Pet acupuncture is being embraced by more and more pet owners as well as veterinarians as an effective method of controlling pain in pets. However, it's understandable if you feel anxious about the idea of having your pet punctured with multiple needles on a regular basis. Rest assured that pet acupuncture is a safe treatment, and this guide will explain why you don't need to worry about it.
Cleaning
When your pet's acupuncturist is getting ready to place the needles, they will take special care to clean the sites where the needles will be inserted. This is the same process that's used prior to giving your pet an injection, or inserting a needle to take a blood sample. Your pet will be swabbed with alcohol or another disinfectant to kill any germs or bacteria in the area that could trigger an infection.
In addition, acupuncture needles are sterile and kept in a sealed package until they're ready to be used, just like the needles utilized in syringes.
Needle Depth
Unlike injections and blood draws, acupuncture needles don't need to penetrate deeply under the surface of your pet's skin. In fact, most acupuncture needles will just barely break the skin in order to be effective. The acupuncture needle won't go anywhere near your pet's muscle or blood vessels, so there's no risk of bleeding. Since acupuncture needles are so fine and barely inserted, your pet is unlikely to experience much, if any, discomfort.
In addition, acupuncture needles don't inject anything into your pet. This is where the majority of discomfort comes from when your pet is receiving a shot of some kind, as the injection often irritates the muscle tissue or blood vessels. Acupuncture needles simply sit in the space they've been inserted into and are manufactured out of stainless steel, which doesn't irritate surrounding tissues.
Veterinarian Supervision
Lastly, rest assured that pet acupuncture is always performed either by a veterinarian that's trained in acupuncture or under the supervision of a veterinarian. Pet acupuncturists have to go to school to be educated in treating pets, but legally, they're still obligated to be watched by vets. If your pet acupuncturist isn't a vet themselves, you'll always have a vet on-site to monitor the situation and to make sure that your pet isn't in any distress.
If your veterinarian's office offers pet acupuncture, you can trust them to treat your pet safely and efficiently. Your pet can benefit from acupuncture, so don't be afraid to give it a try, especially if your vet has suggested or recommended it. For more information, check out sites like http://www.1stPetVet.com.
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