Holistic Pet Care: Using Acupuncture

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• Veterinarian: Acupuncture Could Be A Valuable, Complementary Approach For Pet Health Care

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  Traditional veterinary care can keep animals healthy, treat problems when they arise and get them back in good shape.

  But, there is also a whole range of alternative treatments that can work along with the more medical care or on their own. Dr. Carrie Donahue, the owner and founder of Full Circle Veterinary Clinic and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, said that in her holistic practice, she uses a range of alternative therapies to complement her traditional veterinary medical training.

  One of those approaches that Donahue uses is acupuncture. The practice is part of traditional Chinese medicine and is based on the belief that extremely thin needles inserted into the skin can clear and balance the body’s energy pathways. This can result in pain relief, better mobility and a general sense of well-being.

  From a Western perspective, acupuncture is thought to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissues. This can both increase blood flow and activate the body’s natural pain-killing abilities.

  While acupuncture has been used to treat humans for thousands of years, its use on animals is much more recent.

  “What I’ve found, over and over, is that animals do remarkably well with acupuncture,” Donahue said.

  She added that it isn’t just dogs and cats that can benefit from the treatment, but exotic species as well.

  The process is inserting very fine needles along paths in the body called meridians, Donahue explained. She described it as “an energy medicine” because it’s meant to aid in the energy’s flow throughout the body. In Chinese culture, she said, the “chi” is the “vital life force” that, depending on how easily it flows, determines health and illness.

  Donahue said that acupuncture can be used to address a wide range of conditions.

  “Anything you can treat with Western or conventional medicine with a pill or a medication, can be treated with acupuncture,” she said.

  One of the most common applications is to help dogs and cats that are suffering from arthritis. In Chinese medicine, that condition is seen as a blockage of energy in those sore joints, Donahue said, so it makes sense that acupuncture would be a preferred treatment.

  Other ways that Donahue uses acupuncture is to treat anxiety, allergies, organ disease — particularly, diseases of the liver, kidney and heart, and seizure disorders.

  “Really anything can be helped by acupuncture,” she said.

  Many pet owners have a hard time imagining that their pet will put up with an acupuncture treatment, but Donahue said that in her experience, when she inserts the needles into a pet, there’s an interesting response.

  “They tend to just relax. A lot of animals fall asleep, and it is amazing to see,” she said.

  The typical treatment lasts 20 to 30 minutes, Donahue said, and usually involves the placement of 15 to 20 needles at a time. The needles might be placed close to the part of the body that is affected, or further away but on a connected energy point.

  Interestingly, Donahue said, it’s usually the pet that lets her know when the treatment should be finished. That can mean waking up after dozing off, standing up or even giving themselves a gentle shake.

  While some animals will show a marked improvement after just one acupuncture treatment, Donahue said that particularly when treating a chronic condition, repeated treatments may be necessary.

  “It can take a couple of treatments, and they tend to build on each other,” she said. “For things that have been building for a long time, it takes a little bit of time for us to really bring about that balance and the healing.”

  Donahue said that there are really no risks associated with acupuncture if it is administered properly.

  “It’s really only going to help if it’s going to do anything,” she said, and added that there are no known negative side effects.

  In addition, Donahue noted that choosing acupuncture doesn’t mean rejecting Western medical treatments. She said that she most often recommends pursuing a medical approach to whatever condition is of concern, while using acupuncture to support healing and pain management.

  Especially for animals going through treatment for a serious condition like cancer, “acupuncture is great to help support their quality of life and to help to boost their immune system in conjunction with some of those other conventional treatments,” Donahue said.

  To find a veterinarian who is trained in acupuncture, Donahue recommended the website of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association as a resource.