What is Acupuncture?
Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the philosophy that illness is caused by an imbalance of vital energies in the body. Acupuncture is one aspect of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) that focuses on restoring the energy balance in the body to promote healing. The technique requires the insertion of fine needles into the dog’s body at specified points, called acupuncture points, where nerves and blood vessels converge. TCVM calls the pattern of these sites “meridians”, which are believed to be energy channels that transmit energy throughout the dog’s body. The inserted needles are thought to guide “chi” or vital energy along the meridians. Placed in these identified points, the needles enhance blood circulation, which improves healing ability. Acupuncture also stimulates the nervous system and increases the release of anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving substances, to reduce a dog’s discomfort.
How can my pet benefit from acupuncture?
Acupuncture improves blood flow, which increases oxygen delivery to the tissues and removes waste products more efficiently. Acupuncture can relax muscles where the needle is inserted and elsewhere in the body, relieving pain caused by muscle tension. By stimulating the release of naturally occurring, pain-relieving, and anti-inflammatory substances, acupuncture may decrease the amount of pain medication needed to treat these dogs.
What Conditions Can It Treat?
Acupuncture is often used to treat dogs with arthritis and joint inflammation. For example, dogs with hip dysplasia or degenerative joint disease may be good candidates for acupuncture. Dogs with chronic back pain and even dogs with serious spinal cord conditions may also benefit.
These conditions include:
Lameness
Degenerative joint diseases
Hip/elbow dysplasia
LS disease
Intervertebral disc disease
Lick granulomas
Chronic musculoskeletal problems (such as back or neck pain)
Acute problems such as tension or stiffness
Maintain soundness in older animals
Can be used to compliment other treatments for diabetes, kidney or liver failure,
pancreatitis, Cushing’s disease, and Addison’s diseaseAnd more!
What to Expect
Typical acupuncture sessions take about 30 minutes to perform. We recommend you bring some yummy snacks with your dog to feed them during the appointment. Many dogs love a frozen stuffed Kong, lick mat, or snuffle mat during their acupuncture appointment!
Many times it is recommended for bi-weekly treatments for several weeks to start. Often, the number of sessions is tapered off as the dog improves, so visits are scheduled less frequently.
What to expect after acupuncture:
The effects of acupuncture treatment are cumulative, so there is a benefit to repeated sessions, but the goal is to achieve the greatest degree of improvement and maintain that level with the fewest treatments necessary. There are few side effects with acupuncture, but some dogs may be sore or stiff following a treatment session, while other patients appear tired. These symptoms usually resolve within 24–48 hours.
Meet the Doctor
Dr. Mischa Leavey DVM
Dr. Mischa Leavey grew up in Hawaii and gradually moved eastward by living in Oregon, Arizona, and finally, Massachusetts. She received her veterinary degree at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and has been practicing in the Metrowest area for 15 years. Dr. Leavey received her certificate of veterinary acupuncture from the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society.
Other Services Offered By Dr. Leavey at NEK9A!
Due to the fact that we are not a veterinary clinic and Dr. Leavey only comes here every two weeks for services, she CANNOT act. as a primary veterinarian for anyone at NEK9A. However she can offer the following services below. All services are subject to additional travel expenses which will be disclosed when booking your appointment (the travel expense is evenly split between all appointments that day); this fee includes acupuncture appointments. Prices are subject to change at any time for any service as they are not set by us, they are set by At Home Veterinary.
Common Services
Annual Exam: $125
Vaccinations: $60-$73
Fecal screen for intestinal parasites: $97 (genetic analysis)
Bloodwork screen for heartworm and tick diseases: $68.50
“Happy” Visits (for training) and titer testing can be arranged, please contact us!
Schedule and Pricing
Dr. Leavey will be here every other week. To see upcoming dates click here!
All services are subject to additional travel expenses which will be disclosed when booking your appointment (the travel expense is evenly split between all appointments that day); this fee includes acupuncture appointments. Prices are subject to change at any time for any service as they are not set by us, they are set by At Home Veterinary.
The cost for the initial acupuncture appointment (required for all patients) is $267.
The cost for subsequent acupuncture appointments is $130.