Acupuncture can be a significant treatment for ailing pets
SouthCoastToday.com
By Brian J. Lowney
Fur, fins and feathers
November 10, 2007 6:00 AM

Have you noticed that your dog is having difficulty climbing up the stairs?

Maybe you’ve tried conventional medication, but that doesn’t seem to be working and the poor creature is obviously in pain.

Have you ever thought of acupuncture?

Dr. Tim Donovan of Kindred Spirits Mobile Veterinary Hospital in Mattapoisett says that this ancient form of Chinese medicine is often used to help pets suffering from chronic conditions such as hip dysplasia, degenerative arthritis and pinched nerves, as well as inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and allergies.

Chinese medical philosophy believes that diseases result from an imbalance of the life force, called “Qi.” Acupuncture works to restore that balance, stimulating the nerves, increasing circulation, aiding in the release of hormones and relieving muscle spasms.

While needles are often used during treatment, other techniques include infrared stimulation, electric current and lasers.

“Acupuncture is very successful for the treatment of chronic conditions that medication frequently doesn’t have a cure for,” Dr. Donovan says.

He adds that acupuncture has been used to treat animals for 4,000 years, and as people learn more about the restorative benefits of this form of healing, it is becoming more popular in the treatment of household pets.
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