Comments on: Is Acupuncture Effective in Pets? http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/is-acupuncture-effective-in-pets/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:25:38 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Doni http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/is-acupuncture-effective-in-pets/comment-page-1/#comment-5469 Doni Sun, 31 May 2009 04:32:26 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/?p=1179#comment-5469 A number of years ago I had a dog that was being treated for lymphoma. In order to have as little time away from work as possible, I would take my dog to the office wuth me so I could go directly from work to her vet appointments. Besides the chemotherapy the vet also did accupuncture treatments. When I would go back to the office, the people would want to know what he had done to my dog because she was so much better after the appointments. That only happened when she had the accupuncture, not when she had chemotherapy alone. My dog convinced me that acupuncture worked. A number of years ago I had a dog that was being treated for lymphoma. In order to have as little time away from work as possible, I would take my dog to the office wuth me so I could go directly from work to her vet appointments. Besides the chemotherapy the vet also did accupuncture treatments. When I would go back to the office, the people would want to know what he had done to my dog because she was so much better after the appointments. That only happened when she had the accupuncture, not when she had chemotherapy alone. My dog convinced me that acupuncture worked.

]]> By: Cynthia http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/is-acupuncture-effective-in-pets/comment-page-1/#comment-5361 Cynthia Tue, 19 May 2009 23:22:57 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/?p=1179#comment-5361 I know a lot of holistic vets that use actupunture on different types of animals and it does work and several animal communicators will tell you that they have had pets that have had acuputure and how much better they are feeling after having it done. I know a lot of holistic vets that use actupunture on different types of animals and it does work and several animal communicators will tell you that they have had pets that have had acuputure and how much better they are feeling after having it done.

]]> By: virginia susan http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/is-acupuncture-effective-in-pets/comment-page-1/#comment-5330 virginia susan Fri, 15 May 2009 17:31:26 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/?p=1179#comment-5330 Pets don't have a placebo effect but it is difficult to separate the owner's placebo effect from the true effects of the acupuncture. The pet owners want it to work so they may think they are seeing results that really aren't there. That being said, I do believe acupucture works. I worked at an acupuncture clinic in the early '80s. When I started, I was skeptical but was won over by the results. Pets don’t have a placebo effect but it is difficult to separate the owner’s placebo effect from the true effects of the acupuncture. The pet owners want it to work so they may think they are seeing results that really aren’t there. That being said, I do believe acupucture works. I worked at an acupuncture clinic in the early ’80s. When I started, I was skeptical but was won over by the results.

]]> By: Freckles http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/is-acupuncture-effective-in-pets/comment-page-1/#comment-5322 Freckles Fri, 15 May 2009 04:20:23 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/?p=1179#comment-5322 Traditional chinese medicine, including acupuncture has been effective with my cats. Minxy had CRF and her appetite always picked up for a couple of days after her acupuncture treatments. Jester was diagnosed with IBD but because she was 18 and borderline diabetic prednisone wasn't a good option. Within 2 months of diet changes, herbs and acupuncture she started to improve. I could see the effect of the acupuncture as when she started to get better her stool would improve for a day or 2 after each session then go back to the chronic diarrhea. She got back to a totally normal stool. Freckles also had chronic diarrhea for ages and I used the TCM vet again and her stool is back to normal again. I don't think cats can really experience a placebo effect like people but acupuncture seems to make them feel good and I've seen it work with my pets. I'd definitely recommend trying it. I've always seen a DVM vet who is also trained in traditional chinese medicine as I don't know how effective acupuncture alone would be. My cats also saw their regular vet for routine monitoring and meds as needed for CRF. Traditional chinese medicine, including acupuncture has been effective with my cats. Minxy had CRF and her appetite always picked up for a couple of days after her acupuncture treatments. Jester was diagnosed with IBD but because she was 18 and borderline diabetic prednisone wasn’t a good option. Within 2 months of diet changes, herbs and acupuncture she started to improve. I could see the effect of the acupuncture as when she started to get better her stool would improve for a day or 2 after each session then go back to the chronic diarrhea. She got back to a totally normal stool. Freckles also had chronic diarrhea for ages and I used the TCM vet again and her stool is back to normal again.

I don’t think cats can really experience a placebo effect like people but acupuncture seems to make them feel good and I’ve seen it work with my pets. I’d definitely recommend trying it.

I’ve always seen a DVM vet who is also trained in traditional chinese medicine as I don’t know how effective acupuncture alone would be. My cats also saw their regular vet for routine monitoring and meds as needed for CRF.

