My husband and I were at a loss of what to do when our 13 year old pug Wrinkles was clearly in pain. Wrinkles suffered from arthritis, myelopathy, hypothyroidism, cushing’s disease, and luxating patellas. Conventional medicine just wasn’t enough anymore. One day I brought up acupuncture as a potential option. My husband secretly thought I was crazy, but went along with my plan regardless. There was a local veterinarian that specialized in acupuncture and I had witnessed first hand (through work) what acupuncture treatments could do for pets. So off we went.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of physical therapy that involves inserting very fine, round ended needles into the skin to stimulate specific points on the body. The needles stimulate energy flow to the insertion point to relieve pain and inflammation. This is one of the oldest forms of medicine, originating in China over 3000 years ago, and to be honest I have no idea why more people don’t believe in it. Acupuncture is practiced as only a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and its popularity in the veterinary world has increased in recent years due to the amazing results observed by both professionals and animal owners.
Cons: This form of therapy isn’t cheap. The initial exam is typically a couple hundred dollars because the veterinarian will review your pets records, examine your pet, and discuss any concerns that you may have to ensure the appropriate acupuncture points are chosen. Following the initial exam, your pet will be put on a treatment schedule that often includes visits multiple times per week for the first few weeks. These costs add up! Aside from the cost component, some patients may experience exhaustion after a visit. Monitoring your pet after treatments is essential to ensure your pet benefits the most from treatments. Be sure to communicate with your acupuncture veterinarian at each visit so adjustments can be made accordingly.
Pros: Often used in conjunction with many other treatments, including conventional medicine, acupuncture will not interfere with drugs that the patient is currently on. However, narcotics and corticosteroids may alter the effects of an acupuncture treatment. If your pet is tolerant of acupuncture, you may see success in treating muscle and joint pain and inflammation. Studies have also suggested improvements in neurologic and spinal conditions, dermatologic conditions, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiac and respiratory diseases, urinary tract disorders, behavioral problems, immune-mediated diseases, as well as cancers.
Where is the evidence?
Clinical trials on veterinary acupuncture are unfortunately inconsistent and sporadic. Studies have been done on acupuncture points used in human trials and the studies were inconclusive as to whether the points used actually matter or if it is a placebo effect taking hold. Acupuncture has yet to be proven scientifically, therefore all evidence for use is based on pet owner’s perceived effects. But we are getting there! In recent years, molecular mechanisms of action have been discovered which may explain the pain relief effects of acupuncture.
Our experience:
Despite little scientific proof demonstrating acupuncture’s effectiveness, I still believe this form of therapy works. Our experience with acupuncture has been the driving force for client recommendations. We had reached a point where prescription drugs were no longer enough to keep our pug’s pain under control and acupuncture would be our last ditch effort before making the decision to euthanize. Knowing what I know now, acupuncture should have been our first line of defense, not our last.
After arriving home from our first treatment, our pug seemed to be feeling better. We assumed we were allowing ourselves to “see what we wanted to see”. We even had a discussion about it. However, later that evening we realized our pug was standing up straight at his food bowl for the first time in weeks. Acupuncture treatments did not appear to be helping with the myelopathy, but it was treating the arthritis pain. The proof is in the photos and my scientific brain can’t handle it. The acupuncture treatments continued to work and kept Wrinkles fairly pain free through the end of his life.
P.S. My husband is a believer now. Are you?
Before Treatment
After Treatment
