Veterinary Acupuncture
Kate Rew BVSc (Hons) Cert. Vet. AC. (I.V.A.S.) M.R.C.V.S.
Member of A.B.V.A (Association of British Veterinary Acupuncturists)
Tel: 01626 867614 (Devon) or Mobile: 07866 086294
E-mail KateRew
Conditions that respond well to acupuncture
Click
picture to find if your animal will respond to acupuncture.
Useful Links:
www.abva.co.uk
(Association of British Veterinary
Acupuncturists)
(British Small Animal Veterinary Association)
(International Veterinary Acupuncture Society)
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the ancient art of placing needles in the skin and superficial muscles, to alleviate pain and increase the animal's resistance to disease.
Veterinary acupuncture is over 2000 years old and was developed by Chinese veterinarians. It has been used by vets and doctors in the western world for the last 30 years and is becoming increasingly accepted and integrated into conventional veterinary practice.
Acupuncture is particularly useful in chronic disease states, either to complement orthodox treatments, or when orthodox medicine fails.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
The Chinese approach views disease in the animal as an internal imbalance, which is also affected by external environment. The animal is treated as a whole, and a return to equilibrium is desired (rather than symptomatic treatment of a set of clinical signs).
Treatment involves using needles in specific acupuncture points (often in combination with TCM herbal therapy), to achieve a therapeutic effect and a return to a balanced state of health. The Chinese believe that Qi (the vital life force) and Blood, flow through the body in an ordered way, along channels or meridians.
Medical Acupuncture
The western scientific approach to acupuncture is used predominantly in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and, in particular, chronic pain states in animals.
The effect of acupuncture is largely segmental, that is nerves, muscles and acupuncture points are needled in the same spinal segment as the affected or painful area. "Pain gating" as well as descending pain inhibition (via various brain and spinal cord pathways) are involved.
Acupuncture also stimulates the release of pain relieving chemicals in the brain and spinal cord (endorphins, seratonin, noradrenalin etc) which produces more generalised (extrasegmental) analgesia. These effects, combined with local needling of painful trigger points and taut bonds of muscle, result in exceptional relief of pain.
How is acupuncture performed and how many treatments?
The needles used are very fine, pre-sterilised stainless steel and are left in place for approximately 10-20 minutes. On average 4-6 treatments are required. These are given weekly initially, with gradually increasing intervals until the maximum desired effect is achieved.
The frequency of treatments depends on the individual animals needs but regular top-ups will be required to maintain the therapeutic effect.
Sometimes other methods are used such as electroacupuncture, moxibustion (heating acupoints using dried mugwort or moxa) or aquapuncturee (using injections of Vit.B12 or saline into acupoints)
Will my animal respond?
Animals on the whole accept needling very well, and in fact may become very relaxed. Click on the above pictures fo find conditions treatable by species.
Please note; acupuncture in animals may only be performed by a vet with a thorough knowledge of veterinary anatomy and physiology.
Referral from your own vet is preferable and clinics throughout the South Devon area.
Many insurance companies will cover acupuncture treatment costs, so please check your pet or equine policy.
Conditions that respond well to acupunture