The art of acupuncture medicine came from the Chinese civilization. They established a medical practice that included herbs, diet, exercise, massage, the use of animal parts, as well as acupuncture. The Chinese believed that acupuncture maintained and restored the balance between the body, mind and spirit.

The traditional Chinese form of medicine known as acupuncture is now being used by veterinarians on pets. It is recognized by the American Veterinarian Medical Association and the World Health Organization as a valid treatment in veterinarian care.

The acupuncture treatment consists of a series of fine needles inserted into the body to stimulate good health. It works on the principle that the body's organs, which may be disturbed by injury or disease, can be restored through the insertion of these fine needles to balance life energy. The needles are inserted at specific points along the various meridians or energy paths and stimulate the energy to reestablish the body's homeostasis.

Acupuncture for dogs is believed to strengthen immune systems and help to relieve pain. It is also a means of improving the functions of the dog’s organs. It is used for a variety of pet ailments, including musculoskeletal issures, reproductive problems, neurological illness, skin disease, arthritis  and is believed to be helpful in improving athletic performance. It also is believed to help with paralysis, asthma, gastro-intestinal problems and pain.

The fine needles insertion into the animal’s body is quite painless as long as the pet is relaxed. The acupuncturist first palpates the pet’s body to find the acupoints. As she examines, she looks for areas of weakness, stiffness, tenderness, heat, & swelling. The veterinarian then inserts the needles as the pet simply lies on the table (or the floor). In some instances, an assistant will feed the dog treats and talk gently to him while the procedure is going on.

In most cases the pet will not even feel the needles. Very fine needles are used to minimize any sensation the pet might feel. Many times pet owners report that the pet appears to be quite relaxed after the needles have been inserted. It is often noted they seem sleepy or lethargic. This is related to the endorphins (or the body’s natural opiates) that are released during the treatments.

Other methods of stimulation may be used in conjunction with the acupuncture treatments and may include pressure treatments, application of heat, injections of very small amounts of sterile saline or vitamin solutions, or exposure to monochromatic red light. Electrical stimulation may also be used. The average acupuncture treatment lasts about 12-20 minutes.

In some instances just one treatment can help with simple ailments that the dog may have, but more complex problems require repeated treatments. It is not unusual for a more complex problem to require weekly treatments to resolve. In some major instances, treatments may be performed 2-3 times per week.