Animal Hospital
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Acupuncture is performed by inserting needles through the skin in specific points on the body to initiate a healing effect, relax painful contracted muscles, and alleviate chronic pain. How Acupuncture Works: Acupuncture works through a process called neuromodulation. A tiny needle is inserted into the skin at specific points where nerves innervate the skin (for local effect) or where nerves inervate underlying tissue (for organ effect). The nerve is stimulated, the signal is transferred to the spinal cord and travels to the brain where the body stimulates endorphins (feel-good hormones) which travel back to the organ and skin supplied by the nerve that has been stimulated. Acupuncture increases circulation to the areas treated by increasing blood flow (nerves travel with arteries and veins) which aid in immune stimulation and organ healing. Acupuncture Can Be Utilized For: Musculoskeletal ▪ Hip/Elbow dysplasia ▪ Arthritis ▪ Orthopedic injuries (ligament/tendon strain, cruciate rupture, post op pain following fractures and/or cruciate repair) ▪ Long term injuries (car accidents or other trauma) Analgesia ▪ Surgery ▪ Visceral pain related to ongoing disease process ▪ Related to chronic disease ▪ Prevents and treats “wind up” Skin problems ▪ Lick granuloma ▪ Sensory neorodermatitis (psychogenic alopecia, dry/flakey skin, hot spots, aid in healing of lacerations, etc.) ▪ Otitis externa (aids in healing ear infections) Nervous Disorders ▪ Traumatic nerve injury ▪ Certain types of paralysis/ paresis (weakness) ▪ Seizures Respiratory Problems ▪ Feline asthma ▪ Kennel cough ▪ Pneumonia Urogenital Problems ▪ Feline lower urinary tract disorder ▪ Urinary incontinence ▪ Aid in reproduction (cycling, breeding, including labor) Cancer ▪ Pain relief ▪ Stimulating the immune system Liver Problems/ gastrointestinal problems ▪ Speed up recovery ▪ Encourage appetite ▪ Control vomiting/diarrhea/constipation ▪ Controls pain ▪ Stimulate immune function Treatment Methods An initial acupuncture session requires 45-60 minutes as the doctor takes a thorough history and develops an appropriate treatment plan. A western examination will be done, like the one your pet receives during their annual/semiannual wellness exam. Then a diagnostic acupuncture examination is done. Following this your doctor will review any labwork, radiographs/ultrasound, or surgical findings and prepare a treatment protocol for your pet’s needs. Needles may be inserted for as little as 10 seconds to as long as 20 minutes depending on the problem, desired effect, age of the animal and region stimulated. Injections may be made in the acupuncture points as well. Most follow-up treatments take 20-30 minutes. Treatment points may vary from session to session. After the Visit Your pet may experience complete relaxation and sleep very sound, or may even act better immediately. After monitoring your pet’s reaction to acupuncture, your veterinarian will give you information on follow up appointments. Many animals will show a response is one to three treatments. However, some require six to eight treatments before they demonstrate equal response. Does Acupuncture Hurt? The sterilized needles used are generally small enough that animals do not experience pain. The needle stimulation can cause warmth, tingling or numbness, but, typically, does not cause discomfort. About Our Hospital At VCA Arrighetti Animal Hospital our doctors and staff are dedicated professionals who care about your pets. We will do everything we can to make your special family member feel better, stay healthier, and live longer. Your pets are always our number one priority. We appreciate the trust and confidence you show us by letting us care for your pet. We promise to treat your pet the way we treat our own- with love. Shiri Hoshen, DVM: Dr. Shiri Hoshen received her veterinary degree from Colorado State University in 2001. She trained in acupuncture at CSU in 2002. 
