Acupuncture to get more time with your pet
Do you need more time with your best friend?
The life of a dog is too short, even when they have had a long and healthy life. Chronic disease makes it even shorter. All too many of you have heard “There is nothing more that we can do.” But there is often a way to add 6 months or more to your pet’s life. Integrative holistic medicine often has options that conventional medicine does not.
Fred* was an ancient standard poodle who had lost most of his muscle mass because of old age and lack of exercise. It is common to lost some muscle because of age. When a dog is painful from arthritis and reluctant to move, they lose even more. Fred shook when he stood up and had a lot of trouble getting up by himself. Regular painkillers were not working well for him, and his regular vet advised that the time was coming soon when he would no longer be able to walk.
Acupuncture worked very well for Fred, and he was able to walk without shaking. The increased exercise strengthened his muscles and he started getting up by himself. Nobody can live forever, but his owner got to share one more happy year of quality life with him.
Happy* was a dachshund who was suddenly paralyzed in his hind legs. A veterinarian recommended surgery immediately. But there is a very old research paper that shows that acupuncture can offer the same results as surgery, as long as the dog can still feel pain. Happy definitely could feel a heavy pinch of his toes. His head whipped around to look at his foot, then he looked at the vet to say “why did you do that?” After one treatment he was kicking his legs. After the second treatment he could support himself once he was raised to his feet. In 2 weeks he was walking again, a little wobbly. More treatments let him run again. And he was able to avoid expensive surgery.
Acupuncture works very well for pain. Pain is one of the most common problems that acupuncture is used for by conventional veterinarians, and they get referrals for it because the treatment works so well. It does not have the side effects of ulcers, intestinal bleeding, liver damage, and kidney damage that are common with conventional pain treatments. It should be used more by veterinarians, but many are still not convinced. At the same time that there is an increasing use of acupuncture in human hospitals, there is confusion about placebo effect and the power of the mind in controlling pain. Dogs do not have that kind of confusion. But there is much less research in dogs to show the clearcut painkilling effects in dogs.
More veterinarians need to know about the power of acupuncture to help pain. Conventional veterinarians rely on research to learn what works and what does not. To be sure that your own dog can get this lifesaving treatment, please support acupuncture research in dogs. A donation to the Foundation now could save your dog in the future.
Click here to donate online.
Click here to download a donation form to mail in.
*The names of the patients have been changed to protect their owners’ privacy.
The life of a dog is too short, even when they have had a long and healthy life. Chronic disease makes it even shorter. All too many of you have heard “There is nothing more that we can do.” But there is often a way to add 6 months or more to your pet’s life. Integrative holistic medicine often has options that conventional medicine does not.
Fred* was an ancient standard poodle who had lost most of his muscle mass because of old age and lack of exercise. It is common to lost some muscle because of age. When a dog is painful from arthritis and reluctant to move, they lose even more. Fred shook when he stood up and had a lot of trouble getting up by himself. Regular painkillers were not working well for him, and his regular vet advised that the time was coming soon when he would no longer be able to walk.
Acupuncture worked very well for Fred, and he was able to walk without shaking. The increased exercise strengthened his muscles and he started getting up by himself. Nobody can live forever, but his owner got to share one more happy year of quality life with him.
Happy* was a dachshund who was suddenly paralyzed in his hind legs. A veterinarian recommended surgery immediately. But there is a very old research paper that shows that acupuncture can offer the same results as surgery, as long as the dog can still feel pain. Happy definitely could feel a heavy pinch of his toes. His head whipped around to look at his foot, then he looked at the vet to say “why did you do that?” After one treatment he was kicking his legs. After the second treatment he could support himself once he was raised to his feet. In 2 weeks he was walking again, a little wobbly. More treatments let him run again. And he was able to avoid expensive surgery.
Acupuncture works very well for pain. Pain is one of the most common problems that acupuncture is used for by conventional veterinarians, and they get referrals for it because the treatment works so well. It does not have the side effects of ulcers, intestinal bleeding, liver damage, and kidney damage that are common with conventional pain treatments. It should be used more by veterinarians, but many are still not convinced. At the same time that there is an increasing use of acupuncture in human hospitals, there is confusion about placebo effect and the power of the mind in controlling pain. Dogs do not have that kind of confusion. But there is much less research in dogs to show the clearcut painkilling effects in dogs.
More veterinarians need to know about the power of acupuncture to help pain. Conventional veterinarians rely on research to learn what works and what does not. To be sure that your own dog can get this lifesaving treatment, please support acupuncture research in dogs. A donation to the Foundation now could save your dog in the future.
Click here to donate online.
Click here to download a donation form to mail in.
*The names of the patients have been changed to protect their owners’ privacy.
