What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the practice of inserting fine, solid needles into the body for pain relief or, in some cases, to help the body deal with other diseases. It works through the nervous system. The needles block the pain messages and encourage the brain and central nervous system to produce more of the body’s natural painkillers. In conditions that are not painful, acupuncture may help to reset the body’s normal functioning.

What to expect during acupuncture appointments?

New patients or referrals from another hospital will need a first acupuncture appointment, which consists of a full physical exam and overall assessment of the patient’s health (previous medical records, history, physical exam, current medications), which allows the formulation of a patient-specific acupuncture plan. This is a longer 60-minute appointment. Additional appointments following this plan will be 30 minutes.

Existing TAH patients and internal referrals may qualify for follow-up appointments, which are shorter 30-minute sessions and have a lower cost.

After examination, needles will be put into various parts of the body and moved or stimulated a few times. There is not a set “dose” of acupuncture as there is for medication, so your vet will judge how much to do based on your pet’s response both at the time and after the treatment. They may become sleepy and relaxed during the treatment.

Frequency will be determined by your vet, and a plan will be made for the next treatment.

What is Electroacupuncture?

Electroacupuncture (EA) is stimulating acupuncture needles with electrical impulses and is considered a “stronger dose” than manual acupuncture alone. Most animals tolerate EA well, and your vet will determine if your pet would benefit from EA.

Would my pet need to be sedated for this treatment?

It is uncommon for animals to be sedated for acupuncture, but your vet may recommend pre-visit calming medication such as Gabapentin or Trazodone to help keepthem calm during the appointment.

What to expect after treatment?

It is not uncommon for pets to go home and sleep very soundly for a long time. This is a good sign and shows that your pet will probably respond well to acupuncture. Sometimes your pet may seem a little more euphoric than usual; keep them quiet for the rest of the day or they may overdo things.

What kind of response to expect?

1. They may seem a little stiffer or more uncomfortable. This just means that the dose was a bit too much, but also shows that they should respond to treatment. After a day or two, they will improve again and should be better than before.

2. You may see no response. This is always disappointing but it does not mean your pet will not respond; it may just be that they will take a little longer or that their improvement after the first treatment was too brief or small for you to see. We cannot say that they will not respond until after the fourth treatment. Not all animals or humans are acupuncture “responders”, but about 80% will be.

3. You may see an improvement. This may occur anytime in the three days after treatment. The signs that we are trying to treat may then return before the next treatment, but this is fine. After each subsequent treatment, the effects should last for longer, so that your pet may eventually not need more treatments for some time.

To request an Acupuncture appointment, please fill out the Acupuncture Request Form (link) found below. We will contact you to book an appointment.

Acupuncture Request Form