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Old Dog Resources
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Veterinary Acupuncture
by Nick Thompson MRCVS
Nick Thompson BSc.(Hons), BVM&S, VetMFHom, MRCVS. has been a practicing Veterinary Surgeon for almost 10 years, currently working as a
consultant for 6 Veterinary Practices in the south of England. He can be contacted on 01243 535 494 or through his web site
www.holisticvet.co.uk
Everyone has heard about this strange Oriental treatment where they put needles
in your body. Not everyone has heard that you can also use it in animals. Yes,
dogs, cats and horses are being treated successfully every day in the UK and
throughout the world by vets trained in Acupuncture. In the UK, the law states
that only vets trained in acupuncture can treat animals with needles.
Human-trained acupuncturists can treat people, but not animals, surprisingly.
Here's a concise resume of Veterinary Acupuncture. If you would like more
information, contact the Secretary Onno Weiranga MRCVS on 0207 937 8215 for a
list of vets practicing acupuncture in the UK.
History - From Stone Needles to Laser Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a treatment method for all species, as well as humans, developed
in the Orient over the last 3,500 years. As very practical peoples, they
discovered that they could stimulate healing within the body by stimulating
certain special points, "acupoints", with 15cm bian stone needles. The
Chinese believe that energy, or Qi (pronounced 'Chi') circulates around the body
maintaining the vitality and health of all tissues. When this Qi flow is
blocked, disease flourishes. These blockages can occur, according to Traditional
Chinese philosophy through trauma, scars or through exposure to 'pathogenic
factors' such as wind, damp and cold. Huang Ti, the Yellow Emperor, warrior,
road builder, astronomer and author of "Huang Ti Nei Ching" ('Yellow Emperor's
Classic of Internal Medicine') wrote in China around 2,700 BC.
Traditional Chinese Medicine - TCM
He observed that:
acupuncture was developed in southern China
moxibustion (where needles or skin is heated) was developed in northern China
herbal medicine in western China
massage and acupressure techniques in central China
These were all brought together during his reign as 'Traditional Chinese
Medicine'. It is said that doctors of this ancient time were paid by how
many healthy people they had on their books. This seems to be a very good
idea, perhaps one that could help our modern medicine.
Animal acupuncture is nearly as old as human acupuncture. Horses were incredibly
important at the time. Their primary role was as war machines to help the
feuding armies fight and mobilise resources. Horses were also used in
agriculture on the wealthier farms. To have a horse acupuncturist was as
important then as the Royal Army Engineers are today; no transport, no war!
Only during the last 30 years has attention been paid to the acupuncture
treatment of cats and dogs. In the 1970s, the International Veterinary
Acupuncture Society was launched in United States. Practitioners sprouted up all
over the world dealing with all types of species. The last three decades has
seen a massive boom in the popularity of small animal (pet) and equine
acupuncture all over the world. There are now practitioners in nearly every
country on the planet using basic needling techniques to sophisticated laser
gadgetry to stimulate acupoints. Pets and horses throughout the world are now
benefiting from this wonderful Chinese healing art.
Modern Western Veterinary Acupuncture
Modern Western Medicine has come to conclusions, in the last few centuries,
similar to those realised by their Chinese counterparts 2,000 years ago. Their
investigation technique is called Science. From anatomical and physiological
studies doctors have worked out how blood flows, how the immune system works and
how the nervous system controls it all. Where Traditional Chinese Medicine
theory says you have blockages of energy flow, modern medicine could describe
this as poor blood circulation leading to fibrositis if in the muscles, angina
if in the heart and strokes if in the brain. Western medicine uses drugs to
combat these effects where the Chinese would use needles and herbs. Needling
carefully chosen acupoints has been shown, scientifically, to release
morphine-like substances called 'endorphins' and to change the way the brain and
the nervous system recognises an area of disease. It is as if acupuncture has a
re-educating effect on the body dealing badly with an injured a limb or diseased
organ. So, waking up of the immune system, the circulatory system and focussing
this new activity through carefully repeated needling seems to be the physical
effect of acupuncture. It must be said that the Traditional Chinese Medicine
approach can often work better than the high-tech scientific approach! This is
especially true when dealing with longstanding disease.
In the UK now, there are dozens of vets trained in veterinary acupuncture.
Between them they treat Rats, Birds, Horses, Elephants, Dogs, Ponies, Pigs, Cats
and Rabbits. Most are in regular practice, but have a special interest in
acupuncture. Almost every county in the land has at least one vet whose
interests include acupuncture.
A Consultation in Veterinary Acupuncture
Your animals' first acupuncture consultation will usually take 30-60 minutes
to take a full history, treat the animal and discuss aspects of the case.
Further consultations are usually about 30 minutes. Acupoints used by the vet
are generally transposed from human acupuncture. We have a skeleton very similar
to horses, dogs and cats and so points can be located fairly accurately from
species to species. Points can be found all over the body, from the little toe
to the tip of the nose. They are areas rich in nerve and blood vessel supply;
the skin actually looks microscopically different at these foci. Points are
distributed along lines of 'energy' called meridians or channels. These energy
highways have associations with the organs and are called, for example, the
Bladder Vessel, or the Large Intestine Meridian to emphasise some of their uses.
When your vet has taken a history and examined your pet, they will select points
that need stimulation to free up 'blockage'. The idea of energy blockage can be
thought of as a way of explaining the effects the needles have to make animals
and people better.
