Will My Pet Benefit From Acupuncture?
Conditions which may benefit from a course of acupuncture include osteoarthritis, muscular pain and neck or back pain. A clinical trial of cases of osteoarthritis estimates a 70-80% chance of improvement in dogs with osteoarthritic pain. That improvement may be anything from a mild improvement in mobility to a dramatic improvement in demeanour and activity.
The signs of these conditions can be subtle, so do contact us if you pet is less mobile, slow to get up or has difficulty getting up or down the stairs or jumping into or out of your car. For cats they may just not be grooming themselves properly or sleeping more. A veterinary examination can determine if any of these conditions are present so get in touch to discuss any concerns you have with your pet.
Will It Hurt My Pet?
No. The acupuncture needles used are very fine and the majority of dogs and cats tolerate them incredibly well, barely seeming to notice. However very fractious or aggressive pets are not ideal candidates for acupuncture. In trained hands acupuncture is an incredibly safe therapy and requires no sedatives.
How Long Will It Take?
Your appointment will last around 20minutes for the initial assessment and acupuncture treatment. Depending on the condition treated and the response seen, it is recommended that your pet be given weekly treatments. Subsequent sessions will last approx 10mins. A typical picture may be weekly sessions for 3-4 weeks, after which the acupuncture treatments are given less frequently or indeed stopped.
Who Will Do It?
Jo Malone. One of the small animal vets. Currently based at the Willow Grove surgery in Earswick, appointments can also be arranged personally with her at Salisbury Road.
How Much Will It Cost?
The initial assessment and first treatment will be around £50. Each subsequent session will cost around £25. Most insurance companies do cover acupuncture for your pet -so check with your insurer.
But Will It Work/Help?
There are lots of studies taking place in the veterinary world at present. Initial indications show that acupuncture does help in a wide variety of conditions, particularly in chronically painful conditions such as osteoarthritis.
If you have any other queries, or to arrange an appointment please contact Jo Malone at the Willow Grove Surgery on 01904 766060.
