Alternative Therapies

Acupuncture has evolved from the ancient art of placing needles into special locations on the body, to alleviate pain and to increase the recovery rate and resistance to disease. Acupuncture is a treatment which involves the stimulation of specific points in the body, usually with the insertion of very fine sterilized needles. This often superficial stimulation, generates many responses within the animal’s nervous and endocrine system. It can affect muscles and the circulation, reproductive, digestive and urinary systems, as well as antibody production and hormone output. Acupuncture increases the body’s release of natural painkillers -endorphins and serotonin, and modifies pain pathways in the brain and spinal cord.

Ailsa Main is the vet who is our acupuncturist, she has been studying and using acupuncture since 1995. 
She has a certificate in veterinary acupuncture: Cert Vet Acupuncture (ABVA) and has studied acupuncture both from the:

Western scientific approach–

Which is predominantly used in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders in particular chronic pain problems. 
Treating by both segmental and distal points to affect the painful area by “pain gating” in the spine and       
inhibition of pain in the central nervous system.  Also from the

Traditional Chinese Medicine approach

which is very holistic and considers emotional,environmental and hereditary factors in the disease pattern.
These two approaches may be combined to be particularly helpful in chronic disease states, either to  
compliment orthodox treatment or when orthodox medicine has failed.

 
How will the consultation be different?

The consultation will be much longer than an orthodox consultation,especially on the first treatment. 
Is well as a full clinical examination,We will need to discuss things about your pets way of life, these may seem strange but are taken into account in the holistic treatment plan. I will choose an initial treatment plan and on the first visit the needles will only be left in about 5-10 minutes, as some animals are “strong responders” and only need a short therapy. On future visits they are likely to be left in for 20-30 minutes. On average 4-6 therapies are required as an initial course. These are usually weekly or twice weekly with a gradually increasing interval until the desired effect is achieved. The frequency of treatment depends on the individual animal’s needs, but regular “top up” therapies may be required to maintain therapeutic effects.

 
How will my animal respond?

Animals on the whole accept needling very well, and in fact may become drowsy and tired for up to 24 hours after treatment.     
Occasionally an animal will not tolerate being needled but this is very rare

Conditions that may respond well to acupuncture include:
 

• Many forms of back pain
• Arthritis and Hip Dysplasia
• Muscle and ligament sprains
• Some forms of paresis
• Chronic gastrointestinal disease
• Lick granulomas and some chronic skin conditions
• Urinary and faecal incontinence
• Stress related disease
• Immune dysfunction

Acupuncture may only be performed by a veterinary surgeon with a  thorough knowledge of veterinary anatomy and physiology. Many insurance companies will cover acupuncture treatment costs, so please check with your pet policy.

Since acupuncture appointments are specialist/ longer appointment, please make it known that this is what you are booking when you speak to reception.
 
If you would like to discuss acupuncture as a possible therapy for your pet then please contact the surgery on 01432 370155 Ailsa will be happy to discuss the suitability of your pets problems for this therapy.

 
Ailsa also can offer homeopathic treatments.

Homoeopathy is a system of medicine for treating people and animals on the principle ‘Let like be treated by like’. 
The medicines used may be derived from animal, vegetable or mineral resources. 

The initial requirement for treatment is knowledge of what affect a particular remedy or substance will have on
a healthy body i.e. what signs and symptoms it can provoke in a healthy body.
 
This ‘symptom picture’ is then matched with the signs and symptoms presented by the patient. The strategy of a homoeopathic consultation is to find the correct stimulus for the body’s inherent healing potential.
It can be a useful adjunct to alot of allopathic treatments.