Asheville Animal Acupuncture

Musculoskeletal*

“
Acupuncture may be able to help — either as a primary treatment or alongside conventional veterinary care.

IVDD (acute & chronic) – AP can drastically speed healing time in acute cases. In one study, AP was shown to be more effective than surgery.
Wobblers
Hind end weakness/wobbliness
Cognitive dysfunction – AP can help slow progression, especially if started early on
Spinal trauma, head trauma
Seizures – In mild cases of epilepsy, AP alone can be effective in controlling seizures without medications. In moderate to severe cases of epilepsy, it can help reduce the amount of medications needed. Unfortunately, it is not as effective in controlling geriatric-onset seizures but may help in some cases
Laryngeal paralysis, facial paralysis
Vestibular disorders (including idiopathic)
Peripheral nerve injuries (Brachial plexus avulsion, tail pull injuries, etc)

Glaucoma – AP has been shown to reduce intraocular pressure in glaucoma animal models
Conjunctivitis or any other inflammatory condition – decreases pruritis, inflammation & speeds healing
Corneal ulcers – speeds/promotes healing, pain control

AP reduces anxiety & anger & promotes relaxation.
Separation anxiety, thunderstorm phobias – Mild cases can be controlled with AP alone. In severe cases, AP can be used as an adjunct to traditional medications & can help reduce dosages needed &/or help pets that are not completely controlled on medications.
Aggression – Patient response is highly variable & depends on underlying aggression disorder.

In combination with traditional western medications:

Congestive heart failure, valvular diseases, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias
Acute cases of CHF should always be treated with traditional western emergency medications!
AP can help increase the strength & stamina of the heart muscles, reduce fluid accumulation & arrhythmias. AP can increase quality of life & in many cases increase length of life.

Asthma, chronic bronchitis – AP can reduce airway inflammation, ease breathing & control panic & anxiety that accompanies the inability to breath.
Allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory infections
Pneumonia
AP most often used as adjunct with traditional western meds. It can boost the immune system & shorten the course of infectious diseases.

Abdominal pain/colic, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation
Inflammatory bowel disease
Megacolon
AP typically used in conjunction with traditional western medications. AP can decrease dosages of medications &/or provide benefits for patients that are not controlled with western medications.
AP has been shown to normalize gut motility to restore smooth muscle function & stop vomiting, diarrhea & constipation. AP can also reduce GI pain & stimulate appetite.

Chronic renal failure – AP can help increase appetite & energy level & slow progression of disease. In some cases, it may help to reduce azotemia.
Urinary incontinence – spay-induced, geriatric, neurologic, etc
Cystitis – *Feline idiopathic cystitis
Urolithiasis – can help control inflammation, pain. In some cases (infection-induced struvite stones), AP can help to decrease size of stones faster in conjunction with traditional western treatments.

In combination with traditional western medications:

AP profoundly affects the endocrine system to restore balance in many different endocrine disorders
Diabetes Mellitus – AP can help improve control & clinical signs of DM. Electro-AP has been shown to improve the response to insulin & glucose tolerance in diabetic animals.
Cushing's disease
Thyroid disease

AP has immunomodulatory effects. Experimentally shown to increase T-lymphocytes & natural killer cells.
AP can reduce over-activity of the immune system or stimulate immune function.
Autoimmune disease
Immunodeficiency syndromes
Allergic disorders
Infections – can be used to prevent infection in animals that seem to become sick easily, i.e. "poor doers"

AP decreases pruritis and inflammation allowing skin to heal. It can be used for a variety of skin conditions.
Atopy (environmental allergies) – can help decrease the amount of medications (steroids or other) needed to control signs. Response varies & depends on how severe the condition is. In mild cases, we can control allergies with herbs & AP alone. In more severe cases, an integrative approach is best.
Auto-immune diseases (pemphigus, lupus)

Hemorrhage
Fever reduction*
Post-op pain*
Cancer patients – Can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy to increase quality of life & life span. AP can help with pain & GI side effects of chemotherapy.

*Indicates acupuncture very effective*