Acupuncture, It Gets to the Point of Your Problem - June 11

It Gets to the Point of Your Problem

by John Rowe, DVM, CVA

You may love your Burkenstocks and organic wheat grass smoothies, or you may be partial to pressed pants, starched shirts, and a big juicy steak. Either way, Acupuncture is for everyone — you and your pet.
Picture your first appointment with your furry friend. What did you imagine? Bean bag chairs? Incense? Tibetan rugs? Actually, that does sound good. Relax and let me walk you through the basics.

What is Acupuncture? 
Acupuncture is a treatment that is thousands of years old. Fine needles are used to stimulate the body’s energy and bring it back to health. Mainstream medicine has been slow to embrace acupuncture, but after many years of clinical studies, it has been proven safe and very effective. In the veterinary world, it may soon be a board certified specialty.

How Does it Work?
Life energy or Qi flows through the body and can be disrupted by injury or disease.  In traditional Chinese Medicine, we speak of channels or meridians of energy that we maintain through the use of needle stimulation. We know from medical research that acupuncture treatment stimulates nerves, relaxes muscles, decreases pain, increases blood flow, and profoundly stimulates the immune system.  It truly uses the body’s own energy to bring it back to health or homeostasis.

Why Would My Pet Need Acupuncture?
Most commonly seen ailments are arthritis, back and neck pain, sports injuries and post operative pain management. But don’t be short sighted. Remember, any disturbance to the body can be helped by acupuncture; vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, wound healing, diabetes, bladder infections, hormonal imbalance, seizures, respiratory and circulatory conditions, etc. The body is always trying to restore itself. We’re just giving it a little help.

If You Think It Will Work, It Will 
I have heard from many people that acupuncture probably only works because it is psychological.  This argument falls flat on its face when you place a needle in a dog, cat, horse, turtle guinea pig or parrot. Just ask them if they think a needle will make them feel better. The proof is in the pudding. You can see them walk better, run better, rise better, do stairs again, wag their tail and say thank you. I have never seen a patient that didn’t benefit in some way from treatment, and many people will try acupuncture after seeing how well their loved ones have improved

If choosing acupuncture, are other medications needed?
Health, or the lack there of, is best approached from many directions--East & West. Certainly medicine may be required in the midst of a problem, but prevention is the key. Promoting the body’s own functions and defenses is always superior to taking another “pill.” Most patients are treated and maintained more comfortably with less “medication.” It is also important to note that diet, healthy supplementation, exercise, weight control and common sense all play an essential role in our well being.

So… what are you waiting for?
Broaden your horizons. Take the plunge. Acupuncture… It does every body good.

Dr. John Rowe received his veterinary degree from Kansas State University in 1990, and has been the proud owner of Aid Animal Hospital for over a decade.  Today, Dr. Rowe is an accomplished surgeon, certified veterinary acupuncturist, and medical practitioner.  www.aidanimalhospital.com