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For thousands of years, the Chinese have been using acupuncture
to treat a variety of ailments. There are studies such
as this,
which showcase the positive effects of acupuncture on animals.
Since its introduction in veterinary medicine, more and more
people have been opting for acupuncture.
What does acupuncture do for pets?
- Acupuncture can do the following for pets:
- It stimulates the pet’s body to release anti-inflammatory and
pain relieving substances
- It relaxes the muscles in and around the area of insertion,
relieving the pets of any pain
- It improves removal of toxins and waste, oxygenation, and
blood flow in tissues
- It doesn’t have any adverse side effects on the internal
organs of the pet unlike over the counter and prescription
- It doesn’t react with any supplements or medications pets
might be taking
How does acupuncture work?
The aim of acupuncture is to stimulate the body to begin healing
itself. According to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
(TCVM), acupuncture stimulates the nervous system, releases pain
relieving and anti-inflammatory hormones, and improves
circulation of blood. In acupuncture, the practitioner will
insert needles into the pet’s body tissue, where the blood
vessels and nerve bundles meet. The collection of vascular and
nervous tissues is known as acupuncture point. These acupuncture
points are all over the surface of the body on energy channels or
meridians.Different types of acupuncture are also available such
as acupressure, aquapuncture, moxibustion, electrostimulation,
and laser.
Is acupuncture painful for pets?
Insertion of needles is relatively painless for all pets.
However, if the practitioner has to insert large needles, pets
may feel pain when the needles pass through their skin. Once the
practitioner places the needles, pets won’t feel any pain. The
vast majority of pets will become very sleepy and relaxed.
Is acupuncture safe for pets?
It is one of the safest forms of treatment when a trained
veterinarian administers acupuncture. Vets can combine
alternative and conventional therapies if they have extensive
knowledge, skill, training, and certification. Acupuncture
veterinarians need to know how different types of treatment work
and understand how the pet responds to therapy. As the benefits
of acupuncture are cumulative, it is best when pets receive
treatment consistently.
How many treatments will pets need?
The vast majority of pets will see improvement when they go for
at least one to three sessions of acupuncture treatment every
week. After their condition improves significantly, the
practitioner will reduce the frequency of treatments.When you
have to choose a veterinary acupuncturist, he/she should satisfy
the following criteria:
- He/she is a licensed veterinarian
- He/she has formal training in veterinary acupuncture
If you have any queries regarding veterinary acupuncture, feel
free to leave a comment below.
Did You Know That Most Of the Cat Diseases Can Be Treated With a
Diet Change?
According to statistics, the most common diseases faced by pet
cats across the country include renal failure, diabetes,
hyperthyroidism, allergies, lymphoma, IBD and feline lower UTIs.
Almost all of these conditions have nutritional remedies and with
a little out-of-the-box thinking, they can be treated with a
proper diet.
-
Hyperthyroidism – Cats that
suffer from hyperthyroidism make too much thyroxin. Excess
iodine can make the thyroid produce more thyroxin, which is one
of the main reasons pet food manufacturers have started making
low iodine food to prevent hyperthyroidism.
-
Diabetes
mellitus – Cats suffer from diabetes mellitus and
it can be easily controlled with a proper diet. Cats can go off
insulin entirely if they follow diet plan than is low in
carbohydrates and high in protein.
-
Allergies – If
your cat is allergic to a particular food item (dairy products
and beef are the most common culprits), then try to avoid that
ingredient. Even if your cat is allergic to something in the
environment (mold spores, pollen or mites), dietary therapy can
help. Nutritional supplements that are rich in essential fatty
acids can ease allergic symptoms.
-
Chronic bowel
inflammation – Hypoallergenic diets that are made
from novel protein sources like green pea and venison, or diets that have been broken
down before are the best option when it comes to treating
inflammatory bowel disease. Probiotic supplements with
intestinal microorganisms are also a common treatment for IBD.
-
Lymphoma –
Cancerous cells end up altering the body’s metabolism. They end
up metabolizing the glucose in the diet to make lactate that
the body ends up converting back to glucose. This takes much
needed energy away from your cat and hands it over to the
cancer. Cancers are also responsible for converting the amino
acids into energy. Amino acids play a crucial role in muscle
building and the interference from cancer cells can lead to
muscle wasting, slow healing and poor immune system function.
On the other hand, cancerous cells are not very good at using
fat as a source of energy. Many veterinarians recommend feeding
the cat a diet that is low in carbohydrates and high in fat and
protein. Essential fatty
acids are also recommended because they are a good
source of calories and fat, and are known to have anti-cancer
effects.
-
UTI – A lower
urinary tract infection is quite common in female cats.
However, it is worth bearing in mind that dilute urine does not
irritate the wall of the bladder like concentrated urine can.
Feeding canned food to your pet is a good way of increasing her
water consumption. Many canned food products are aimed at
promoting bladder health and maintain the optimal urinary pH,
which can be helpful if your cat suffers from the problem of
urinary crystals. You can also opt for nutritional supplements
with cranberry extracts to prevent recurrent infections.
