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Integrative Veterinary Services of Missouri
(A Service of Angel Animal Hospital, LLC)
417-866-2923 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q. What Is Integrative Veterinary Services?
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Integrative Veterinary Services are intended to complement the conventional veterinary diagnostics and treatments your regular veterinarian provides for your pets. It can provide benefit for most medical conditions but is also very useful for general wellness of the average pet and improved performance of the athletic pet. Acupuncture is the mainstay of these services but electroacupuncture, hemoacupuncture, acupressure, aquapuncture, moxibustion, infrared or laser light therapy may also be used in some cases.
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| Q. What Is Acupuncture? |
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Acupuncture is the insertion of small needles into specific points on the body (associated with neurovascular bundles comprised of small arteries, veins and nerves) wit the intent of causing a desired healing effect. The technique has been used for thousands of years and is considered a valid modality within the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Used alone or integrated with conventional medicine, veterinary acupuncture can assist the body to heal itself by affecting beneficial physiologic changes.
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| Q. How Does Acupuncture Work? |
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A healthy body is said to be in a state of "homeostasis" or "balance." Illness and injury cause a body to become unbalanced. Acupuncture is a complementary treatment used to help the body return to a homeostatic state. Acupuncture works primarily through neuro-modulation affecting most body systems. It also stimulates blood flow, tissue repair and immuno-modulation locally. By choosing the right points, a veterinary acupuncturist can help improve blood flow to a pet's failing organs or inhibit the sensation of pain a pet might experience from arthritis. Although acupuncture is not a miracle cure, it is a very useful complement to many conventional treatment options for our pets.
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| Q. Is Acupuncture Safe? |
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Acupuncture is one of the safest treatments available when practiced by a competent veterinary acupuncturist. Side effects are rare. Because acupuncture stimulates the body's own healing processes and no chemicals are administered, complications rarely, if ever, develop.
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| Q. What Are Some Conditions That Respond To Or Can Benefit From Acupuncture? |
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- Pain - arising from virtually any condition
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- Musculoskeletal Conditions - arthritis, osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease (DJD), hip dysplasia, myofacial restriction, trigger points, muscle soreness, back pain, neck pain, laminitis, tendon injuries, obscure lameness
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- Pre- or Postoperative Assistance - anesthesia recovery, pain management, healing
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- Neurologic Disorders - intervertebral disk disease (IVDD), nerve injuries, paralysis, paresis (weakness), seizures, stroke, vestibular disease
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- Gastrointestinal Disorders - vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, constipation, decreased appetite, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), non-surgical colic
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- Cardiovascular & Respiratory Disorders - nasal discharge, sinusitis, chronic coughing, circulatory disease, asthma, inflammatory airway disease, emergencies (cardiac or respiratory arrest)
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- Liver Disorders - hepatitis, jaundice
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- Skin Problems - lick granulomas, allergic dermatitis, wound healing
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- Behavioral Issues - aggression, anxiety, barking, inappropriate urination
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- Urogenital Disorders - chronic kidney disease, urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), urine retention
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- Ocular Disorders - keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye), uveitis
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- Reproductive Disorders - fertility problems
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- Immune Stimulation - immuno-suppressed patients,
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- Oncology Patients - chemotherapy side effects, improved patient vitality
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- Miscellaneous - anhydrosis
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- Benefits of Ongoing Treatments - improved quality of life and well being, resistance to illness, quicker recovery from illness, injury and surgery, quicker response to conventional veterinary therapy, enhanced performance, improved vitality, stamina and mobility
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- Others - these are but a few conditions and circumstances for which integrative therapy can be beneficial. There are many more specific situations in which pets and horses can benefit from acupuncture and integrative therapy.
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| Q. Is Acupuncture Painful ? |
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Acupuncture is performed with very thin (much thinner than a hypodermic needle used to administer a vaccine), sterilized, stainless steel needles. It is not painful and most patients do not even react to needle insertion. When a reaction is seen, it is usually at a site that was found to be responsive to palpation during a pre-treatment exam. Once a needle is in place, the patient may feel warmth, heaviness or tingling. Many patients relax and may even fall asleep with their needles in place.
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| Q. How long do acupuncture treatments last and how often are they given? |
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Response to acupuncture is quite individual and the effects are usually cumulative. Typically, animals are treated once or twice a week for 4-6 weeks. However, frequency may be increased in certain acute conditions while maintenance therapy for chronic conditions may be spread out to longer intervals. During a treatment session, individual needles may stay in place for as little as a few seconds to as long as 30 minutes depending on the condition being treated. On average needles are retained in place for about 15-20 minutes and a complete treatment session may last 30-45 minutes.
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| Q. Why Does My Pet Need A Referral For Acupuncture Treatment? |
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Your pet will need a referral to IVSMO because an accurate conventional diagnosis is necessary to help better determine whether acupuncture is appropriate for treating your pet's condition. Some conditions will not directly benefit from acupuncture (e.g., cancer, infections) bute the resulting pain relief can mask signs of progression. Your regular veterinarian already knows your pet well and is therefore best suited to make the diagnosis and start conventional therapy, if appropriate.
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