Acupuncture
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Acupuncture is a corner stone of traditional Chinese medicine, and has
been practised on animals for thousands of years. With scientific
evidence supporting it's use for treating pain, it has become a more
common therapy in the west.
It is most often used to treat pain and to relieve muscle spasm,
but can also be used in the treatment of a range of other conditions
including some types of skin, digestive and bladder diseases.
Acupuncture involves placing very fine sterile needles through the skin
in positions where they can have an affect on the animal's nervous
system. The needles are so fine that pets and horses don't normally
resent them, in fact some animals find acupuncture treatment relaxing
or even mildly sedating. The needles are left in for up to 20 minutes
and then removed. Treatments are normally repeated weekly for 3 or 4
weeks and then at increasing intervals as the effect becomes more
long-lasting. Animals with chronic disease may benefit from regular
'top-up' treatments every 3-4 months in the long term.
Acupuncture is very safe. Mild bruising may occasionally occur, and
animals may experience a little muscle tenderness the day after
treatment, though this passes quickly. Side effects are extremely rare.
Acupuncture treatment of animals can only be carried out legally
by vets that are also acupuncturists, it cannot be carried out by other
professionals.