Acupuncture is a 6,000 year old therapy used to alleviate pain using slender, sharp needles to stimulate acupuncture points, which encourages body healing. This technique is painless and creates changes in the energy patterns within the body, allowing healing to take place. It is estimated that acupuncture is successful in alleviating pain 80% to 85% of the time. This treatment is usually administered weekly for 3 - 5 weeks and then the interval is varied according to the progress of the patient. Acupuncture can add several years to your pet’s life, reduce pain and enhance your pet’s quality of life. Acupuncture is administered in the presence of the owner/family member. By the second or third treatment, the patient caregiver is amazed to see their pet relax and enjoy the acupuncture procedure.
Electro-Acupuncture This is a method of applying electricity through acupuncture needles into acupuncture points, thereby releasing energy into electrical channels in the body. This treatment is painless and causes no discomfort.
Gold Bead Placement This modality involves placing multiple gold beads in acupuncture points to provide continual stimulation to the point(s) involved. It is thought that the negative charge around the joint causes painful calcium deposits in the joint. The positive charge provided by the gold beads neutralizes the negative charge around the point, providing pain relief to the joint. This treatment is effective in elbow joint treatment and in epilepsy. World opinion indicates that gold bead implants and MRI’s are compatible and that gold bead implants are stable. This treatment is gaining interest in the treatment of Clinical Rheumatology, Vol.27, 2008.
Aquapuncture
Aguapuncture refers to the injection of fluids into acupuncture points for the purpose of point stimulation. This treatment can be administered as vitamin preparations, and/or homeopathic solutions. This can be a very effective technique and is painless and well accepted by the patient.
Applied Kinesiology Applied Kinesiology (AK) is a form of diagnosis using muscle testing as a primary feedback mechanism to examine how the body is functioning. When properly applied, the outcome of an AK diagnosis will determine the best form of therapy for the patient. Since AK draws together the core elements of many complementary therapies, it provides an interdisciplinary approach to health care.
In general, the AK practitioner finds a muscle that tests weak and then attempts to determine why that muscle is not functioning properly. The practitioner will then evaluate and apply the therapy that will best eliminate the muscle weakness and help the patient.
Therapies utilized can include specific joint manipulation or mobilization, various myofascial therapies, cranial techniques, meridian therapy, clinical nutrition, dietary management and various reflex procedures.
In some cases, the examiner may test for environmental or food sensitivities by using a previously strong muscle to find what weakens it. AK is also very helpful in determining placement of acupuncture needles to alleviate pain.
Electrical Shock Wave Therapy
Shock waves have nothing to do with electric shocks; they are actually high energy focused sound waves generated outside the body that can be focused at a specific site within the body. In human medicine, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been used for more than 25 years to break up kidney stones and gallstones (lithotripsy) without the need for invasive surgery. (“Extracorporeal” means, “outside the body”.)
In 1992, doctors began using shock waves to treat a range of orthopedic conditions, including nonunion of bone fractures; plantar fasciitis (a cause of heel pain); tennis elbow and other forms of tendonitis; rotator cuff injuries; femoral head necrosis; and joint pain. New research is being done on the use of shock wave therapy to speed healing of wounds and burns, and other applications are under investigation.
Shock waves are focused on the painful musculoskeletal or orthopedic site while the patient (dog or cat) is under anesthesia for a short time. About 70% of patients respond to 1 - 3 treatments given at two to three week intervals. Shoulders, elbows, backs, and hips respond best to this therapy, while knee injuries are less successful. A detailed reprint of a case study can be obtained from The Whole Dog Journal at 800-829-9165 by asking for Volume 11, Number 5, May, 2008. Severe pain, non-union fracture, lick-granuloma, and difficult healing wounds have all responded to this form of treatment.
ALLERGY ELIMINATION TECHNIQUE
Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET)
is an alternative medicine technique used to treat allergies and chemical sensitivities. Founded in 1983 by Devi Nambudripad, a California based acupuncturist, NAET draws on ideas from acupuncture, applied kinesiology, and allergy medicine.
NAET is an innovative and completely natural treatment method which commonly provides lasting relief from allergies and diseases associated with allergic reactions and sensitivities.
This treatment modality is a combination of gentle chiropractic tapping along the spinal column, with minute exposures to the offending allergens and a brief period of avoidance of the mitigating allergen. NAET is based upon the mind/body connection and energy moving throughout the body in pathways called meridians. Using the NAET process Dr. Schenck is able to redirect energy and desensitize the patient to the offending allergens.
Dr. Schenck has enjoyed approximately a 70% success rate using this treatment with animals experiencing acute allergic reactions.
Please contact our rehabilitation specialists to discuss the use of acupuncture in treating your animal’s health concerns.
Lost Pets Click on Lost Pets or Lost & Found above to view animals we have found, pets reported lost and our very special section on pets adopted from our Center.
