Services & Facilities
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is recognised as an integral part of traditional Chinese Medicine and involves piercing the skin with fine metal needles in order to relieve symptoms, cure disease and promote health. The Chinese philosophy involves placing needles in certain specific points along meridians (channels in the body) to influence the flow of chi (life-force/energy)
Recently, scientific investigation of acupuncture has revealed a sound neurophysical basis to this approach and has shown that stimulation of certain nerves or muscles (acupuncture points) causes a blockage of pain. It also stimulates the release of pain-relieving chemicals in the brain (endorphins), which produce more generalised pain relief.
Acupuncture may be particularly effective in the treatment of chronic disease, either to complement orthodox treatments or when orthodox medicine fails.
In the UK, acupuncture for animals is classified as an act of veterinary surgery and can only be legally performed by a veterinary surgeon.
Most insurance companies recognise the benefits of acupuncture and will cover the cost of treatments, although it does pay to check with your individual insurer prior to starting treatment.
All animals can potentially be treated with acupuncture, although we mainly treat dogs and cats. Rabbits have been treated and often respond very well.
Conditions which can be treated are:
- Chronic gastro-intestinal disease, such as chronic diarrhoea or constipation
- Chronic skin disease like atopy (allergic skin disease) and non-healing wounds
- Urinary/faecal incontinence
- Stress related disorders in cats
- Musculo-skeletal pain such as occurs with arthritis
The first treatment involves an initial assessment of the animal and problem being treated, a detailed history is taken and full clinical examination performed, paying particular attention to muscles and joints.
LINKS
Association of British Veterinary Acupuncturists (ABVA)
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