Alternative Medicine

We regularly integrate acupuncture into our daily practice. During physical exams, if we detect something that may be very responsive to acupuncture, we will be happy to discuss it as an option. We would be happy to consult with you and examine your pet if you would like to know if acupuncture may be an option for your pet. Some of the problems we have successfully treated with acupuncture, alone or in combination with other medications and treatments, include arthritis, back problems, paralysis, weakness, allergies, seizures, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, kidney disease and failure, heart disease, and aging.

Acupuncture is the process of using tiny needles to make major shifts in the body. These tiny needles communicate with nerve bundles or meridians on the outside of the body to impact the nerves, spinal cord, and organs inside the body. We use it most often for neck and back pain, and it is often effective for paralysis, weakness, arthritis, digestive disorders like ileus and constipation, liver, and kidney disease. Surprisingly animals tolerate it very well, and the majority actually enjoy their treatments, probably because they feel better immediately afterward. Animals who do not enjoy their needles can have an alternate treatment done using a therapeutic laser in their acupuncture points for gentler but still effective treatment.

We use laser treatments many times a day to reduce pain and inflammation in our pay patients. This laser creates a temperature gradient in the targeted tissue to reduce inflammation and promote healing by improving blood supply to the area. We most often use it for stifle (knee) and hip arthritis, although it is effective for most forms of arthritis and spinal pain in pets. The laser is used on all surgical patients for post-surgical pain relief and faster healing times. For this reason, we also use it for wounds that are slow to heal and chronic ear infections. Because it promotes healing and reorganizing of damaged tissue, it is effective for biceps tendon and iliopsoas muscle strains, things that otherwise would take months and months of rest to heal. Animals love the laser and typically leave the hospital feeling immediately better.

If your pet is suffering from conditions such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, lameness, gastrointestinal disease, chronic health issues, or back problems, he or she might benefit from our chiropractic services. Professional chiropractic manipulation can help ease pain, improve flexibility and mobility, and even enhance organ function. Chiropractic therapy can also promote healing and improve the range of motion in dogs injured during sporting events.

Chiropractic or spinal adjustments in animals are extremely effective for chronic pain In our animal patients. Small adjustments in the spine can be performed very gently in pets, realigning the vertebrae and spinal cord and releasing pressure from the attached muscles and ligaments. Chiropractic is most often used for neck and back pain, paralysis and weakness, chronic pain and arthritis, and seizures, although sometimes it is also effective for other spinal abnormalities like syringomyelia, and also urinary and fecal incontinence.

We use veterinary chiropractic in conjunction with traditional therapies to give your pet the best possible outcome. To discuss whether your pet is a candidate for chiropractic therapy, please call our hospital and set up an appointment with one of our experienced veterinarians.

These methods are sometimes used to accentuate our other body treatments like acupuncture and chiropractic. They target the tissue between the vertebrae and bones, which is sometimes what is holding an animal back from feeling their best. Occasionally after the other treatments, massage or osteopathy is needed to loosen the tightened soft tissue and allow for maximum flexibility, range of motion, and comfort.