]]> By: Ellen Chappelle http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/is-acupuncture-effective-in-pets/comment-page-1/#comment-5318 Ellen Chappelle Fri, 15 May 2009 00:30:11 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/?p=1179#comment-5318 Both of my senior dogs are currently being treated with acupuncture. One of them is 13 years old and suffers from spondylosis and hind-end weakness. When she gets a treatment, we notice that she isn't walking "back on her heels" and that she loses the "sway-backed" look. She also seems to move more freely. My other dog (age 12) has lymphoma, which was diagnosed a year ago, but the vet noted enlarged lymph nodes at least a year before that. He received acupuncture every two weeks for the first few months after diagnosis, and monthly treatments thereafter. He's still doing amazingly well and, despite what appears to be a bit of throat discomfort from growing nodes, he has the same energy and spirit he has always had -- walks happily every day, plays with toys and loves to eat. If you met him, you'd never know he was sick. No chemo, no drugs. Just acupuncture, herbal supplements and his life-long raw diet. Both of my senior dogs are currently being treated with acupuncture. One of them is 13 years old and suffers from spondylosis and hind-end weakness. When she gets a treatment, we notice that she isn’t walking “back on her heels” and that she loses the “sway-backed” look. She also seems to move more freely.
My other dog (age 12) has lymphoma, which was diagnosed a year ago, but the vet noted enlarged lymph nodes at least a year before that. He received acupuncture every two weeks for the first few months after diagnosis, and monthly treatments thereafter. He’s still doing amazingly well and, despite what appears to be a bit of throat discomfort from growing nodes, he has the same energy and spirit he has always had — walks happily every day, plays with toys and loves to eat. If you met him, you’d never know he was sick. No chemo, no drugs. Just acupuncture, herbal supplements and his life-long raw diet.

]]> By: Kerry http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/is-acupuncture-effective-in-pets/comment-page-1/#comment-5317 Kerry Thu, 14 May 2009 23:25:42 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/?p=1179#comment-5317 I'm not sure if there is such a thing as placebo effect in dogs, as I don't think they have the concept of "doing A will make me feel better about B" the way humans do. Several years ago my family started doing acupuncture therapy on our aging dog, who was having difficulty moving around due to pain in his hips and shoulders. The acupuncture worked wonderfully for the first 3 or 4 weekly sessions, but then the affect dropped of dramatically. We ended up putting him on prednisone, which had the same effect, though had a number of unwanted side effects. I certainly wouldn't declare acupuncture a surefire cure for pain, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to a friend with a pet in need. I’m not sure if there is such a thing as placebo effect in dogs, as I don’t think they have the concept of “doing A will make me feel better about B” the way humans do.
Several years ago my family started doing acupuncture therapy on our aging dog, who was having difficulty moving around due to pain in his hips and shoulders. The acupuncture worked wonderfully for the first 3 or 4 weekly sessions, but then the affect dropped of dramatically. We ended up putting him on prednisone, which had the same effect, though had a number of unwanted side effects.
I certainly wouldn’t declare acupuncture a surefire cure for pain, but I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to a friend with a pet in need.

]]> By: EmilyS http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/is-acupuncture-effective-in-pets/comment-page-1/#comment-5315 EmilyS Thu, 14 May 2009 22:42:22 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/?p=1179#comment-5315 Since dogs can't tell us (in words) whether they feel better after any treatment, how would a scientist determine the effectiveness of acupuncture? Presumably there are some behavior markers? I THINK my dog has told me (by her enthusiastic reaction to the treatment) that it makes her feel better. But for sure it could be a placebo effect (or the vet's yummy treats...) Since dogs can’t tell us (in words) whether they feel better after any treatment, how would a scientist determine the effectiveness of acupuncture? Presumably there are some behavior markers? I THINK my dog has told me (by her enthusiastic reaction to the treatment) that it makes her feel better. But for sure it could be a placebo effect (or the vet’s yummy treats…)

]]> By: courtney http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/is-acupuncture-effective-in-pets/comment-page-1/#comment-5312 courtney Thu, 14 May 2009 20:05:43 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/?p=1179#comment-5312 Dr. Farr in Des Moines - http://www.dmacuvet.com - has used acupuncture to help my English mastiff with Wobbler's Syndrome. It definitely helps! Dr. Farr in Des Moines – http://www.dmacuvet.com – has used acupuncture to help my English mastiff with Wobbler’s Syndrome. It definitely helps!

]]>