Some vets are uncomfortable with the concept of energy. That's ok. They think of
the flow of blood and get equally good results. Stimulation of acupoint sites
can be by inserting very thin, one or two inch (2.5cm in cat and dogs to 5cm in
horses) needles through the skin to prompt a response. It can also be done by
using an intense light source, laser light and by using pressure, a technique
known as acupressure. Needles need to be left in for 15-20 minutes and can be
stimulated gently by twisting. Once needles are in they are painless. I have
even had dogs falling asleep during treatments! Needles are removed carefully at
the end of the session of 10 - 20 mins. Sometimes the needles have worked their
way out themselves and are just holding on by the very tip. Most needles will
loosen in the skin. This is a good sign and suggests good response. When we
start an animal on a course of acupuncture, the frequency of treatment will
depend on the condition, but weekly sessions for 4 - 6 weeks initially is
typical. After this time, progress will be assessed and you will be guided as to
how to go on from there by your veterinary acupuncturist.
Is Acupuncture Painful?
This is a question I'm often asked. I'll go through the various arguments
with you here to let you see all sides of the argument. The first thing to say
is that it is impossible to put a needle through the skin without provoking some
sensation. It is not always painful, but can sometimes be a sharp sensation. If
the acupuncturist has chosen a point that is very blocked, then sometimes
stimulation of the point when the needle gets through the skin is uncomfortable.
So why do we do it if it is painful sometimes? Answer: the benefits outweigh the
mild discomfort of the treatment. The first thing vets are taught, the first
thing that all animal and human healers learn is 'First, do no harm'.
If acupuncture really was excruciating and the results were equivocal, then it
should be stopped. But the opposite is true. When we humans make a decision to
go to an acupuncturist, we do so not for fun, but because we have a problem that
we want fixed. Animals don't see it like that. They see it as 'I have this
really sore back or leg and now they take me to see this person and all they
want to do is put needles in me!'. This is why some pets are pretty confused the
first time they go for treatment. So, our job as owners and vets is to reassure
them. Pets can be brave or quite timid, just like us. So some will take
acupuncture in their stride, some will need reassurance because they are scared.
There will always be those pets who really hate needles of any kind. In these
cases, the vet can use photonic therapy or laser. Both use light to treat the
acupoints in the same way as needles, except nothing solid goes through the
skin. The down side is that sometimes the effect of using light is not as long
lasting as using needles.
Another alternative is to use gold bead implants at the acupoints. This is done
under general anaesthesia and is usually done for conditions that need continual
stimulation e.g. hip dysplasia in larger dog breeds. Three or four beads are
placed in the tissue around the hip joint, in the case of hip dysplasia, at the
acupoints, to maintain the mobility of the dog without the need for weekly
treatments for years.
Conditions where Acupuncture can Help
To give you an idea of some of the conditions in your pets where acupuncture
might help, below is a list of the type of problems where it has helped other
animals. If you are in any doubt, find your nearest acupuncture vet. Ask them to
examine your animal. They will then be able to give you specific advice on what
would be best.
If you have a problem with your animal and would like to have acupuncture,
please remember that first getting a diagnosis is a good idea; either from your
vet or from the acupuncture vet. This is very important as there are conditions
that need surgical treatment, not just medical/acupuncture treatment. Once a
diagnosis has been made, or a surgical condition has been ruled out, then this
is a green light to go ahead with acupuncture.
Canine Conditions |
Feline Conditions |
Equine Conditions |
Musculoskeletal
Lameness of unknown origin
Hip Dysplasia
Bruising/Sprains
Arthritic and Rheumatic joints with or without bony exostoses
Back pain/Wincing when touched
Cruciate Ligament Damage (in conjunction with acupuncture)
Respiratory
Chronic bronchitis
Coughing unresponsive to treatment
Persistent or Periodic Kennel Cough
Urogenital
Infertility
Incontinence in bitches
Old age incontinence
Cystitis
Ovarian dysfunction
Nervous System
Epilepsy
Digestive System
Persistent diarrhoea
Persistent constipation
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Musculoskeletal
Lameness of unknown origin (with Acupuncture)
Cruciate damage
Arthritic/Rheumatic problems
Back pain
Respiratory
Feline Asthma
Chronic nasal discharges
Chronic Cat Flu
Chronic sneezing
Urogenital
Kidney disease
Incontinence
Infertility
Cystitis
Nervous System
Epilepsy
Digestive System
Persistent diarrhoea
Persistent constipation
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Musculoskeletal
Lameness of unknown origin
Navicular Disease
Laminitis
Cold Back Syndrome
Respiratory
COPD/ Hay dust cough/Hay allergy
Chronic nasal discharges
Chronic cough
Some forms of Head Shaking
Urinary System
Incontinence
Kidney disease
Reproductive System
Infertility
Cystic Ovaries
Mares not coming into season
Excessive behaviour when in seas
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Permission to reprint from our friend Dr. Nick Thompson MRCVS
www.holisticvet.co.uk
Organizations
International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) is a non-profit organization dedicated
to promoting excellence in the practice of veterinary acupuncture as an integral part of the total veterinary health care delivery system.
Locate a certified veterinary acupuncturist near you.
The American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture
AAVA) - mission is to "To promote the art and science of Veterinary Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, to further the professional
development of our members, to encourage the education of veterinarians in Veterinary Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and to provide
leadership and resources in the United States for the advancement of these disciplines."
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