Holistic Healing for Alpharetta Pets
Dr. Collins, co-owner and lead veterinarian of PetSmart Veterinary Services - Alpharetta, is a certified veterinary acupuncturist.
This allows us to offer a complementary treatment option for a variety of veterinary services.
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Veterinary Acupuncture
Acupuncture offers a natural and effective way to manage pain in pets. By stimulating specific points on the body with needles, it aids in:
- Reducing Pain and Inflammation: Acupuncture for your pet triggers the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals in the body, which helps to alleviate discomfort associated with conditions like arthritis, disc disease, and nerve injuries.
- Improving Blood Flow and Healing: Enhanced circulation promoted by acupuncture supports the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to affected tissues, aiding in the healing process of injuries and neurological disorders.
- Enhancing Nerve Function: Acupuncture can stimulate nerves and encourage their regeneration, potentially improving motor function and coordination in pets with neurological issues such as paralysis or nerve damage.
- Supporting Overall Mobility: By addressing pain, inflammation, and muscle tension, acupuncture can improve your pet's mobility, which makes it a valuable component of rehabilitation plans for orthopedic and neurological conditions.
Comfort and Relief for Your Pets
It takes at least three sessions to notice improvement from acupuncture, but some pets can show immediate improvement after just one session. It can enhance your pet’s quality of life, and is completely safe for animals. Pets feel no pain during the procedure, and often relax enough to fall asleep during their treatment!
Helping the Body Heal
One of the biggest benefits of acupuncture is that it encourages the body to heal itself. By stimulating certain areas of the body, it actually jumpstarts physiological changes that lead to positive results. This might mean nerve stimulation, increased blood flow, or hormonal releases that can reduce pain, inflammation, and other ailments affecting your pet’s health. Acupuncture is especially helpful during and after surgery because it reduces pain and discomfort while promoting a smoother recovery and faster healing.
Acupuncture Modalities
We use a few different acupuncture modalities to provide the best results for specific situations. These include:
- Dry Needles: Dry needling involves inserting very thin needles into specific points on your pet’s body to stimulate healing. This traditional method helps to release natural painkillers, improve blood flow, and reduce inflammation.
- Aqua Acupuncture: Aqua acupuncture involves injecting a small amount of liquid, such as saline or vitamins, into specific acupuncture points. This method combines the benefits of acupuncture with targeted hydration and nutrient delivery to enhance the healing process.
- Electrical Acupuncture: Electrical acupuncture uses a mild electric current passed through the inserted needles. This method enhances the effects of traditional acupuncture by providing a gentle stimulation to the acupuncture points, which can help relieve pain and improve mobility more effectively. In addition electrical acupuncture also typically prolongs the duration of the positive effects of acupuncture.