Pet Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be used as part of your pet’s treatment plan.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin, sterile needles into specific points of the body for therapeutic purposes.
This results in the body producing natural substances, such as pain-relieving endorphins. It is likely that these naturally released substances are responsible for the beneficial effects experienced with acupuncture.
In the U.K. acupuncture can only be performed on animals by a qualified veterinary surgeon.
Acupuncture is a complementary medicine that can be used alongside conventional medicine. We find it can be helpful in pets suffering with chronic pain, such as:
In some cases, it can reduce the number of pain medications these patients require and may improve flexibility in their joints and muscles.
It has also been suggested that acupuncture techniques may be helpful as part of the management of stress and anxiety, gastrointestinal disease, neurological disorders and recovery from surgery.
Appointments typically last 30 minutes. During your pet’s first appointment, we will discuss the condition we are treating and what the possible benefits may be for your pet.
You will be asked to sign a treatment consent form before we proceed. This will be discussed in detail with you at your initial appointment and you will be able to ask our team any questions before proceeding.
We will then perform a physical examination to identify any areas of pain or inflammation, which will allow us to determine where we should insert the acupuncture needles. Generally, between five and 20 different acupuncture points are used.
Once we have completed our initial assessment, we will then move on to needling. “Needling” is the term used to refer to the insertion of the needles into specific, acupuncture points. This will last for up to 20 minutes.
During the appointment, your pet is free to move around but this does increase the likelihood of needles falling out. So, it can be a good idea to have treats on hand to keep your pet comfortable, relaxed and content throughout their treatment, with minimal handling. We have found that filled rubber toys and licky mats can be very helpful to keep cats and dogs happy and still – tubes of licky treats are particularly popular with cats!
Whilst acupuncture may produce a relaxed state, making your pet want to lie down, if you have an item that normally helps your pet settle, please bring this along too.
Acupuncture can make pets sleepy during treatment and for up to 48 hours after.
There can also be some mild bruising in the areas where needles were inserted, as well as a temporary worsening of symptoms. For example, an arthritic dog might be slightly more stiff for up to 48 hours.
If you are concerned about your pet following their acupuncture session, please do not hesitate to contact our team for advice.
You will need to attend weekly sessions with your pet for the first four weeks.
After the initial treatment period, we will assess your pet’s response. If there has been a positive effect, we will create an ongoing treatment plan tailored to your pet and their condition, which may involve less frequent appointments.
It is important to note that, as with any treatment, a small percentage of animals will not respond to acupuncture.
Please complete our pet acupuncture questionnaire below and, if you do not already have an appointment, someone will be in touch to book you in.
Alternatively, please contact the practice directly on 0116 279 3054 or by email at acupuncture@ashtreevets.co.uk to make an appointment.
We ask that the pet acupuncture questionnaire is completed at least 48 hours before your appointment. This allows us to understand the full scope of your concerns without impacting on treatment time during your appointment.
Please ask a member of the team if you would prefer the pet acupuncture questionnaire in a different format.
