Veterinary acupuncture
Encyclopedia
Veterinary acupuncture is the practice of performing acupuncture
on animal
s.
The major emergence of veterinary acupuncture onto the medical scene did not actually take place until the early 1970s. Oddly enough, this did not occur in China, but in the United States. Veterinary acupuncture was introduced into the United States in 1971 by members of the National Acupuncture Association's research team: Dr. Gene Bruno
and Dr. John Ottaviano. In the process of treating thousands of small animals and several hundred horses, Bruno and Ottaviano trained veterinarians who later founded the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS).
Veterinary acupuncture is used all over the world, either by itself or in conjunction with Western medicine, to treat a wide variety of maladies in every species of domestic and exotic animals. Modern veterinary acupuncturists use solid needles, hypodermic needles, bleeding needles, electricity, heat, massage and low power lasers to stimulate acupuncture points.
Acupuncture is indicated mainly for functional problems such as those that involve paralysis, noninfectious inflammation (such as allergies), and pain. For small animals, the following are some of the general conditions that are treated with acupuncture:
For large animals, acupuncture is again commonly used for functional problems. Some of the general conditions where it might be applied are the following:
In addition, regular acupuncture treatment can treat minor sports injuries as they occur and help to keep muscles and tendons resistant to injury. World-class professional and amateur athletes often use acupuncture as a routine part of their training. Acupuncture is used on many animals involved athletic endeavors, such as racing, jumping, or showing.
Acupuncture is one of the safest forms of medical treatment for animals when it is administered by a properly trained veterinarian. Side effects of acupuncture are rare, but they do exist. An animal’s condition may seem worse for up to 48 hours after a treatment. Other animals may become sleepy or lethargic for 24 hours after acupuncture. These effects are an indication that some physiological changes are developing, and they are most often followed by an improvement in the animal’s condition.
The length and frequency of acupuncture treatments depends on the condition of the patient and the method of stimulation that is used by the veterinary acupuncturist. Stimulation of an individual acupuncture point may take as little as 10 seconds or as much as 30 minutes. A simple acute problem, such as a sprain, may require only one treatment, whereas more severe or chronic ailments may need several or several dozen treatments.
When multiple treatments are necessary, they usually begin intensively and are tapered to maximum efficiency. Patients often start with 1-3 treatments per week for 4–6 weeks. A positive response is usually seen after the first to third treatments. Once a maximum positive response is achieved (usually after 4-8 treatments), treatments are tapered off so that the greatest amount of symptom free time elapses between them. Many animals with chronic conditions can taper off to 2-4 treatments per year.
Animals undergoing athletic training can benefit from acupuncture as often as twice a week to once a month. The frequency depends on the intensity of the training and the condition of the athlete.
There are two important criteria you should look for in a veterinary acupuncturist:
1. Your veterinary acupuncturist must be a licensed veterinarian.
2. Your veterinary acupuncturist should have formal training in the practice of acupuncture for animals. (For example, the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society offers an accredited certification program for veterinary acupuncturists.)
In most countries, states, and provinces, veterinary acupuncture is considered a surgical procedure that only licensed veterinarians may legally administer to animals.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
on animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
s.
Definition and history
Acupuncture may be defined as the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to cause a desired healing effect. This technique has been used in veterinary practice in China, in a very limited form, to treat certain ailments. The Chinese also use acupuncture as preventive medicine against such problems as founder and colic in horses.The major emergence of veterinary acupuncture onto the medical scene did not actually take place until the early 1970s. Oddly enough, this did not occur in China, but in the United States. Veterinary acupuncture was introduced into the United States in 1971 by members of the National Acupuncture Association's research team: Dr. Gene Bruno
Gene Bruno
Gene Bruno, OMD, LAc, FNAAOM is an American acupuncturist and doctor of Oriental Medicine. In 1974 Bruno helped establish the first school of acupuncture in the United States, and the second school in 1975.-Biography:Bruno attended U.C.L.A...
and Dr. John Ottaviano. In the process of treating thousands of small animals and several hundred horses, Bruno and Ottaviano trained veterinarians who later founded the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS).
Veterinary acupuncture is used all over the world, either by itself or in conjunction with Western medicine, to treat a wide variety of maladies in every species of domestic and exotic animals. Modern veterinary acupuncturists use solid needles, hypodermic needles, bleeding needles, electricity, heat, massage and low power lasers to stimulate acupuncture points.
Acupuncture is indicated mainly for functional problems such as those that involve paralysis, noninfectious inflammation (such as allergies), and pain. For small animals, the following are some of the general conditions that are treated with acupuncture:
- Musculoskeletal problems, such as arthritis or vertebral disc pathology, and hip dysplasia
- Skin problems, such as lick granuloma
- Respiratory problems, such as feline asthma
- Gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea
- Selected reproductive problems
For large animals, acupuncture is again commonly used for functional problems. Some of the general conditions where it might be applied are the following:
- Musculoskeletal problems, such as sore backs or downer cow syndrome
- Nervous system problems, such as facial nerve paralysis
- Skin problems, such as allergic dermatitis
- Respiratory problems, such as heaves (emphesema) and “Bleeders”
- Gastrointestinal problems, such as nonsurgical colic
- Selected reproductive disorders
In addition, regular acupuncture treatment can treat minor sports injuries as they occur and help to keep muscles and tendons resistant to injury. World-class professional and amateur athletes often use acupuncture as a routine part of their training. Acupuncture is used on many animals involved athletic endeavors, such as racing, jumping, or showing.
