Can Acupuncture Help My Pet?

Acupuncture is the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to prevent or treat disease. According to ancient Chinese medical philosophy, disease is the result of an imbalance in the free flow of energy and substances in the body.

Acupuncture is believed to help to restore balance and stimulate the body to heal. It is one of the therapeutic modalities within the art of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which includes herbal therapy. TCM includes methods of diagnosis of disease as well as treatment. It is inherently holistic as it encompasses the entire being of the patient and its relationships to the environment in which it lives.

In Western terms acupuncture results in a myriad of effects, of which our knowledge and understanding is expanding rapidly due to its growing acceptance in human and veterinary health care and the research that has stimulated. For example, acupuncture has been shown to effect nerves and neurotransmitters, the heart and circulatory system, the immune system, and endocrine and reproductive system function. Acupuncture treatments only take 10 to 20 minutes and cause little if any discomfort. There are many conditions that generally respond very well to acupuncture including arthritis, muscle and ligament injuries, spinal cord and nerve disease, seizures, ear and skin problems, kidney failure and bladder disease, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, and nasal and respiratory problems.

Jeffrey Goldberg D.V.M., M.S., C.V.A., 352-472-2106.