Friendship Hospital for Animals is excited to announce Dr. Catherine Hageman, DVM, CVA has returned to our staff after a six year absence. She will be resuming her role as our in-house veterinary acupuncturist.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points on the body that have the ability to alter various neurologic, biochemical and physiologic conditions. There are many ways to stimulate these acupoints, including pressure, needles alone, needles with electrical stimulation and aquapuncture (injection of a medication into a point).
How does it work?
It was originally believed that acupuncture was an attempt to influence a mysterious "energy" circulating through invisible channels in the body. We now know that acupuncture affects the central nervous system, leading to the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones that can change circulation, muscle tone, perception of pain and organ function.
What conditions are treated with acupuncture?
Acupuncture has most commonly been applied as a primary or supplemental treatment for pain in small animals, but may be indicated in almost any dysfunction of the body. Some examples of disorders in which acupuncture may be applied include:
- Musculoskeletal and Neurologic conditions: osteoarthritis, traumatic injuries, intervertebral disc disease, muscle strain, epilepsy
- Skin and Eye: chronic allergies/dermatitis, non-healing wounds, chronic ear infections, dry eye syndrome
- Cardiovascular and Respiratory: congestive heart failure, blood pressure disorders, asthma, emergency resuscitation
- Gastrointestinal: inflammatory bowel disease, chronic constipation or diarrhea
- Urologic: urinary incontinence, feline inappropriate urination, chronic kidney insufficiency
- Endocrine: diabetes
It is important to realize that acupuncture is not a "cure-all" and is typically used in addition to, rather in as a replacement for, "traditional" Western medicine.
How will my pet react? Does it hurt?
Most animals barely notice the placement of the acupuncture needles, which are very tiny. Treats or chews are often used to help distract pets during therapy. Once the needles are in place, many pets relax, sometimes even falling asleep!
How often and for how long will my pet need to be treated?
The treatment plan varies depending on the condition being treated and the patient's response to treatment. Pets are often treated once weekly for 3-6 treatments, then every few weeks to months as needed for chronic conditions. Needles are left in place for 5 to 30 minutes at each treatment, and your pet is evaluated for response before and after every visit. How quickly will my pet respond? Are there any negative side effects?
Response also varies with each patient-- some respond positively immediately after the first treatment while others may take 3-6 treatments to respond. Rarely, an individual will not show any noticeable response to acupuncture. Finally, there are some occasion in which an animal seems to deteriorate temporarily before improving-- it is believed that this reaction is related to a rebalancing effect of the nervous system.
Please contact us if you would like to learn more about whether acupuncture is right for your pet!