Should you pursue acupuncture for your pet? This is a prickly question. What about a chiropractor for your pet? It’s more common than you think.
Acupuncture
Let’s go with the first, obvious question, what does acupuncture for your pet entail? Acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into body tissue where nerve bundles and blood vessels come together. These collections of nervous and vascular tissue are termed acupuncture points, which course over all aspects of the body’s surface on meridians (energy channels). The meridians permit a cycle of energy to occur throughout the entire body over the course of the day’s 24 hours.
Now, what can acupuncture do for your pet?
- Veterinary acupuncture stimulates the release of the body’s own pain relieving and anti-inflammatory chemicals.
- Relaxation of muscles at the site of needle insertion and more distant locations, creating both a local and generalized pain relieving effect.
- Veterinary acupuncture improves tissue blood flow, oxygenation, and removal of metabolic wastes and toxins.
- Veterinary acupuncture lacks potential adverse side effects for your pet’s internal organs as opposed to pain medications.
- Your pet’s medications will not clash with veterinary acupuncture treatment; therefore, it can safely be used to treat a variety of illnesses.
What Conditions Can be Managed with Veterinary Acupuncture?
- Arthritis
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)
- Trauma
- Cancer
- Metabolic Disease
Pet Chiropractor
What about chiropractic for your pet? Dog chiropractic is an all-natural approach to treating several joint, muscular and skeletal problems that are common in some dogs and certain breeds. The principles and practices behind veterinary chiropractic are nearly identical to those used with humans.
What Conditions Can a Pet Chiropractor Help Treat?
Dog chiropractic can help treat many disorders, injuries and ailments. The following are some of the more common conditions dog chiropractors treat.
- Subluxations
- Repetitive use injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Hip dysplasia
- Osteoarthritis relief
- Urinary incontinence
- Forelimb lameness
- Stiffness
- Post-surgery recovery
When is a Chiropractor the Right Choice for Your Pup?
Chiropractic care isn’t for every dog, just as some medications, surgery or other treatments aren’t a one-size-fits-all answer. It’s important to keep in mind that chiropractic for dogs isn’t a substitution for standard veterinary care. So, when should you consider a canine chiropractor? If your dog hasn’t responded well or has had negative side effects from medications or other standard treatments, or if your dog isn’t a candidate for surgery, a dog chiropractor can be a huge help.
Learn more on our website about the acupuncture and chiropractic care that we offer or stop in to talk with our specialist. While you’re in, take advantage of our May special of $19.99 registered microchips for your furry pets.
