Veterinary acupuncture can be used to help relieve your dog's pain and inflammation, speed wound healing, accelerate post-surgical recovery and improve breathing and digestion. Today, our vets explain more about the health benefits of acupuncture for dogs.

Improving Your Dog's Health With Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been used in China for thousands of years to induce a therapeutic response in unhealthy or problematic parts of the human body and is now becoming a more common treatment for health concerns in pets and farm animals. Each year, an increasing number of domestic animals receive acupuncture, with excellent results. As a result, a growing number of pet parents are turning to acupuncture as a way to help improve the health of their canine companions.

Are you wondering what the benefits of acupuncture for dogs might be? Let us explain.

Is acupuncture for dogs safe?

Acupuncture has been used successfully on a variety of animal species, including cats, dogs, rabbits, and horses. Your Smokey Point veterinarian will be able to assess your pet's health and let you know whether acupuncture may be a suitable therapy option for your dog's specific health concerns.

It may reassure you to know that the needles used in acupuncture are so thin that most pets do not require pain treatment or sedation to endure an acupuncture session, and many find it relaxing.

How many acupuncture treatments will my dog need to see benefits?

Every pet has distinct reasons for undergoing acupuncture therapy. The number of sessions required to treat your dog's health concerns will vary from that of another pet. Your veterinary acupuncturist can give you an estimate of how many sessions will benefit your pet, but keep in mind that this may change as the treatment progresses.

What conditions can be treated with acupuncture?

Our veterinary team believes that acupuncture treatments can be beneficial for dogs in a wide variety of ways, including:

Pain Management & Relief

Acupuncture has been demonstrated to trigger the body's own pain-relieving endorphins and anti-inflammatory chemicals, which can aid in the relief of chronic pain. Strong medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, which can be painful, are frequently combined with acupuncture to help make a pet more comfortable. Acupuncture can also help with chronic inflammatory disorders like arthritis.

Improved Digestive Function

Acupuncture may aid in the normalization of digestive activity by stimulating digestive secretions and increasing blood flow to the body. Acupuncture's enhanced blood flow can help with gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and nausea.

Improved Respiratory Function

Acupuncture can benefit pets suffering from respiratory issues such as asthma and allergies. Acupuncture has been demonstrated to offer relaxing and immune-system calming characteristics, as well as the ability to treat animals with breathing problems. Acupuncture's immune-calming and anti-inflammatory properties assist dogs as well.

Accelerate Healing

The insertion of needles at predetermined places is thought to boost blood flow, which is essential for healing and can actually speed up the process. It also stimulates your pet's natural waste disposal mechanism, which assists in the removal of all poisons and waste from their body.

Soothing Skin Problems

Acupuncture is a popular treatment for dogs who have skin issues such as allergic dermatitis, granulomas, or hot spots. The increased circulation can promote healing.

Help With Musculoskeletal Issues

Acupuncture can help with musculoskeletal issues such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, and nerve damage. It is frequently used during injury rehabilitation.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.

Wondering if acupuncture could help to treat your dog's health concerns? Contact our Smokey Point vets today to book an appointment for your canine companion.