Pet Acupuncture Wiltshire (PAW) - What can I expect during treatment

What can I expect during treatment?

After an initial examination to ensure your pet is fit for acupuncture and to assess your pet’s needs, needles will be put into various parts of the body and sometimes moved or stimulated a few times. There is not a set “dose” of acupuncture as there is for medication, so your vet will judge how much to do based on your pet’s response both at the time and after the treatment.

Will it hurt my pet?

Most of the time they accept the fine needles very well and may become relaxed and sleepy during the treatment. Often, they appear to look forward to the next treatment when they come back, making positive associations in a relaxed environment. Treats are always on hand!

Would my pet need to be sedated for this treatment?

It is uncommon for animals to need to be sedated. This would only usually happen if they were so painful that any touch or stimulus causes them to be painful. Perhaps surprisingly, cats and rabbits often accept acupuncture treatment very well but, in some cases, anxious cats can benefit from some oral medication shortly before an appointment that can reduce stress. Fractious and aggressive pets may not be as suitable for this type of therapy.

What about response?

Typical responses are usually either:

• Improvement within 3 days of treatment
• Initial stiffness followed by improvement within a couple of days
• No initial response. If no response is seen, then I may make changes to chosen acupuncture points and strengths in the next appointment.
• Approximately 10-30% of animals do not respond to acupuncture but it is important to complete a course of 4-6 weekly treatments before an assessment on response can be made.

What can I expect after the treatment?

It is not uncommon for pets to go home and sleep very soundly for a long time. This is a good sign and shows that your pet will probably respond well to acupuncture. But do not worry if they are not sleepy – this does not mean that they will not respond. Sometimes your pet may seem a little more euphoric than usual; this is also a good sign but keep them quiet for the rest of the day or they may overdo things.  Appetite can vary from improvement in appetite to a short time being off their food.

Otherwise treat your pet normally after acupuncture. Do not change exercise, diet or medication unless it has been discussed with your referring vet.