Acupuncture, in some form or other has been around for 5000 years. Records show fish-bone needles were used in China around 3000BC, then around 650 BC during the Zhou Dynasty, the first veterinary text was written including discussions of acupuncture techniques in cavalry horses.

 

At this time there are two main schools of thought about acupuncture: biomedical and the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approach. There is no real need to choose one aspect over the other. Science can now explain most of how acupuncture works, however that does not negate thousands of years of careful observation and collection of patterns and therapy that provide the foundations of TCM.

 

Acupuncture started to be used in Western human treatments in the 1970’s and now has also become widely accepted as beneficial in western veterinary treatments (albeit it 5000 years later).

 

Acupuncture affects the nervous system in many ways. The idea that energy travels through invisible lines near the body surface arose as a result of a mistranslation of the Chinese word "qi" into "energy", rather than "vital air", and of "jingluo" into "meridians" rather than vascular channels. George Morant, a French bank clerk working in China, provided some of these earliest translations of Chinese acupuncture texts and his errors in word selection still haunt us today. He created a metaphysical foundation for acupuncture that not only failed to exist previously, but one that would misinform future acupuncturists for generations.

 

Acupuncture points occur at over 360 sites found on the human body and similar charts have now been created for our pets bodies. Acupuncture points have a higher density of neural and vascular components than do non-acupuncture points and are near a nerve trunk or large nerve branches and blood vessels. Thus, needle stimulation of acupuncture points excites nervous system fibres including those contained within the walls of blood vessels.

 

The introduction of a thin, sterile, metal acupuncture needle into body tissue provokes inflammatory, immune-modulatory, and circulatory changes at the site. At the level of the skin and the deeper tissues beneath, this activates neurologic responses and healing activity.

 

Sensory receptors associated with the mechanical introduction of an acupuncture needle include mechanoreceptors and nociceptors. These sensory receptors transduce the physical stimulus of needling into an electrical signal that encodes the physical stimulation and local tissue damage into neural information.
This signal is then delivered to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, and interconnects with other neurons all along the entire length spinal column. This can give the feeling of a tingling sensation that is "travelling" along the body surface.

Signals ascend from the spinal cord to the brain carrying information related to the conscious recognition and localization of painful stimuli and participate in pain modulation by releasing neurotransmitters and naturally occurring morphine-like compounds within the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.

 

Modern MRI images can illustrate the changes in brain and peripheral nerve oxygenation, demonstrating that acupuncture influences vascular supply to all neural centres, beginning at the periphery and arriving at the brain’s cerebral cortex.

 

Other investigations into the effects of acupuncture point stimulation on certain organs, have demonstrated spinal cord influence for the heart, stomach, gallbladder, bladder, and uterus. Acupuncture can consequently also affect internal organ function.

 

Acupuncture offers a unique and effective means of stimulating endogenous pain control mechanisms and this is one of the most common ways we as vets enter the sphere of acupuncture, using it initially for pain control.

It is very effective especially for arthritis, lameness and back pain, for support during chemotherapy, for very active canine athletes, and for support of gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive problems.

 

Let’s look at a couple of cases from my colleagues which illustrate acupuncture in-use. Clint, a 7-year-old Australian Cattle Dog with a large lump on his left side, had a biopsy which showed a grade 3 Liposarcoma. His owners opted against trying a massive surgical removal. Clint was very painful to the point of sometimes crying out and feeling very subdued. Acupuncture treatment was begun around the mass to increase flow of Qi, stimulate the immune system, clear heat, and address pain. The needles were left in for the standard 20 minutes. At the end of that first treatment, the mass was no longer hot, and Clint had slept on the ride home, then run into the back yard and raced around and grabbed his lead, keen for a walk. He had not exercised willingly in the previous several weeks. Clint was treated weekly for 7 treatments then every 2 weeks. Clint loved his treatments, and would flop down on his bed for each visit. Clint lived a very active, happy lifestyle off drugs of any kind for nearly a year after that first treatment and while his cancer eventually cost his life, Clint had another year (6 human equivalent years) of very active, happy times with his family, during which he had no pain medication until the last couple of weeks.

 

Our second case study is Max, an 8-year-old Dachshund. As is common in his breed (with such an elongated body) Max had experienced a spinal disc protrusion and corresponding back pain and loss of co-ordination. This made Max very grumpy. Despite prednisone and rest Max had remained painful and acupuncture was added to his treatment when his owners opted against spinal surgery. His back was very painful and arched. The acupuncture points used were those surrounding his narrowed disc space, as well as TCM points for pain, for bone, and for the back area.

 

Immediately Max had less pain on palpation of his back, perhaps due to lessening of the muscle spasms. As is common post-treatment, Max slept very soundly. When he awoke, Max was using his rear limbs better again. He was weaned completely off his prednisone and it has been over two years now with Max re-visiting for acupuncture every three months now. Max continued to improve with treatment, he can run again and even lift his leg to urinate. Max is happy again!

 

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU COME TO VETCARE GREY LYNN FOR YOUR PET’S ACUPUNTURE THERAPY

You will be seeing Elaine Bennett who has been an osteopath and an acupuncturist for the last 20 years and is fully qualified through the Australian College to apply both types of treatment to animals. Over the past few years she has built up a wealth of experience successfully treating horses, cows, goats, cats and dogs.

 

Prior to your pets visit Elaine consults with us, your vet, to obtain any necessary information on their medical history that could influence the treatment. During the appointment an extensive case history of your animal will be taken, including details of the injury or any change in behaviour.

During the physical examination Elaine will observe your pet’s natural movement and then manually palpate and articulate various joints of the body to elicit areas of reduced mobility, muscle spasm, wasting, inflammation and pain.

At the consultation your animal is checked from the feet upwards and from the nose to the tail. In many cases an animal has learnt to compensate from an old injury and over time this can manifest as pain elsewhere. In such cases the area of pain and the root cause is treated. Treatments often combine osteopathy, acupuncture and laser therapy to provide the best results in the quickest time.

 

Yes I did say “Laser”. Elaine’s new low power laser machine from the UK is a totally pain free treatment option. It can be used to stimulate acupuncture points in animals that do not seem too keen on needles (especially some of our feline friends) and also treats, and accelerates healing a wide variety of soft tissue injuries.

Treatments last up to 30 minutes once we’ve got to know your pet and ensure they are relaxed and settled. Patients are often treated once a week with a positive response often noticed within the first 3 visits.

We’ve come a long way from fish-bone needles and our early misconceptions and finally have a sound understanding of the science behind acupuncture. Keep this treatment option in mind for your pets. Ask us about acupuncture, it works.