Have you ever wondered whether acupuncture, massage, or herbs can nurse your four-legged companion back to full health and agility? The answer is: yes! Animals are creatures of nature and, as such, are more directly connected to their bodies’ innate healing wisdom than humans. So all pets can benefit enormously from holistic medicine.
We’ve heard many endearing stories from loving pet owners about how much their dogs, cats, horses, and even chickens benefit from, even love acupuncture, flopping over out of sheer relaxation after needles are placed in strategic locations. Existing mostly on pure intuition and instinct, they are highly in tune with their body’s energy flow and inner wisdom.
Without doubts or preconceptions getting in the way of the healing effects of an energy treatment, animals can take it all in with an open heart, often with dramatic results. A big part of reaping the benefits of any energy treatment is unconditional faith in one’s healing capacity — and in this, animals have a-plenty. Same goes for herbs, which can be highly effective, as animals are accustomed to let nature take its course.
Some do’s and don’t’s when it comes to acupuncture, herbs, and massage for your furry friend:
- DO always go to a certified, board-licensed veterinary acupuncturist and herbalist, which, in most states, also means a licensed veterinarian. Animals’ anatomical structures and meridians systems are different from those of humans and vary greatly from species to species, so it takes specialized training to have the know-how to needle animals properly.
- DON’T administer herbs on your own. As with humans, herbs are most effective and safe for animals when prescribed by a trained herbalist. Even if you source them from a reputable company and they seem to help with your pet’s condition, you always want to seek a professional diagnosis — especially in case the condition turns out to be serious.
- DO ask your veterinary acupuncturist for acupressure/massage tips to use at home to enhance your pet’s treatment. It’s a great way to extend the effects of an acupuncture treatment. Plus, what pet doesn’t love extra massages?
It’s good to know that a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist will most likely also be a veterinarian. That means that they also have experience and knowledge of other types of treatments as well. It would be nice to be able to go to one veterinarian that can handle all of your pet’s health needs! Maybe that’s what I’ll do when I look for a veterinarian for my dog.
Thank you for talking about giving herbs to your pets on your own. Many people think that just because specific herbs work for them it would also work for their pets, sometimes this ends up harming them more. I would want to make sure I ask the professionals first so I don’t put my pet through a hard time. Thank you for posting.
I have family members who get acupuncture a lot and it helps them a lot! I have never thought about if my pets could benefit from this but it makes sense that they would. I really appreciate this article because my dog sprained his hind legs and they’ve been in a lot of pain.
Sure animals respond to acupuncture. You can also use your thumb and gently massage from the neck down to the tail the dogs spine. He will love the effect!
I have actually never thought about acupuncture for my dog, she’s never really been sick before. I’ll have to think about that though next time she does become sick. My husband, on the other hand, has been feeling sick for the past day or so. He wanted to see if I could take him to an acupuncture professional, I just don’t know where to find one.
Yes absolutely, acupuncture seems to be very effective for animals. I am an acupuncturist but I am not a veterinarian so I have never worked with animals in this way, but I have seen it done. I first saw a dog receiving acupuncture for a sprained front leg and I was expecting the dog to pull away and not enjoy it. However, it was completely the opposite. The dog didn’t seem to mind the needles at all and once they were in, he totally chilled out for the rest of the treatment. The results were also somewhat evident at the end of the treatment as his limp was definitely less pronounced.
I’m glad that you mentioned only getting services from a board certified acupuncturist, so you know that they won’t make any mistakes on your animal. I have been looking for ways to help my new dog feel better and I haven’t tried acupuncture. I can see how it would be good to find someone certified soon, because my dog has seemed pretty stressed this week.