Acupuncture
Acupuncture is known to have good therapeutic effects in a wide variety of animal diseases. Although pain moderation is an important application in veterinary acupuncture, it has much wider applications. Even when acupuncture is indicated, your Lake City Animal Hospital veterinarian will consider prescribing it in context with other options. Clearly, your objectives, preferences and personal situation must be carefully considered as part of the assessment and prescription process.
Generally speaking, indications for acupuncture therapy fall into three categories.
- Primary therapy. Acupuncture is considered to be the principal modality of therapy.
- Secondary therapy. Acupuncture as supportive of adjunctive therapy.
- Backup or alternative therapy. Acupuncture is considered when standard treatments are not sufficient.
It is not unusual to use acupuncture in conjunction with other therapeutic modalities and methods of supportive care. It can be used simultaneously with many traditional veterinary therapies. It is especially useful in bridging the gap between medicine and surgery.
The following are examples of some of the clinical conditions where veterinary acupuncture may prove to be helpful. Below are a few examples.
- Musculoskeletal disorders: chronic degenerative joint disease, intervertebral disc disease, spondylosis, spondylothesis, hip dysplasia, disunited anconeal process, tendonitis, sprains, muscle spasms, EETC.
- Gastrointestinal disorders, esophageal hypomotility, gastritis, rumen atony, gastroenteritis, colitis, megacolon, rectal prolapse, chronic diarrhea or vomiting.
- Respiratory problems: rhinitis, sinusitis, laryngitis epistaxis, bronchial asthma, chronic coughing, pneumonia.
- Neurological disorders: trigeminal neuralgia, peripheral nerve paralysis, nystagmus, vestibular syndrome, torticollis, nondegenerative myclopathies, epilepsy, stroke, deafness, coma.
Your veterinarian can discuss your animal's candidacy for acupuncture with you:
- A proposed schedule of treatments or plan of therapy
- An explanation of the prognosis, estimated fees and a review of the alternatives.
- Preliminary steps or supportive care that may be indicated in conjunction with the acupuncture therapy to maximize results and minimize pain or other problems.
Lake City Animal Hospital provides acupuncture services for Acworth, Woodstock, Cartersvile, and Kennesaw, Georgia.