212-832-8417
Park East Animal Hospital
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Staff
    • Our Founder
    • Tour
    • Pet Photos
    • Careers
  • Services
    • Preventive Medicine
    • Travel Paperwork
    • Special Offers
    • Payment Options
    • Resources
  • News
  • Blog
  • Contact

Acupuncture and Your Pet

3/19/2018

 
By: Chelsea Anderson, DVM, cVMA
A dog receiving acupuncture treatment.
Acupuncture – the insertion of needles into the body – is a technique that has been used in veterinary medicine in China for at least 3000 years. In recent decades, there has been significant scientific research on the subject of acupuncture, supporting the practice and proving that this aspect of physical medicine has healing benefit, primarily through modulation of the nervous and vascular systems. Dr. Chelsea Anderson has brought the practice of acupuncture to Park East! Dr. Anderson completed her acupuncture certification through Colorado State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016 and joined our team in June 2017. Enjoy her Acupuncture Primer below.
​

In acupuncture, needles are inserted into universally recognized ‘points’ that are typically near nerves, arteries, and veins. These points are rich with neurologic influence, and send signals to the brain and spinal cord to modify pain response, encourage circulation and healing, and reduce muscle spasm. The main indication of acupuncture is for functional problems, such as paralysis, non-infectious inflammation and pain. Some conditions that can be treated with acupuncture include:

Canine Meridian Chart
  • Musculoskeletal problems – periodic acupuncture treatment has been shown effective in reducing pain associated with trauma, surgery, and chronic inflammation due to arthritis or hip dysplasia
  • Neurologic conditions – patients with anxiety can improve with acupuncture therapy, and symptoms of more serious neurologic disease, such as paralysis or seizures, can be reduced or eliminated
  • Dermatological issues – symptoms from allergies and lick granulomas can be alleviated
  • Gastrointestinal problems – acupuncture has been shown to be effective in conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhea and constipation
  • Genitourinary issues – signs of chronic renal failure and urinary incontinence can be managed and progression of disease can be slowed
  • Respiratory conditions – symptoms of feline asthma can be managed with regular acupuncture treatments
Introducing acupuncture as a neuromodulatory technique can speed recovery and reduce reliance on drugs. It is a great option for dogs and cats who may not be surgical candidates for their condition, or adjunctively following surgery. We do not recommend replacing Western medicine solely with acupuncture; rather, it should be used in conjunction with other diagnostics and treatments.
​

Your first visit will be scheduled for approximately 1-hour and will include a consultation, thorough myofascial exam, and a treatment (pending tolerance). Follow-up visits are scheduled for 30 minutes. We encourage scheduling the initial 2-3 sessions within a two-week period in order to determine whether the patient will respond to acupuncture. Typically, we see some form of response within the first three treatments. Once a baseline has been established, the frequency of visits is entirely dependent on your pet’s response to treatment.
​

If you have questions about whether acupuncture can help your pet, please call our office at 212-832-8417 to speak with your veterinarian or schedule a consultation with Dr. Anderson.


​

    Picture

    PEAH Blog

    Welcome to the Park East blog! Contributions from our doctors and staff will be archived and organized here for your reading pleasure. Timely advice and reliable information from your trusted veterinary team.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2018
    October 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

    Categories

    All
    Acupuncture
    Autumn
    Beach
    Cats
    Dental Month
    Dr. Anderson
    Dr. Heskel
    Dr. Hooker
    Dr. Jackson
    Dr. Levine
    Dr. Shorenstein
    Dr. Thornton
    Feline Care
    Holidays
    Infectious Disease
    Leptospirosis
    Oral Health
    Park East Staff
    Parties
    Prevention
    Preventive Care
    Safety
    Summer
    Vector Borne Disease
    Vicki
    Winter
    Year Round
    Year-Round

    RSS Feed

1390 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Between 71st and 72nd Streets

P: 212-832-8417
F: 212-981-3721

info@parkeastanimalhospital.com

Follow us on instagram!

Park East provides nursing care
24 hours a day, 365 days a year,
​and a doctor is always on call. 



                                                          

                                                  Copyright 2015 Park East Animal Hospital

Privacy