Acupuncture for my patients and for my back. What this ancient Chinese medical practice can do for you and your pet! From an Integrative Emergency Veterinarian

Tonight I did acupuncture on a little poodle that has neurological symptoms from head trauma, meaning she currently cannot walk but is slowly improving with supportive care. She is doing great recovering with supportive care but acupuncture just adds some pain relief, helps her nerves to fire more easily, and stimulates her GI tract to keep moving. In the last 24 hours, I also went to a human acupuncturist and had my own acupuncture session for sciatica pain from a herniated disc that I've had for years. (shout out to Adriana Acupuncture in Miami-she was great!)

My back has been an issue for 15+ years,  I have managed to avoid surgery by using chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage, inversion (both with a table I have and with aerial yoga), and an occasional steroid injection. Acupuncture has helped me with so many ailments over the years from my back pain and sciatica, to pelvic floor pain post-partum, and post-op thoracic issues after my lung cancer surgery. 

I have been practicing acupuncture as a veterinarian for 10+ years. I have seen paralyzed dogs start to walk again. I have seen dogs with facial nerve paralysis regain the use of their facial muscles again. I have witnessed older arthritic dogs jump around after receiving therapy. I have high fived mushers at the finish line whos' dogs were sore 2 weeks before, then were able to run several hundred mile races after acupuncture. 

Do not get me wrong I do not think acupuncture is a catch all for everything but I think it has it's place in aiding in pain relief, regaining nerve and muscle function, anxiety relief, fertility, and aiding in digestion. I am a western practicing veterinarian especially in my emergency work so it took some real effort for me to learn an eastern medical practice and understand it in a way my western medicine trained brain can accept. I now consider myself an integrative practitioner using acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal, and food medicine with my western medicine techniques. It does not have to be one or the other but both types of medicine can compliment each other to aid in pain relief and restoring function. 

                                        

What exactly does acupuncture do? My quick exam room explanation is that the acupuncture needles are used to cause microtrauma in the skin which stimulates the bodies own pain relief system, and anti-inflammatory system. Acupuncture is performed specifically at points along the meridians; these points are where nerves and vessels are close to the surface allowing easier stimulation of them and easier transport of the bodies natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory chemicals. These internal chemicals help break up chronic inflammation and allows the body to start a new mild inflammatory process which can reduce pain and stimulate function. Sometimes for nerve function issues we will add electrical current to the needles to stimulate the points even more. Most animals do not even care about the needle pricks, and often we distract them with treats including frozen meat baby food!

I am the strange ER vet that will offer you acupuncture at 2am if you bring me a painful arthritic dog or a cat having trouble walking, along with my other therapies of course. Side note...I have found TSA does not care about traveling with acupuncture needles in a carry-on, as I bring them with me across the continent from job to job. I never know when I might need them! I have done acupuncture on rabbits, snakes, birds, guinea pigs, and even a rat!

So if you have a health issue that you have become frustrated with your standard care-go find a good acupuncturist! Or if you pet has been struggling with mobility, pain, or nerve issues find a veterinary acupuncturist. For your 4 legged friends make sure you go to a certified veterinarian for acupuncture as there is special training we must complete to do acupuncture on animals as they are not small humans!