| An increasing number of people, wary of the side | | | | at the appropriate points, thereby resolving the issue, |
| effects (or no effects) of western medicine, are | | | | and allowing the energy to flow freely again. |
| looking for alternative solutions to many health issues, | | | | Won't My Pet Get Freaked Out By The Needles? |
| not only for themselves, but also for their pets. If | | | | The first time, he or she might be a bit suspicious of |
| you're a pet owner, you know how heartbreaking it | | | | what's going on, but there are countless stories of |
| is to watch your best furry friend suffer from aches | | | | how animals immediately relax, and even fall asleep, |
| and pains and not be able to do much more about it | | | | once the needles have been inserted. In fact, most |
| than give him the pill the vet prescribed and hope | | | | animals enjoy the treatments so much that they look |
| that it works. While a pill might lessen the pain from | | | | forward to their appointments. In a live discussion at |
| arthritis or stop the itching from allergies, it won't | | | | washingtonpost.com, Dr. Narda Robinson, who |
| cure the cause of it. Acupuncture, on the other hand, | | | | teaches and practices veterinary acupuncture at the |
| tries to get to the root of the problem and, like all | | | | Colorado State University College of Veterinary |
| holistic health therapies, sees the body as a whole | | | | Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, says about one of |
| and tries to balance it out, instead of zeroing in on | | | | her elderly cat patients, "He walks into the hospital on |
| just the sore joint. | | | | a leash and saunters immediately down the hall to my |
| Acupuncture, a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine | | | | exam room to lie on his mat on the floor, waiting for |
| (TCM), has been practiced in China for thousands of | | | | his treatment. If "his" room is occupied, or if he gets |
| years. The first recorded treatments in the west are | | | | taken to another service because it was his day for |
| from Paris in the early 1800s, and nowadays it is | | | | a dermatology appointment, and not acupuncture, he |
| widely practiced both in Europe and the US. | | | | gets quite miffed, and lets his mom and dad know!" |
| Veterinary acupuncture is also gaining popularity: in | | | | Which Conditions Can Be Treated? |
| 1974, The International Veterinary Acupuncture | | | | Most chronic conditions, such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, |
| Society (IVAS) was formed to promote research | | | | disc disease, allergies, dermatological, immune-related |
| and help integrate acupuncture into veterinary | | | | and neurological disorders, and respiratory and |
| medicine. The American Academy of Veterinary | | | | gastrointestinal problems respond very well to |
| Acupuncture (AAVA) was formed in 1998, and today | | | | acupuncture. It can also be an enormous help in |
| counts 720 members all over the country. | | | | dealing with epilepsy, incontinence, sprains and strains, |
| How Does It Work? | | | | and lessening the side effects of cancer treatment |
| In TCM, it is believed that there are 12 pathways in | | | | (nausea, loss of appetite, weakened immune |
| the body called meridians, along which energy, or qi, | | | | system). If your pet has a condition not listed here, |
| travels. All along these pathways are points where | | | | ask your animal acupuncturist about it. To find a |
| the qi rises to the surface. Each point is related to | | | | practitioner near you, go to AAVA's website. If you |
| specific body organs and functions. When there is a | | | | have a pet that can't (or won't) travel to the |
| blockage on the pathway and the qi can't get | | | | acupuncturist's office, don't despair - many make |
| through, we suffer from disease. Acupuncture | | | | house calls. |
| removes the blockage by inserting very thin needles | | | | |