Medical Acupuncture

Applications for laser therapy include:

What is veterinary medical acupuncture?

Laser therapy for dogs and cats is useful for many different conditions. Some of the most common include:

Treatment of arthritis, degenerative joint disease, or hip dysplasia
General pain management (sprains, strains, and stiffness)
Post-surgery pain (spays, neuters, declaws, and other surgeries)

Skin problems (hot spots, lick granulomas, infections)
Dental procedures
Fractures and wounds (bites, abrasions, and lesions)
Ear infections

Morris Animal Hospital is excited to offer veterinary medical acupuncture to patients. Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body. Medical acupuncture was developed by medical practitioners as an adaptation of Eastern Acupuncture, employing our current knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology, and keeping with evidence-based medicine.

Treatment of arthritis, degenerative joint disease, or hip dysplasia
General pain management (sprains, strains, and stiffness)
Post-surgery pain (spays, neuters, declaws, and other surgeries)
Skin problems (hot spots, lick granulomas, infections)
Dental procedures
Fractures and wounds (bites, abrasions, and lesions)
Ear infections

How it works

Acupuncture has well-known benefits for acute and chronic pain. It can also be beneficial for neurologic problems such as disk disease, spinal cord injury, or peripheral neuropathy. It can greatly improve musculoskeletal ailments like arthritis pain, neck pain, and many other conditions. Acupuncture can complement other modalities for pain control, and may result in less reliance on other drugs for pain relief. Research is continually building and informing our evidence-based usage of medical acupuncture.

Acupuncture needles are placed at specific points to cause activation of nerve fibers. The goal of acupuncture is to balance nerve signaling and neurotransmitter activity from the acupuncture point to the central and autonomic nervous system centers. Acupuncture releases tension from muscles and the surrounding fibrous network, called fascia.

Applications for acupuncture

Refill In-House Online Pharmacy

Most pets respond favorably to acupuncture. Your pet may be tired the day after the appointment. The number and frequency of treatments needed differs between patients and the condition(s) being addressed. Usually, pet parents will notice a change within the first few treatments if the acupuncture is going to make a meaningful difference. Your doctor may want to perform radiographs to help localize affected areas.

Abnormal sitting or lying posture
Circling multiple times before lying down
Restlessness
Whining, groaning or other vocalizations
Limping, unable to get up or lie down

What to expect

Difficulty getting into car or down stairs
Lack of grooming
Won’t wag tail
Licking or biting area
Lack of appetite
Trembling

Most pets respond favorably to acupuncture. Your pet may be tired the day after the appointment. The number and frequency of treatments needed differs between patients and the condition(s) being addressed. Usually, pet parents will notice a change within the first few treatments if the acupuncture is going to make a meaningful difference. Your doctor may want to perform radiographs to help localize affected areas.

To schedule an appointment or obtain additional information, contact us today!

574-271-1909