Accupuncture
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a treatment in which specialist atraumatic needles are inserted into specific points of the body to provide pain relief, aid healing and reduce the impact of disease. It can be used to treat a wide variety of problems.
Before using acupuncture, an accurate diagnosis is needed and all potential treatment options should be considered.
Often acupuncture is used in conjunction with other more widely recognised methods of treatment and is considered complementary, but in other cases it can be used on its own.
It is considered to be a very safe mode of treatment and in many cases, used as part of a broader treatment plan, it can reduce reliance on conventional medications.
In some cases, especially in the treatment of chronic pain, the beneficial effects of acupuncture can be augmented by electroacupuncture.
With this technique little electrode clips are attached to specific acupuncture needles. Small electric currents of varying frequency and intensity are then passed between pairs of them, increasing the stimulation that can normally be achieved by dry needling alone.
What can it be used to treat?
Acupuncture can be very effective in the treatment of chronic (long term) conditions.
The control of pain is one of the most common reasons that acupuncture will be recommended, often pain from arthritis and spinal disease. Acupuncture can also be used during rehabilitation following orthopaedic or spinal surgeries.
Acupuncture can also be used for other conditions including gastrointestinal disease, urinary disorders and epilepsy.
What can I expect?
Dogs, cats and even rabbits are treated with acupuncture at Rosevean.
Most accept treatment well and often become quite relaxed and sleepy.
For some this effect lasts several hours after treatment.
The needles can be left in place for between five and 30 minutes depending on the needs of each individual. During your initial appointment, the vet will go through with you your pet’s recent history and perform a full clinical and condition specific examination.
Acupuncture will then be performed, based upon your pets individual needs.
Usually, treatment requires four to six courses, one week apart to begin with. After this, and at any time during an agreed treatment plan, your pet will be re-evaluated on a treatment by treatment basis.
Some animals require ongoing treatment at specific intervals, whilst others need a block of one or more treatments every so often to boost the effects.
It is important that you provide detailed feedback about your pet's ongoing condition to allow treatment to be most effectively administered.
Acupuncture is a recognised treatment for many conditions and as a result the majority of insurance companies will cover the costs involved. However, it is always best to check your policy or contact your individual company before undertaking treatment.