Exeter Veterinary Acupuncture

Pain Relief and Healing with Alternative Medicine

As part of our alternative medicine practice at Veterinary Emergency & Surgery Hospital, we are proud to offer acupuncture treatments for your pets. Our Exeter veterinary staff support Dr. Toolan in her efforts to bring traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM) to your pet’s ongoing care and treatment. Acupuncture is one of the five branches of TCVM and can be extremely useful for pets who require additional pain management when conventional Western medicine isn’t enough or isn’t well tolerated by your pet. As with all our services at Veterinary Emergency & Surgery Hospital, we are held to the highest standards of veterinary care by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).

To schedule an acupuncture appointment for your pet, please call (603) 288-1515 or contact us online.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture uses very fine, sterile needles to penetrate certain points of the body to stimulate healing. It was originally developed in China over 4,000 years ago and remains an important part of traditional Chinese medicine.

The needles that we use to pinpoint parts of the body are very flexible and slender, resulting in a minimal risk of infection. Though patients may feel a small pinch upon insertion, the procedure is generally pain-free. Most patients will feel comfortable throughout the acupuncture session.

Conditions that could benefit from acupuncture treatments include:

• General maintenance of good health
• Pain management
• Anxiety
• Improve quality of life in terminally ill pets
• Chronic disease relief

Acupuncture has been practiced for centuries, withstanding both the test of time and scientific study. It has been found to be extremely effective for healing the whole body. Depending on your pet’s age, condition, and overall wellbeing, acupuncture may be more or less effective. Some patients will find relief after just one session, while others may need to attend multiple sessions in order to reap the benefits of acupuncture.

Acupuncture at Veterinary Emergency & Surgery Hospital

When you bring your pet in for a session with Dr. Toolan and the rest of our Exeter veterinary team, we will first conduct a medical exam to understand the underlying conditions that we are targeting for treatment. Once we have an idea of what we are treating, we will have your pet lie down comfortably, either on the floor or on an exam table - whichever they find more comfortable. You are welcome to stay with your pet during this procedure.

While some pets might be nervous at first, most pets will calm down after the needles are inserted. A typical acupuncture session at Veterinary Emergency & Surgery Hospital can last anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes, depending on what areas we are treating.

Most pets will feel an immediate effect from the treatment, though some pets may need additional sessions to reap the full benefits of acupuncture treatments. Side effects are generally mild, including soreness or stiffness immediately following treatment, but these effects should dissipate after 24 hours.

If you have additional questions about acupuncture at Veterinary Emergency & Surgery Hospital, please call (603) 288-1515 or contact us online so we can help.