Acupuncture For Pain Management

What is Acupuncture?• A key component of traditional Chinese medicine• Involves stimulating points by inserting needles that lie along

the body’s Meridian Channels – called acupuncture points • The acupuncture points for animals are similar to those used

for humans• The acupuncture points are usually located near major nerves,

blood vessels or lymphatic vessels• Is a very safe treatment when using clean technique and single-

use needles• Is minimally invasive and has only minor side effects• Used to treat a wide range of conditions

What can Acupuncture Treat?• Musculoskeletal & Neurological Disorders• Arthritis• Intervertebral disk disease• Traumatic nerve injuries• Respiratory problems – asthma • Skin problems – lick granulomas, allergies, & dermatitis• Gastrointestinal problems – diarrhea & appetite• Reproductive problems• Pain• Surgical incisions• Wounds & burns• Soft tissue injuries

Pain Management• Acupuncture can be used to treat many types of pain

including orthopedic pain, muscle pain, emotional pain, visceral pain, and neuropathic pain

• Works best as part of a multimodal treatment plan• Acupuncture therapy can be used to normalize

homeostasis and promote self-healing• When an acupuncture point is stimulated by the

needle, it causes a release of endorphins and other endogenous substances with opioid analgesic activity

• Can effectively control acute and chronic pain• Acupuncture can have local effects, systemic effects,

central nervous system effects, and effects at distant sites

Meet Annie• 10 year old Golden Retriever• Recently diagnosed with osteosarcoma in

the right forelimb• Very painful• Currently being treated with

chemotherapy and pain medications• Treated with acupuncture for 20 minutes

at several different acupuncture points related to relieving pain, weakness, stimulating the appetite, and boosting energy

• She responded very well and enjoyed a nap during the treatment

Meet Toby• 10 year old Shih Tzu• History luxating patellas and left

stifle pain• Referred to IVS from rDVM• He presented tense, limping and

sore • Received a 20 minute

acupuncture treatment focusing on points for knee pain

• During his treatment his muscles relaxed and he laid down resting happily

Sources• Chi Institute - https://www.tcvm.com/Home.aspx• IVAS - https://www.ivas.org/about-ivas/what-is-veterinary-acupuncture/• Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture• Top Companion Anim Med. 2014 Mar;29(1):24-8. doi: 10.1053/j.tcam.2014.04.001. Epub 2014 Apr 5.• Top Companion Anim Med. 2014 Jun;29(2):35-42. doi: 10.1053/j.tcam.2014.03.001. Epub 2014 Apr 5.• Shauna L. Cantwell, Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine: The Mechanism and Management of

Acupuncture for Chronic Pain, Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, Volume 25, Issue 1, Feb 2010, Pages 53-58, ISSN 1938-9736.

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