Your Pet’s First Acupuncture Appointment

Acupuncture has become quite popular in the veterinary world in recent years. It can be used to treat a variety of different issues, including cancer, arthritis, metabolic diseases, kidney and liver trouble, pancreatitis, hypothyroidism, and trauma. A Wheat Ridge, CO vet offers some advice on your furry friend’s first appointment in this article.

Assessment

Your pet will need to be assessed before beginning acupuncture, or any other treatment, for that matter. Even if your four-legged pal has been examined fairly recently, your vet may want to see if anything has changed, and discuss your furry pal’s treatment plan and prognosis. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! 

Placement

While having needles inserted into your body may not sound pleasant, acupuncture is actually quite painless, because the needles are so thin. Most of our patients do not mind the treatment, and show no signs of pain or unease during their sessions. 

Length

Acupuncture appointments usually don’t take very long: the average time for needles to stay in is about 20 minutes. During this time, you may be able to relax with your four-legged buddy, and pet them. Don’t be surprised if they fall asleep! 

After Care

Your furry best friend won’t need any specific aftercare once you get home, although they may be a bit sleepy. (Extra treats and cuddles would not be inappropriate.) 

Results

Many of our four-legged friends show improvement pretty quickly after their sessions. However, it’s not uncommon for pets to seem a bit stiff at first. This is normal, and should only last a day or so. You will likely see the most drastic improvement a few days after the treatment. It’s a beautiful thing to see a stiff dog becoming playful again, or see an arthritic kitty get the zoomies! 

Ongoing Treatment

Acupuncture treatments are never set to a rigid, universal schedule. How often your furry buddy should be treated, and how long the sessions should continue, will depend on their health, diagnosis, and the response. That said, it’s typical for sessions to be scheduled fairly close together at first. Usually, after a few weeks, the frequency of appointments will taper off, until the maximum benefit has been reached. Your vet will be able to offer more detailed information based on your pet’s needs.

Do you want to learn more about pet acupuncture? Contact us, your Wheat Ridge, CO pet clinic, today!