query for the dog people among us

[smg01]

I called in to the vet today to give an update on Sheba. (Mixed bag. She's seemed more comfortable, she doesn't seem to be knuckling her feet under. But twice today when I've picked her up to carry her down some stairs, she's yelped a little bit. She's had a couple of accidents before I could get her outside. But she's also maintained a mostly happy disposition and continues to have a good appetite.)

Anyway, when I was speaking with the vet we were talking about things in general. We're going to step the prednisone back up for a bit again. I was saying that I'd prefer not to put Sheba through surgery or other invasive treatments if I could at all avoid it. I was asking her if she had any thoughts or observations about chiropractic. She was hesitant about it and also frank that she hasn't had much exposure to it. She went on to suggest that as far as alternative treatments go, she would probably lean toward acupuncture.

So. All of that was a longwinded prelude to ask. Have any of you had any experience with acupuncture with dogs? If so: good, bad, indifferent?

Comments

[rainbow.livejournal.com]

not dogs, but one of our friends had acupuncture for her elderly cat for a long time and it made a huge differce for her (the kitty). LOTS less stiffness and pain and lots better apatite and less kidney problems.

[cosmicbob.livejournal.com]

We didn't do acupuncture, but we did do some holistic stuff on a borzoi (natural food, natural medicines, massage). She responded well for a while, but in the end it didn't seem to help a lot. She was allergic to anti-biotics of all things.

But I would try it. It's not an unreasonable thing to try on a dog, I don't think.

[meeby.livejournal.com]

Oh, definitely! I should have mentioned it before.

My first dog, Princess, had a problem with tumors in her spine. My parents did acupuncture with her (I was in college by then) and it lenghtened her life another couple of years. She loved it, too! When she got to the acupuncturists office she would go up to her and turn around and basically present herself all "I'm ready! Make me feel better!"

[raithen.livejournal.com]

I have had chiropractic on my dogs, and seen acupuncture on dogs and horses.

Both can have AMAZING effects. The big thing is, make sure the practitioner (of either modality, and often the good ones do both) is a vet first and is certified by one of the veterinary acupuncture (IVAS (http://www.ivas.org/) or the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture (http://www.aava.org/) ) or veterinary chiropractic ( American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (http://www.animalchiropractic.org/)) associations. And be sure they are certified in BOTH modalities of they do both.

We had a lay chiropractor put our Tammy into MAJOR crisis and she did the same to our horse. Make sure they are certified, and try to get recommendations/testimonials from trustworthy sources.

But it CAN help. And acupuncture does AMAZING things for pain management etc....

[suzannemarie.livejournal.com]

This definitely sounds like it's worth checking out. I'd feel more comfortable if it were done in a clinical context and one of the vet clinics here in town lists acupuncture as one of the things they do. I'll check them out.

Hopefully they'd be okay with seeing her for acu, while I maintain my current vets. I love both of the vets at the clinic I use and would not want to switch....

[raithen.livejournal.com]

most veterinary acupuncturists and veterinary chiropractors are TOTALLY cool with you maintaining your primary care vet. They act like a "specialist," if you will. And if they won't do that, then find someone else!

We recently had a vet with certs in chiro and acupuncture treat Cassie and Joy, and we didn't need to change to her at all.

those websites also provide searchable members listings.

[meeby.livejournal.com]

My parents use 3 separate vets for their dogs -- plus the chiropractic/acupuncture person! You should be fine to take her somewhere else for a speciality.

Good luck!