Veterinary Acupuncture
Acupuncture can only be practiced by a licensed veterinary surgeon in the UK and is covered by most pet insurance policies.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles through the skin into muscles and tendons, for the purpose of therapy, disease prevention or maintenance of health.
Needling has been shown to block pain through the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters and endorphins (the body’s own morphine). The presence of the needles also has a local healing effect through increasing blood flow.
Conditions that respond to Acupuncture include;
- osteoarthritis
- hip/elbow dysplasia
- muscle & ligament strains
- post operative pain
- gastrointestinal disease
- chronic skin conditions
- non-healing wounds
- incontinence
- epilepsy
- stress, anxiety
Before the first visit you will be asked to have a referral form signed and completed by your veterinary surgeon. The first visit usually takes 30-40minutes and includes a full clinical exam and discussion about your pet’s relevant health issues. Initially the needles are left in place for 10 minutes, building up gradually to 20 minutes at subsequent sessions.
Each subsequent visit will last around 20-30 minutes. A course of treatments once a week for four weeks is recommended before assessing response to therapy.