Pet Acupuncture - What to Expect?

[Anonymous]

We just signed our dog up for his first acupuncture appointment. I have never had this myself and have no idea what to expect. Several friends recommended it to help our very old dog with his mobility issues.

What should I expect? Also, is there anything in particular I should be looking for to ensure he is getting quality care?

[Anonymous]

You should expect your wallet to feel much lighter when you leave. To ensure he is getting quality care you should investigate whether a treatment has been scientifically validated, and is not simply based on quackery.

[Anonymous]

Bravo for you, PP. When I posted this, I was REALLY hoping someone would come by and post a snarky response!! Thank you for making my day (not!).

Don't worry - I can easily afford the treatments at less than $100 a visit. I lighten my wallet with much less worthwhile things all the time. Also, the treatments will be given by a person who is a vet and practices part time out of an animal hospital, so I am not too worried about the quack factor.

Now, would anyone who is familiar with this care to tell me what I should expect?

[Anonymous]

Oh my God!

We're trying to get some medicines together to send to Ethiopia and people take dogs to acupuncturist...

it's the end of this world.

[Anonymous]

Yes, people do. I also spent $4,000 last year on surgery for him. Do you want to tell me how much medicine that will buy you to ship overseas so I can tell you I don't give a sh**?

I sure hope you don't have a pet, or if you do you probably have it penned up in the back yard on a choke chain.

[zumbamama]

OP, I've heard vets recommend it. If you've got the money, I don't see the harm. I've given my cat antibiotics that didn't work, so why not give acu a try? I doubt you will get any helpful advice here on the matter. Please post results after you try it.

[Anonymous]

"Do you want to tell me how much medicine that will buy you to ship overseas so I can tell you I don't give a sh**?"

Can't say I like your attitude, OP. Couldn't you have just kept quiet, instead of taking the bait? Responses like this don't make me feel particularly inclined to help you. But I'm a nice person (and a true animal lover), so...

Slate.com did a column on the subject a while back: http://www.slate.com/id/2120824/. Read all the Heavy Petting columns. They're very nicely written.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, people do. I also spent $4,000 last year on surgery for him. Do you want to tell me how much medicine that will buy you to ship overseas so I can tell you I don't give a sh**?

I sure hope you don't have a pet, or if you do you probably have it penned up in the back yard on a choke chain.

I did have one and we put him to sleep when the vet said he had cancer and would not survive.
We could not afford chemotherapy for my father.
I didn't see any reason to spend our last savings doing it for the dog.

May God take the your pet's little soul to Heaven in peace and teach you a lesson in His own way.

[Anonymous]

OP - my parents' cat is 20 years old and gets acupuncture and chiropractic treatments from a homeopathic vet (hope I spelled all those right).

It would have never occurred for my mom to go this route, but it turns out someone in her neighborhood is the vet, my dad ended up helping her husband make a major career shift, she found out my parents had an elderly cat with a multitude of problems (thyroid, kidney) and offered to do it. So my mom doesn't pay for it but gladly would, especially given how much she has paid the OTHER (non homeopathic) vet for medications and much more invasive treatments that have not worked.

I was there when the cat had acupuncture once. He is not a huge fan but it has totally helped him. He was getting it once a month, now it is just as needed. My mom is just trying to keep him comfortable, as soon as he is uncomfortable we are putting him to sleep, but for now he is eating and seems happy, though not as active as before. Anyway, basically the vet sticks several needles in him. My mom typically keeps him in an enclosed space after for about an hour, such as a bathroom, because otherwise he runs off around the house and my mom has no idea how long he has kept the needles in. She removes most of them after an hour or so, but the vet says if she doesn't get them all it's fine, they will eventually fall out. And they can't hurt humans if you step on one or anything.

We have no doubt the chiropractic manipulation and the acupuncture have totally worked. He is eating better, throwing up a lot less, etc. My mom took him off the other meds because they were making him sick and she didn't feel he was helping.

I'm all for whatever works and I really don't see why people laugh or think it's a luxury considering how much traditional vet work costs. I feel like just walking into the vet means you have to shell out big $$$. So if you think acupuncture could help your dog go for it, I can't imagine it's much more than the expensive meds. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to the two PPs.

16:34, I apologize that you did not like my attitude. I just get so tired of being told what to do or people trying to make other people feel bad on this board. I should give all my money to Octomom. No one should stress about whatever small problem they are having because someone else is much worse off. Married women have no right to complain about their husbands because they could be widowed or be single moms. People with children who post an issue should not be allowed to post issues because at least they could conceive. People fretting over school admissions shouldn't be allowed to do that because they should spend their tuition money on XYZ charity instead. It just hit me once again today, and I snapped. So I did take the bait; you're right. I am just not very rational about my dog right now. We have had him for a long time, and it is terrible to see the toll age is taking on him, and we need to do something for him, but he is not ready to let us go just yet. So I am going to try this.

I particularly appreciate your posting the link to the article. The picture of the dog happily snoozing away on the table made me laugh and is what I hope will happen for my dog. He is, obviously, already on everything the vets can think to give him, but now they say there is nothing else they can do.

[Anonymous]

Oops - two others posted while I was typing. I meant thanks to 16:25, 16:34 and now 17:27.

[Anonymous]

I go to acupuncture for fertility purposes and I know my acupuncturist also treats pets (I think she prefers them!). She says animals usually relax and end up enjoying the treatment. I know I do! I hope this helps your pet!