Can you imagine what your mouth would be like if your teeth had never been brushed? Pet owners tend to ignore their pets’ dental health, not because they don’t care, but because they are not aware of the serious complications that can be caused by poor gum health. Gum disease is an infection caused by the bacteria found in dental plaque and it is the number one illness found in both dogs and cats. If left unchecked, the infection can result in bacteria entering the bloodstream and damaging other organs or body systems. It can also complicate other underlying diseases, such as diabetes or chronic sinusitis. To prevent gum disease, your pets should have their teeth brushed daily and cleaned once a year by your veterinarian. January and February are dental months at VCA Arrighetti Animal Hospital and dental cleanings are discounted 20% during that time. Signs of poor dental health: Bad breath Loose or missing teeth Lethargy Weight loss Visible tarter on teeth Swelling under the eyes Difficulty eating Discharge from the nose Drooling or excessive salivation Pawing at the teeth or mouth Red, irritated, swollen, or bleeding gums It is very important to remember that dental disease is the most common problem to affect small animals of any age. In fact, veterinary experts estimate that up to 80% of dogs and 70% of cats that do not receive proper dental care will develop signs of dental disease by the age of three. For these reasons, it is very important that your pet receives regular dental care and cleanings from your general practitioner veterinarian. What Is Periodontal Disease? This disease is one of the most common mouth problems of dogs and cats. Periodontal disease is an infection caused by the bacteria found in dental plaque. Unfortunately, bacteria can be present on even healthy looking teeth. Gingivitis, which is another term often mentioned in connection with dental disease, is an inflammation of the gum area that causes reddened and swollen gums. It is a common, visual sign of underlying periodontal disease. Periodontal disease first occurs when plaque and tartar begin to build up on your pet’s teeth. In the beginning, plaque might simply appear to be discoloration or staining on the teeth. Without regular dental examinations and cleanings, however, this plaque builds up and turns into tartar, or calculus. This is the visible material you can sometimes see encrusted on the teeth and along the gum line of a pet’s mouth. Tartar can trap bacteria, which can cause infections and damage the bony socket that holds each tooth in place. This condition is very serious in pets because, if left unchecked, it eventually leads to the destruction of each affected tooth’s supporting structures, causing pain, infection, and tooth loss. The infection can also result in bacteria entering the bloodstream and damaging other organs or body systems in your pet, such as the kidney, liver, and heart. It can complicate other underlying diseases, such as diabetes or chronic sinusitis. Why Is Proper Dental Care So Important? Imagine what your mouth and teeth would look and feel like if you never brushed them or visited your dentist. That unappealing picture is the same for your pet. Without proper dental care, your pet will most likely suffer from bad breath, inflamed gums, missing, loose, or broken teeth, and all of the pain and discomfort such problems can cause. In addition, veterinary experts have found that dental disease can also lead to systemic health problems in dogs and cats. The good news, however, is that dental disease is easily prevented by following your veterinarian’s recommendations regarding dental examinations, home care, and dental cleanings. Why Is A Dental Cleaning Important? A thorough cleaning removes plaque and tartar both above and below the gum line. This is necessary to prevent periodontal disease and all the associated health problems that we have outlined above. While dental cleanings may seem like an added expense, they are actually a very cost effective investment in your pet’s continued good health. Caught early, dental problems are easy to treat. Neglected, they can turn into serious, painful and expensive problems. Does My Pet Really Need to Be Anesthetized? While the quality of dental care we can now offer to pets is very similar to what humans enjoy, there is one important difference: you can’t explain to your pet what is happening and why. For that reason, pets must be anesthetized for anything other than the most cursory of examinations. In order to perform a thorough checkup, your veterinarian or trained veterinary dental technician needs to be able to visualize all your pet’s teeth—even those in the back of his or her mouth—and be able to access the entire mouth with instruments during the cleaning procedure. Anesthesia is also required to protect your pet’s lungs and airway. During the dental cleaning, water is used to cool the instruments and flush the plaque, tartar, bacteria and food debris away. If your pet is not anesthetized, this dirty water could get into the lungs and cause a dangerous form of pneumonia. Is the Anesthesia Safe? While there is always a slight risk when using anesthesia on a pet, or even a person for that matter, today’s veterinary anesthetic agents are extremely safe. To further maximize your pet’s safety, your veterinary team will recommend preanesthetic testing to make sure there are no hidden health problems that could compromise your pet’s ability to undergo the procedure. In addition, your pet will be monitored while under the anesthesia and during recovery. Owners are often especially concerned about anesthetizing older pets. However, many dental problems can be extremely painful as well as contribute to the development of systemic disease. With pets today living longer and longer, owners must weigh, in consultation with their veterinarian, the risks and benefits of allowing an older pet to possibly live years with a painful condition. The risk of disease from dental problems is far greater than any risks presented by the anesthesia. Why Does My Pet Need Radiographs for a Dental Exam? Dental x-rays are becoming the standard of care for veterinary dentistry, just as they are in human dentistry. Without radiographs, or x-rays, it is impossible for the veterinarian to detect problems below the gum line or within the tooth itself. Radiographs are necessary before deciding on a course of therapy in order to help determine, for example, how extensive a tooth fracture is. |
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