Acupuncture for Small Animals at Hoboken Animal Hospital

with Dr. Kristin Lester

"Merging Modern Medicine and Ancient Wisdom"

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is literally inserting fine gauge, sterile needles into the skin, subcutis or muscle trigger points.  There are specific points on the body that correspond to the pathways of veins, arteries and nerves. when these points are stimulated with a needle, various biochemical and physiological mechanisms in the body are altered.

Acupuncture modulates the nervous system, pain pathways, biochemical inflammatory cascades, and circulation.  Consequently, acupuncture decreases pain and inflammation, improves blood flow to organs, modifies gastrointestinal, organ and gland function, and accelerates wound healing mechanisms, there are no contraindications with other medications.

It is important to know that acupuncture is not a cure at all; it is one of the tools we use to help improve disease states and imbalances within the body.  It should not be used to shortcut standard medical practices regarding diagnostics and treatment.  

Medical Acupuncture: Applications and What to Expect

Applications of Veterinary Acupuncture:

• Pain of osteoarthritis, intervertebral disk (back) disease and tendon or ligament injuries;
• Post-operative discomfort or inflammation;
• Neuorlogic injuries, paralysis and seizures;
• Edema (swelling) due to congested vessels and decreased lymphatic drainage;
• Dermatologic conditions;
• Urination and defecation problems;
• Digestive disorders (chronic diarrhea/vomiting, inflammatory bowel, decreased GI motility);
• Asthma and upper respiratory inflammation;
• Dry eye and corneal ulceration;
• Endocrine and glandular diseases;
• Organ dysfunction or failure (kidney, liver);
• Decreased appetite due to chronic disease.

* Acupuncture should not be used with severe bleeding disorders or sepsis. Frightened or nervous pets may not derive full benefit, because the sympathetic arousal of these states may counteract the parasympathetic benefits of treatment *

What to Expect:

• Sessions can take up to 60 minutes. Acupuncture is cumulative, so multiple treatments are recommended, initally 1-2 times weekly for 2-4 weeks before tapering the sessions as indicated.
• The sterile, disposable needles stay in place for 10-15 minutes and are then removed.
• Sedation is rarely necessary.
• We expect your pet to feel either nothing or a small pin prick when the needle is inserted.  They may feel warmth, tingling, and/or itchiness at the needle insertion site.
• After treatment, you may notice sedation, calmness or immediate improvement of their condition. Some conditions may appear to deteriorate temporarily before improving.  Most patients need multiple treatments before we see improvement.

Dr. Kristin Lester is a 2010 graduate of the Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians (MAV) program at Colorado State University.  She is certified to perform acupuncture treatments on animals, including cats, dogs and exotic species, as a complementary therapy for a variety of conditions.  The MAV program takes and evidence and research-based approach to acupuncture and is built on contempory anatomy, physiology and pathology.

 If you would like more information or to schedule an appointment, 

please speak with a recptionist or call our hospital.