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609.259.8300
315 Robbinsville-Allentown Rd., Robbinsville, NJ 08691
2834 Route 73N, Maple Shade, NJ 08052
507 Route 70, Brick, NJ 08723

Acupuncture



NorthStar VETS is proud to offer a wide range of alternative medical services as part of its focus on total health and wellness for its patients. Acupuncture is one of these alternative services.

Acupuncture is a branch of the 2000-year-old art of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). TCVM is based on the belief that health is a reflection of energy balance between all parts of the body. Illness, on the other hand, occurs when there's an imbalance of the body's energy force - called Qi (pronounced CHEE).

Qi is the life force or vital energy required to maintain health. Qi flows through the body on channels called meridians. When the Qi flow along these meridians is interrupted, there's an excess or deficiency of this energy or a blockage of the energy flow, resulting in pain and/or illness. The meridian channels contain specific points that, when stimulated, return the normal flow of Qi to the body and allow healing to occur. These points are called acupoints, and stimulation of these points is called acupuncture.

The Benefits of Acupuncture Therapy

Acupuncture therapy can be effective in treating pets with a wide variety of medical conditions, including:

  • Cancer pain and minimization of treatment side effects
  • Chronic arthritis
  • Compromised immune systems
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
  • Kidney and liver diseases
  • Lack of appetite
  • Muscle, tendon and bone injuries
  • Musculoskeletal disorders
  • Neurological conditions
  • Ocular (eye) disorders
  • Paralysis and paresis, spinal injury and disc disease
  • Pre- and post-operative pain management
  • Respiratory disorders
  • Seizure disorders

Acupuncture Techniques

    There are various acupuncture techniques that are commonly used, including:

  • Acupressure (manual pressure on acupoints)
  • Aquapuncture (using injections at the acupoint sites instead of a needle)
  • Dry needling (needles placed in specific acupoints)
  • Electroacupuncture (electrical stimulation between points to enhance healing)
  • Moxabustion (use of an herb to warm the affected body area)

Is Acupuncture Painful?

It's a common misperception that an acupuncture session is painful; in fact, it's quite the opposite. As the needles are inserted (they're sterilized and extremely thin), your animal companion could feel slight discomfort; however, as treatment continues they tend to become calm and may actually fall asleep.

Plus, absolutely no chemicals are involved and complications are rare.

How Long Does Acupuncture Take?

A typical session generally takes 30-60 minutes. The number and frequency of sessions required will vary depending on the nature and severity of your pet's problem; usually, a series of sessions is required for maximum benefit.

For More Information about Acupuncture at NorthStar VETS
Simply call us at 609.259.8300.