Pets World

It is likely that you have probably heard about acupuncture for people, but the concept of dog acupuncture may be somewhat new to you. The idea of a therapy that uses needles to penetrate acupuncture points may seem slightly ridiculous for a dog. Why would a canine even need this type of therapy? Where can you take your dog to have acupuncture performed? Here are some of the different things that any pet owner consider acupuncture for dogs should be sure to take into consideration.

Why Choose Acupuncture For Dogs?

Acupuncture can provide a wide variety of health benefits for animals, just like it can for people. One of the most common reasons that dog owners choose acupuncture is because many canines experience arthritis when they get older. This tends to be more common among larger breeds, such as Golden Retrievers. Acupuncture can help ease the pain that the dog will normally experience. Some of the other health problems that acupuncture can help ease include hip dysplasia, injuries, strains, respiratory problems, and epilepsy.

How Many Acupuncture Sessions are Necessary?

The number of acupuncture sessions that will be necessary to improve health problems will vary according to your dog. Every dog is different, and the amount of time that it will take for the dog to heal will be different. That said, most dogs will require between three and five acupuncture sessions in order for there to be a noticeable difference in pain relief. Some dogs may require more or less acupuncture sessions, however. Almost all dogs will need to have at least more than one session to see results.

Who Performs Acupuncture For Dogs?

Keep in mind that acupuncture is not typically a form of therapy that your dog can receive just by visiting the veterinarian. In order to perform acupuncture for a dog, one must be a Certified Animal Acupuncturist. You may be able to find an acupuncturist for animals by looking in the phone book for “holistic veterinarians” or one may be recommended to you by a vet. Often, those who are certified to perform acupuncture for humans become certified to perform it for animals as well so don’t be afraid to call and ask.

What are the Potential Side Effects?

If you are thinking about acupuncture for your dog, then you are also probably wondering what the potential side effects are. Some of the possible problems that may occur include fatigue and ruptured blood vessels or nerves. Another one of the problems that can occur with acupuncture for dogs is a broken needle. The needle may break inside the dogs skin and surgery may be required to remove it. Keep in mind that side effects of acupuncture for dogs are very rare, however.

Acupuncture for dogs can be highly beneficial. If your dog has experienced some type of injury or is simply in pain due to a health condition, it may be a good idea to think about acupuncture. Although there are side effects associated with this form of holistic therapy, the health benefits of acupuncture greatly outweigh them.