About Acupuncture
An acupuncture session consists of Dr. Wood inserting needles in certain spots in your horse's body, based on his or her particular issue. The needles are very thin, so they don't cause pain. In Chinese medicine, it's thought that the needles stimulate the flow of energy, which they refer to as qi. In Western medicine, practitioners believe that acupuncture points focus on the connective tissue, nerves, and muscles. Acupuncture needles have also been shown to stimulate the body to produce certain natural painkillers.
What We Use Equine Acupuncture for
Acupuncture can be used for a wide variety of issues.
Acupuncture can be extremely useful for pain. Besides pain relief, acupuncture may also have an impact on inflammation, which is ideal for our patients with acute injuries and arthritis. It's thought that, by helping to return the nervous system to homeostasis, acupuncture may also help with the immune system and many other organ systems.
Your horse may also benefit from acupuncture's ability to increase microcirculation. This refers to the circulation of blood through your horse's smallest blood vessels -- the venules, metarterioles, terminal arterioles, and capillaries. They're located throughout your horse's body including in his or her organ tissue and stimulation of increased circulation can lead to improved wound healing, improvements in laminitis, and other great benefits.
We may recommend acupuncture for other reasons as well.
Evaluation Before Acupuncture
Dr. Wood performs an evaluation before conducting acupuncture to ensure it's safe for your horse. The first part of this evaluation consists of gathering information about your horse's medical history. We want to make sure he or she doesn't have any conditions that acupuncture could make worse. Our practitioner will also conduct a visual examination and assess the location of the issue.
We won't use acupuncture if the root of your horse's pain is from a fracture or infectious condition. We also can't apply the needles in an open wound. If we feel your horse would be better treated with other treatments or if additional treatments are needed in additional to acupuncture, this will be discussed with you. Acupuncture is not recommended in pregnant mares.
What to Expect During Equine Acupuncture
Once Dr. Wood determines that acupuncture is safe and indicated in your horse, she can proceed with a treatment.
During the procedure, ultra-thin needles will be inserted into specific parts of your horse's body. The needles consist of stainless steel and are flexible. Only fresh sterile needles are used.
Five to 30 needles will be used, depending on your horse's condition. The needles are left in position for anywhere between five to 30 minutes. Often electro-acupuncture is incorporated into this treatment. During electro-acupuncture, a small pulse of electricity is sent under the skin between two needles, this can be used to enhance the effectiveness of a treatment, make the effects of the treatment last longer, or allow treatment of areas that a needle cannot be directly applied to. The entire session will last from 20 to 60 minutes.
Sometimes, our patients only require one treatment if they have an acute condition. However, in most cases, three to five treatments are necessary to see the desired results. For horses with degenerative conditions (such as arthritis), or to prevent recurring issues, your horse may benefit from routine acupuncture sessions.
Acupuncture may help lessen your horse's pain and other symptoms without side effects. Generally, the treatment is safe. Plus, Dr. Wood tailors the treatment to your horse's particular needs. To learn more about acupuncture treatments for your horse, or to schedule an appointment, contact Redtail Equine Veterinary Service today at (303) 775-4061.
