Acupuncture for Dogs: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Super Pet Care

Does acupuncture for dogs really work? Or is it another thing preying on loving pet parents’ fears? 

According to the North American Veterinary Community, 45 million pets have chronic pain. Most loving pet parents would do whatever they could to help improve their furry friend’s life. 

The issue becomes how to alleviate pain and not go broke or be scammed. Today, we’ll dig in and discover the benefits of acupuncture for dogs. You’ll discover if this old technique is one you want to try for your dog or pet.

A little Yorkie gets acupuncture in her back.

Note: Before trying anything new with your dog or pet, always discuss the pros and cons with your current vet. Also, you may need a recommendation from your vet to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian acupuncturist. 

Budget tip:

While the price of an acupuncture session may be on par with a regular vet visit, it may lessen other drugs your dog or fur kid needs. More importantly, the goal is always to improve your buddy’s overall well-being by reducing pain and related issues. That is a great win for your furry companion and your wallet!

What is acupuncture for dogs?

Traditional Chinese medicine encompasses acupuncture. This type of treatment dates back to 2500 BCE (before the common era). The idea is to align and balance the energies of the body (or Chi) for better health. A veterinary acupuncturist, which is considered Western medicine, uses small needles to move your furry buddy’s body energy and to help relieve pain and other health issues. 

Does acupuncture therapy aid one type of animal over another?

a cat gets acupuncture and looks off without a care

No. Pet acupuncture therapy can relieve pain and lessen health issues in all animals. That means all cats, horses, donkeys, goats, bunnies, birds, medium dogs, small dogs, and large dogs to name but a few. 

In fact, I used acupuncture for one of my horses with great success.

Does pet acupuncture hurt?

No. It should be painless for your furry kid. 

What health issues can a veterinary pet acupuncture session aid in improving?

A King Charles dog receives acupuncture for health issues

The issues that a vet can relieve for your best fur friend using acupuncture are wide-ranging. Most importantly, this type of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine is used for pain management. But there is more, it can help with all the following issues:

  • Inflammation
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Joint disease, including arthritis
  • Back pain, including low back pain
  • Respiratory difficulties, including asthma
  • Urinary and bladder issues
  • Digestive problems, including constipation
  • Addison’s disease
  • Nerve damage
  • Skin issues
  • Pancreatitis
  • Pain relief
  • Liver disease
  • Kidney problems
  • Diabetes
  • Dental pain
  • Cushing’s disease
  • Musculoskeletal issues
  • Post-dog surgery pain
  • Nausea
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Allergies (all types of dog allergies)
  • Behavioral issues
  • Improves immune system
  • Aid overall healing

Additionally, a veterinary acupuncture treatment can assist with reducing the side effects of pets undergoing cancer treatment. This means aiding with symptoms such as:

  • Pain
  • Digestion
  • Vomiting
  • Loss of appetite 
  • Fatigue

Overall, acupuncture for pets can improve the quality of life. Also, it’s suspected that acupuncture may make it easier for pets to handle chronic diseases. 

Are there side effects associated with a canine acupuncture session?

A pug recovers from acupuncture for dogs.

There are a few symptoms that could seem like a side effect, but they are actually a sign that the procedure is working. Some of these side effects could include:

Worse. Some dogs can get worse, but generally, this is seen as a good indication that the procedure is working. 

Sore. Your dog could be a bit sore from a session of acupuncture. Give your pup time to recover and lots of water. Overall, any soreness should resolve in a day or two with your dog feeling better. 

New issue. A session can bring an issue into the light that hasn’t been diagnosed yet. Again, this is generally seen as a good thing because you can address the problem once you know about it. For example, joint pain may be revealed. 

Tired. However, this again is seen as a sign that the procedure is working. 

Not administered properly. Less skilled vet acupuncturists may not insert the needles at the exact proper acupuncture point for optimum benefit. This is simply a matter of doing your research to make sure the vet you see has experience with your dog’s issue. 

Note: If you observe any symptoms that seem odd to you, contact your vet for advice. It may simply be an expected side effect which is a good sign of the acupuncture needles and treatment working. However, there’s a chance it could be something else. You never want to leave anything to chance when it comes to your furry best friend.  

What should I expect if my dog receives acupuncture?

A vet goes over the process of acupuncture for dogs with a pup.

Your veterinarian will find points that need to be activated for your dog’s specific issues. Then a small acupuncture needle will be inserted at each of those points. The session generally lasts 20-30 minutes. However, once the needles are inserted most dogs relax. Thus, it has a calming effect, unlike a regular vet visit. 

How many acupuncture sessions will my dog need?

