Dr. Amy Hinze, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist was educated in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine at the Chi Institute of Traditional Veterinary Medicine. She is able to bring an approach to veterinary wellness to the patients of our South Jersey animal hospital that is unique, using acupuncture and Chinese herbs to treat some veterinary conditions and improve the quality of life of the dogs and cats of the Sicklerville, New Jersey area. Recently, a kitten named Sid from a special needs animal rescue called Joa’s Arc came to Winslow Animal Hospital for treatment with Dr. Hinze. Here is what they had to say after his first visit:
We are so amazed at how well Sid is doing after one acupuncture treatment. He has cerebellar hypoplasia and is unable to walk although he does roll all over happily. We have had him for three weeks and he would occasionally use the litter box if we held him in it but mostly he rolled in it and would face plant getting a mouth full of litter. He had acupuncture on Monday, and on Tuesday used the box on his own and continues to use it every time. He climbs in and lays on his side doing his business. This is a huge step in his development! His results are identical to when we did it with Denver four years ago. There are no studies regarding CH and acupuncture that we have found, all we know is it again is helping a CH animal. He returns next week for another treatment and we will continue as long as he allows us. It causes no pain and he ate his breakfast and played during his treatment. He’s a feisty little dude that loves his life!
Sid returned for more treatments in the weeks following that first treatment. He is still struggling to walk without the support of a wall to lean against, but he is able to use the litter box! Sid is a sweet kitten.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be used to help improve many types of problems your pet might have, including those related to the musculoskeletal, reproductive, neurological, or gastrointestinal systems. Acupuncture can also be used to manage pain and hasten recovery after surgery.
Acupuncture has been shown to induce the following physiological effects:
- Pain relief
- Regulation of gastrointestinal motility
- Anti-inflammatory effect
- Immuno-regulation
- Hormone and reproductive regulation
- Anti-fever effect
- microcirculation promotion
Acupuncture, which originated in China, has been used as a therapeutic treatment option for thousands of years. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body is filled with numerous pathways called “meridians,” along which energy flows. When disease is present, energy is interrupted or unbalanced. Stimulating acupuncture points along the meridians can restore energy flow, resulting in improved health.
Clinical trials indicate that acupuncture therapy can be effective for the following conditions:
- Musculoskeletal problems: muscle soreness, back pain, disc problems, osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease.
- Neurological disorders: seizure, facial and radial nerve paralysis
- Gastrointestinal disorders: diarrhea, gastric ulcers, vomiting, and constipation
- Other chronic conditions: asthma, cough, uveitis, behavioral problems, Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, infertility, renal failure, geriatric weakness, and allergic skin disease.
