Acupuncture

It matters not if medicine is old or new so long as it can cure. It matters not if theories come from East or West so long as they be true. – Dr. Jen-Hsou Lin

Acupuncture is another means of treating animals that may not be responding to traditional western medical therapies.

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years as a means of treating various different diseases in both humans and animals. The history of acupuncture in animals dates back to 1700 BC. By stimulating certain points on the body, both a biochemical and physiological effect occur in the animal. For example placing a needle in the body can stimulate a nerve to function, release endorphins (pain control chemicals), alter blood pressure, relieve muscle spasms, and/or alter cortisol levels.

There are a multitude of conditions that acupuncture has been used for. Acupuncture is mainly indicated for functional problems such as pain, inflammation, and paralysis. The following is a list of conditions where acupuncture has been shown to be beneficial.

Musculoskeletal conditions (arthritis, muscle spasms, ligamentous pain, laminitis, decreased performance in horses)
Neurologic conditions (seizures, spinal disk disease, nerve trauma)
Urinary conditions (incontinence, chronic urinary tract infections, kidney disease)
Dermatologic conditions (allergies, lick granulomas, chronic skin & ear infections)
Respiratory conditions (asthma, reverse sneezing, heaves)
Gastrointestinal conditions (vomiting, diarrhea, gastric ulcers, chronic & acute non-surgical colic in horses)
Cancer pain
Post-operative pain and inflammation
Ocular conditions (KCS/dry eye, eye pain)
Any condition decreasing an animal's quality of life

Most animals tolerate acupuncture treatments very well. There may be slight discomfort when the needles are first placed, but once in there is often a relaxation effect. Most treatments last 20Ð30 minutes and depending on the chronicity of the condition the number of treatments needed before seeing a response can vary.

Dr. Borud is currently accepting both large and small animal patients. If you have any questions about acupuncture you can contact her either by phone at 701-298-9455 or via email at borudacupdvm@integra.com

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