What is Veterinary Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the insertion of needles into specific points of the body to produce a healing response. The technique we use has been developed from Traditional Chinese Medicine and scientific research to form Western Scientific Acupuncture. We use acupuncture alongside conventional medicine to enhance the treatment and improve the outcome. Acupuncture on animals can only be performed by a veterinary surgeon.
What conditions can it help?
In horses we use acupuncture to help alleviate pain and chronic muscle spasm in a variety of functional problems. Horses with sore backs respond particularly well. Horses involved in any form of athletic activity such as racing, dressage, SJ, eventing, hunting, endurance etc can benefit from acupuncture as part of their routine in training. We are keen to work alongside physiotherapists and other practitioners too.
Older, retired horses with arthritic changes also respond well to the treatment; to help the condition, its secondary effects and reduce the use of long-term medication.
Acupuncture has also been used for other medical conditions such as wounds, headshaking and allergic skin and respiratory conditions.
How does it work?
Acupuncture has been used for hundreds of years. There has also been a lot of scientific studies into its actions and responses. Acupuncture can stimulate nerves, increase blood circulation, relieve muscle spasm, cause release of hormones such as endorphins and cortisol.
