Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine practitioners use acupuncture to treat a wide variety of medical problems and diseases, including behavioral disorders such as fear, anxiety, depression, and anger. Cardiovascular problems, such as cardiac arrhythmias and weakness leading to heart failure or obstructive pulmonary disease, can also be addressed with acupuncture. Additionally, acupuncture can be used as an emergency therapy, either at home or in the clinic, for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Pulmonary weakness, which may lead to exercise intolerance, chronic coughing, frequent upper respiratory tract infections, or chronic nasal discharge, can be successfully treated with acupuncture.

Ocular disorders, such as difficult-to-heal corneal ulcers, chronic conjunctivitis, and eyelid muscle weakness, may benefit from acupuncture. Many forms of dental pain, redness, swelling, and inflammation can have their symptoms significantly reduced or relieved through acupuncture. Some chronic ear problems, such as external auditory canal and middle ear inflammation, may also be alleviated more rapidly when acupuncture is used in conjunction with Western medications.

Benefits of Acupuncture for Dogs

Acupuncture is particularly well-known for its positive effects on a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, including inappetence, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. Hepatic disease, whether of infectious or endogenous origin, may be soothed, and hepatic regeneration can be encouraged through acupuncture treatment. Various forms of renal disease, including kidney failure and urinary problems such as inflammation, infection, and urinary leakage, may be successfully alleviated—and sometimes even cured—by acupuncture.

Musculoskeletal issues, including pain, strain/sprain, inflammation, and weakness, are often significantly improved with acupuncture. Neurological disorders such as paresis, paralysis, and vestibular disease may resolve more quickly when acupuncture is added to the animal’s Western biomedical protocol.

Most companion animals readily accept acupuncture treatment. Although the procedure may cause slight discomfort, the majority of animals actually “pull” their caretakers into the office for re-checks and further treatments, as though they’ve experienced the positive effects and are eager for more.

We use small, thin, sterile metal needles that are discarded after each treatment. Needles are discarded because they become dulled after the first insertion and to eliminate the possibility of iatrogenic (acupuncturist-caused) infection. Occasionally, other acupuncture modalities, such as electroacupuncture, aquapuncture, or gold-bead implants, are used to increase the duration and effectiveness of treatment. Each companion animal is unique, and their acupuncture sessions are individually designed based on their current medical needs.

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Just as there is no one “perfect” diet for all humans, the same applies to dogs and cats. We know that there are differences in our personalities, body shapes and sizes, energy levels, ages, and, for companion animals, breed differences as well. So, how do we navigate these differences to determine the best diet for each individual at every life stage?

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

Fortunately, Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) offers well-developed strategies for determining the proper diet for our companion animals. The TCVM examination will help assess whether your animal is Excess or Deficient, Hot or Cold, or Damp or Dry. Furthermore, if your companion animal suffers from a medical issue like cardiovascular disease, seizures, or behavioral disorders, the TCVM examination can identify the underlying disharmony, which can then be treated with acupuncture and herbal remedies, further supported by an appropriately designed diet.

TCVM has also discovered that foods have specific “energetic” properties. For example, when you eat a hot pepper, you begin to feel warm, sweat, and your superficial blood vessels dilate, making your skin appear redder. In contrast, eating a piece of watermelon has the opposite effect. TCVM would classify the pepper as “Hot” and say that it “releases the exterior,” while watermelon would be classified as “Cold,” reducing excess heat in the body. Every food can be categorized with various properties, such as Tonifying Qi, Blood, Yin, or Yang; Circulating Qi, Circulating Blood, Drying Damp, Draining Water, Clearing Heat, Warming Cold, or Reducing Toxicity.

When an experienced TCVM practitioner diagnoses your companion animal, they can recommend foods that facilitate healing for each individual. These recommended foods will be wholesome, much like the ones you would eat yourself. There are also quick and easy methods for preparing these foods, making it easier for those of us with busy lives. It’s often possible to add simple, wholesome additions to your companion animal’s current diet to help them stay on the path to good health and longevity. TCVM Food Therapy is a vital component of an ancient, well-researched system of health and healing.

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