Treatment and safety
For small animals, the insertion of acupuncture needles is virtually painless. The larger needles necessary for large animals may cause some pain as the needle passes through the skin. In all animals, once the needles are in place, there should be no pain. Most animals become very relaxed and may even become sleepy. Nevertheless, acupuncture treatment may cause some sensation, presumed to be those such as tingles, cramps, or numbness which can occur in humans and which may be uncomfortable to some animals.Acupuncture is one of the safest forms of medical treatment for animals when it is administered by a properly trained veterinarian. Side effects of acupuncture are rare, but they do exist. An animal’s condition may seem worse for up to 48 hours after a treatment. Other animals may become sleepy or lethargic for 24 hours after acupuncture. These effects are an indication that some physiological changes are developing, and they are most often followed by an improvement in the animal’s condition.
The length and frequency of acupuncture treatments depends on the condition of the patient and the method of stimulation that is used by the veterinary acupuncturist. Stimulation of an individual acupuncture point may take as little as 10 seconds or as much as 30 minutes. A simple acute problem, such as a sprain, may require only one treatment, whereas more severe or chronic ailments may need several or several dozen treatments.
When multiple treatments are necessary, they usually begin intensively and are tapered to maximum efficiency. Patients often start with 1-3 treatments per week for 4–6 weeks. A positive response is usually seen after the first to third treatments. Once a maximum positive response is achieved (usually after 4-8 treatments), treatments are tapered off so that the greatest amount of symptom free time elapses between them. Many animals with chronic conditions can taper off to 2-4 treatments per year.
Animals undergoing athletic training can benefit from acupuncture as often as twice a week to once a month. The frequency depends on the intensity of the training and the condition of the athlete.
There are two important criteria you should look for in a veterinary acupuncturist:
1. Your veterinary acupuncturist must be a licensed veterinarian.
2. Your veterinary acupuncturist should have formal training in the practice of acupuncture for animals. (For example, the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society offers an accredited certification program for veterinary acupuncturists.)
In most countries, states, and provinces, veterinary acupuncture is considered a surgical procedure that only licensed veterinarians may legally administer to animals.
Sources
- Altman, S.; An Introduction to Acupuncture for Animals, (1981), (Available from IVAS).
- American Journal of Acupuncture, (1973-) Published quarterly from 1840 Forty-First Avenue-Suite 102, P.O. Box 610, Capitola, CA 95010, USA
- Australian Veterinary Acupuncture Newsletter, c/o 19 Iluka Avenue, Aspendale, Victoria 3195, Australia
- Centre de Documentation du Gera, 192 Chemin des Cedres, F-83130 La Garde, France.
- Baxter, G. David; Therapeutic Lasers, Theory and Practice, Churchill Livingstone Inc., New York, NY 10011, USA, (1994).
- Bossy, Jean; Essai Bibliographique Sur L'Acupuncture. Scientia Orientalis No. 15 (1977) Published by Universit Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg (1979).
- Cheng Xinnong, ed.' Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Foreign Languages Press, Beiging, PRC, 1987.
- Gilchrist, D.; Manual of Acupuncture for small animals. (1981).
- International Journal on Veterinary Acupuncture, (1990-) published by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society.
- Acupuncture and Electrotherapeutic Research, Pergamon Press, Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NJ 10523, USA
- Janssens, L.A.A.; Acupuncture Points and Meridians in the Dog. Distributed by IVAS.
- Janssens, L.A.A.; Some Aspects of Small Animal Acupuncture, distributed by SATAS-Green Line Medical Books, P.O. Box 14, B-1080 Brussssels 8, Belgium, and also by IVAS.
- Klide, A.M. and Kung, S.H.; Veterinary Acupuncture. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A. (1977) or Pendragon Pressss, Lizard Town, Helston, South Conwall, England.
- Kothbauer, O. and Meng, A.; Grundlagen Der Veterinar Akupunktur, Verlag Welsemuhl, Wels, (1983) (German).
- Lin, J.H. and Rogers, P.A.M.; Acupuncture Effects on the Body's Defense System; Veterinary Review. Vet. Bulletin 50, 630-640, 1980.
- Maciocia, Giovanni; The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Churchill Livingstone Inc., New York, NY, USA (1989).
- Proceedings of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Annual Conferences on Veterinary Acupuncture. Published by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. (only available from the 8th Annual Conference on).
- Rogers, P.A.M. and Bossy, J.; Activation of the Defense Systems of the Body in Animals.