By Dr. Becker
As an integrative veterinarian, I routinely employ alternative healing therapies in my practice with a great deal of success.
So I'm always taken aback when someone (in this case the writer of the Wink News article linked below) describes an important modality like acupuncture as an expensive 'splurge' – especially if the patient is a pet.
Though there are to date very few scientific studies available that prove beyond all doubt veterinary acupuncture works, or perhaps more importantly why it works, the fact is -- it works. It benefits animals in much the same way it benefits humans.
I see its advantages every day with my patients, as do veterinary acupuncturists and their pet owner clients across the country and the world.
Dr. Grace Li, one of four integrative vets at the Tin Hau Pet Hospital in Hong Kong, grew up in Canada, graduated from veterinary school at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, and studied veterinary dermatology at Australia's University of Sydney. Dr. Li's view of acupuncture in her practice:
"Coming to me can be almost a last RESORT for animals and their guardians. What I'm doing may be different, but when I see that it leads to improvements for pets, then I know I'm on the right track.
"To me, it's so obvious. When I do acupuncture on a recumbent dog, one who can't stand up, and then after a few acupuncture treatments, he's walking, happy and more energetic, that's a spectacular response.
"When acupuncture helps to solve bad-digestion, chronic-diarrhea or skin-problem cases, then I know my treatment plan works. Although my patients can't talk, the results are clear. The pets' guardians see the impact for themselves."
Western medicine has conditioned us to look for the quick fix. With alternative therapies, including acupuncture, results are often not seen immediately and require more frequent and longer treatments.
There certainly are situations in which we see immediate improvement with acupuncture, but as a general rule the benefits of acupuncture are cumulative over a series of treatments.
In other words, pet owners should prepare for a journey rather than a quick trip around the block.
Non-drug, non-surgical alternative therapies like acupuncture call on the natural healing ability of the body to repair itself and return to a state of balance (good health). This is an entirely different approach than that of traditional medicine, which typically involves blasting away at the problem with powerful drugs and scalpels.