Acupuncture for Dogs with Arthritis: Is It Right for Your Dog?

Having a pet for a companion is one of life’s joyful experiences. Among the many benefits, you will gain from these furry friends include reduced stress levels, better social life, and increased happiness for the entire family. Unfortunately, your pet dog might at some point suffer from arthritis. This is a painful inflammation of joints that severely hinders their movement and ability to engage in fun family activities.

If you’ve tried drugs and you’re dissatisfied with the results, alternative methods of treatment might present a better, safer and painless solution. In recent years, holistic treatment options such as acupuncture for dogs with arthritis have been growing in popularity. The procedure is used to treat a wide variety of conditions in animals and has been shown to alleviate the pain caused by arthritis.

Signs of Arthritis in Dogs

To figure out the exact cause of your dog’s discomfort, you need to visit a qualified vet, who will use his or her medical expertise to conduct a thorough diagnosis. You might notice a few signs that might indicate your pet suffers from arthritis. Some of these symptoms include:

• Unexplained limping or difficulty in movement
• Abnormal posture even when resting
• Tiring easily or avoiding previously enjoyable activities altogether
• Lashing out due to pain
• Biting or licking the affected parts to try and ease the pain
• In severe cases some muscles might grow thin, a condition known as muscle atrophy

If you see such signs and the vet confirms the diagnosis, it might be a good idea to consider acupuncture for dogs with arthritis as a solution. The earlier you tackle the problem, the lesser the possibility it will mutate into something more serious. Veterinary acupuncture can also be a preventive measure.

Acupuncture as a Treatment for Arthritis

Acupuncture as an alternative method of therapy goes back thousands of years. The fact that it has been able to survive so long even in the face of improved technology is a testament to its healing ability. Acupuncture for dogs with arthritis is a holistic treatment option that relieves your pet’s pain without exposing it to the adverse side effects associated with drugs.

Your vet can propose it as a stand-alone procedure or use it to complement western medical solutions. It works exceptionally well for functional problems that might affect your pet, such as allergies, painful joints, and paralysis.

If done by an expert veterinary acupuncturist, the procedure will be a mostly painless experience for your dog. Acupuncture is one of the safest medical procedures you’ll ever expose your pet. The length of treatment usually depends on the condition of your dog. More severe cases will naturally require more prolonged treatment periods.

Generally, stimulating a single acupuncture point might take as little as 10 seconds to 30 minutes. Your pet will most likely need 1 to 3 treatments per week for a period of 4 to 6 weeks. Various tools are used to stimulate acupuncture points, including hypodermic needles, low power lasers, massage, electricity, heat and solid needles among others.

Before allowing a vet specializing in acupuncture for dogs with arthritis to perform this procedure on your pet, make sure he or she is qualified. For starters, they must be licensed veterinarians. Secondly, the vet must have received formal training in acupuncture for animals. The International Veterinary Acupuncture Society provides certification for veterinary acupuncturists.

Benefits of Acupuncture for Dogs with Arthritis

As you’ve realized by now, opting for acupuncture for dogs with arthritis comes with various advantages. These include:

• Avoiding adverse side effects that might be caused by drugs
• Relieving your pet of pain in a safe and relatively painless way
• Treating various maladies other than arthritis
• Increasing blood flow and purging the body of harmful toxins
• Quicker pain relief compared to other procedures
• Emphasis on natural methods of treatment, including proper diet and balanced lifestyle

Ready to Give Acupuncture a Shot?

If you suspect or have already confirmed that your pet suffers from arthritis, now would be a good time to consider acupuncture for dogs with arthritis. The benefits outweigh any side affects you might be worried. The procedure is also comforting to your pet with the entire process designed to put both of you at ease.