.
How do you ensure the treatment is effective for each dog?
It depends on the dog; some of them are more amenable to it than others. But I try to find the right formula of what works for that patient, whether it's being held by their owner, laying on a bed, eating some snacks while we do it, or letting them kind of get up and walk around and stretch their legs in the middle of a session. It takes a little bit to figure out exactly what's going to work for that patient, but we can usually strike a balance and get it to work for every patient.
What should owners do after their pet's acupuncture treatment?
Ideally, the patient becomes really relaxed during their acupuncture treatment. So what I recommend to owners after a treatment is letting them go home and just kind of take it easy for the day. Take a nap, hang out in a dark room without a lot of noises. Basically, imagine it like you just got a really good massage at a salon, and then you go home and just chill out the rest of the day.
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