This will depend on your dog’s health issue. Generally, your veterinary clinic can advise you on the number of possible care sessions that your buddy will require. 

How much does a vet acupuncturist cost?

Henry always ready for a new adventure.
Henry is always ready to try alternative medicine.

The amount will vary by area. However, you can expect to pay $70-120 per session. Keep in mind you should be improving your dog’s quality of life and reducing other products needed. For example, my horse Macho received one acupuncture treatment. That was all he needed to move better. Thus, I didn’t need to give him prescription medications. 

Do I need a referral to see a vet acupuncturist?

You may. Check with the vet clinic when you call. 

Will pet insurance cover an acupuncture procedure?

It may. You’ll need to read your policy or call your insurance. If it’s not covered, then you can use your emergency fund or your pet savings account

How do I find a vet acupuncturist near me?

A woman calls for an acupuncture appointment for her dog.

You can ask your current vet, friends, and family. Additionally, you can do a search here for a certified pet acupuncturist nearby. There are 150,000 pet acupuncturists in the US and Canada. However, there are only 945 that are certified through the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture.

How much could I save by using an animal acupuncture specialist?

The whole idea with this type of care is that you’re trying to reduce pain and health issues. Thus, you’re improving the quality of life for your best buddy. This also means you will be improving your bank account. Consider the following for a moment. 

Possible ImprovementEstimated money savings
Pain medication$40 – 80
Better appetite$385+
Reduced regular vet visits$50 – 250
Fewer medications for health issues are needed$100 – 500
Better quality of lifeBEYOND WORDS!!!

Related articles:

Poke that pup to better health!

A husky prepares to receive acupuncture.

You may think that it’s simply not possible or even feasible to do acupuncture for dogs. But it’s most definitely possible. It can be much less expensive than everything you’re currently paying to maintain the status quo for your dog or pet. Acupuncture should move the needle (perhaps a pun intended) for your best buddy in the positive direction.

That means you can reduce the other health products as they generally won’t be needed as your buddy’s health improves. I’ve seen firsthand the benefits of animal acupuncture on my horse. While, my dog, Henry hasn’t needed this type of help, I wouldn’t hesitate to schedule it for him. It can improve your pet’s health and your bottom line. That’s a worthy poke, especially if it allows your fur kid to avoid being one of the 45 million pets with chronic pain!

About Terri Rodefer

Terri Rodefer is the founder of Tail Wag Wisdom, a blog focused on affordable pet care. She likes to say helping pet parents afford and love their animals even more, makes her tail wag. As a lifelong lover of all animals with a background in economics, biology, and marketing, allows Terri to bring a unique spin to pet care. 

9 thoughts on “Acupuncture for Dogs: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Super Pet Care”

  1. Thank you for such a comprehensive article about acupuncture. So many senior dog parents I know have taken their dogs for sessions, and they’ve found it very helpful for a variety of conditions. I took my dog Red for twice weekly sessions for about 3 months for her overall well being on the recommendation of her holistic vet, and she did really well. I’m sharing this so more people will consider this a treatment option for their pups.

    Reply
    • Acupuncture really can move the needle when other things seem to have stopped or never worked. I’m glad it helped Red. Thanks for your comments and for sharing!

      Reply
  2. I didn’t believe that acupuncture would help my senior pup (it didn’t work for me) but we tried it anyway to help with his joint pain. And it helped! I was surprised and so thankful.

    Reply
    • You know, I kind of wonder if somethings work better for fur kids than humans (or some humans) because furry friends don’t have any preconceived notions about the procedure – good or bad. I often think that our mind can get in the way of things working. Thank goodness our buddies are more open. I’m glad acupuncture worked for your pup.

      Reply
  3. I have never used it but read a lot and thanks to your post I am more willing to do it with Nili if it is necessary. I learned from your post today, Bg hugs to Henry as always from Nili

    Reply
    • Yay!!! I love providing information that is useful and allows the reader to learn new things. That makes my day! Thanks for sharing. Henry says Nili needs a cookie. 😉

      Reply
  4. Terri, this is a wonderful post! And you have listed so many helpful things here. I am a huge advocate of checking out alternative therapies. With my five Huskies, especially my boy who had epilepsy and my other who had anxiety issues, acupuncture was great! It helped with relaxation and since my boy who had epilepsy was already on medications, when. he tore his CCL, I didn’t want to add even more meds. I did cold laser, Reiki, massage, and acupunture and it was all so wonderful. He’d relax so much, he’d take a lovely nap! Henry looks like he sure enjoyed it, too! Sharing this with my readers!

    Reply

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