Typically acupuncture therapy requires multiple treatments and five to six treatments are common.Long standing problems may take longer to show improvement.Often convincing signs of improvement will be seen after the second or third treatment but many kinds of illnesses and conditions require persistence in order for acupuncture to work.
Ordinarily, pain and discomfort for the animal are minimal or absent. Once the needles are in place, most animals relax. Many animals actually fall asleep during treatment and appear very relaxed after each treatment is completed. We recommend that animals not be fed or exercised heavily for at least an hour before of after an appointment.
An initial treatment session will last at least one hour. If we determine both laser and acupuncture will be utilized, laser will be administered prior to the acupuncture and again after the acupuncture treatment for the maximum benefit. For many conditions, patients are treated weekly for 4 to 6 weeks and then as needed to maintain improvement. Once the mutual goal of the animal's owner and Dr. Francisco is reached, the treatment plan is redesigned to maintain the improvement.
We feel that treatments are best administered in familiar surroundings so that the animal is not under any unnecessary stress. For this reason treatment is best administered in your home or at your farm. If necessary, Dr. Francisco will make visits to the office of your veterinarian, especially for animals needing pain management in post-operative situations or animals stabled in
a hospital setting.
The animal owner's observations during the timeframe between treatments
are invaluable in the evaluation and planning of on-going care. Changes may
be subtle and may include differences in activity level and sleep patterns,
increased socialability, or changes in bowel or urinary habits.
The principles underlying veterinary acupuncture and laser ultimately rely on the
patient's own ability to heal. All animals require adequate nutrition,
appropriate exercise and rest as an adjunct to the healing process.
What You Can Expect From
Veterinary Acupuncture & Low Level Laser Treatment
This horse is in a relaxed state due to acupuncture as evidenced by the dropped attitude of his head.
Use of laser pulse pointer on an arthritic dog who does not tolerate the use of needles
BULLETIN BOARD - News & Views
NEW SERVICE... Expanded Low Level Laser Therapy. In addition to our laser pulse pointer and 30 diode cluster head laser, we have added a state of the art ERCHONIA P-5000 laser.
Horses, dogs and cats in our practice are responding well to the use of low level laser therapy to stimulate tissue healing and circulation. In combination with acupuncture and standard veterinary modalities, laser therapy is now being added for many more clients who exhibit lameness due to arthritis, muscle strains, contusions, lick granulomas, post-op wound healing and joint disorders such as hip displasia.
EXACTLY WHAT IS OSTEOARTHRITIS?
Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease that may affect any joint but is commonly found in a pet’s hip, elbow, shoulder, stifle (knee) , carpus (wrist), hock (ankle) or intervertebral joints (in the spine). It occurs when cartilage in the joint is damaged, either following a traumatic event or with wear and tear that increases in athletic animals, obese animals, or when the joint is congenitally abnormal.
Cartilage decreases joint stress by reducing impact on the ends of the bones in joints, like a gelatinous shock absorber. When cartilage is damaged, a cascade of inflammatory changes occurs, eventually leading to destruction of the cartilage and subsequent damage to the underlying bone. Cartilage contains no nerves – if your pet is showing any signs of pain, the damage and changes in underlying bone have already begun.
Signs of arthritis include:
Reluctance to take walks of usual length
Stiffness (that may disappear once the pet has ‘warmed up’)
Difficulty climbing stairs, climbing in the car, on the bed or a sofa
Difficulty rising from rest
Limping
Abnormal gait
Licking of a single joint
Acting withdrawn, spending less time playing with family (which is often misunderstood as a sign of ‘aging’)
Soreness when touched
Rarely, aggression when touched or approached
Ask your veterinarian about acupuncture and laser therapy for osteoarthritis
Outside visit using the mobile veterinary unit
215-679-8419
