08/27/2026
🐾 Meet Buffy! 🐾
Little Buffy is striking a pose during her weekly acupuncture treatment with Dr. Williams!
Buffy suffers from intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), which can cause back pain, inflammation, and nerve-related problems. Acupuncture is one of the tools we can use as part of a multimodal approach to help keep patients like Buffy comfortable and moving their best.
✨ So, how does acupuncture work?
Each tiny needle is carefully placed at a specific point on the body.
Acupuncture may help:
- Decrease pain and inflammation
- Improve circulation and blood flow
- Support nerve function and healing
- Promote relaxation and a calm, restorative state
And Buffy? She absolutely LOVES her treatments! Her only complaint is that the needles don’t coordinate with her adorable hair clip.
✨How often does a pet need acupuncture?
For many patients, we start with weekly treatments for 4–6 weeks. Some pets may notice benefits for a few days after their initial treatments. With repeated sessions, the effects may last longer — sometimes weeks to months.
Once a patient is doing well, treatments can often be gradually spaced out to every other week, then monthly, or scheduled as needed.
For chronic conditions that tend to flare up, such as IVDD, some patients may benefit from periodic maintenance treatments, sometimes every few months. These visits can also give us an opportunity to identify changes early and address them before they become bigger problems.
✨Does my pet need to be sedated?
No! Acupuncture does not typically require sedation.
In fact, acupuncture tends to work best when a patient is able to relax and settle into a calm, restorative state. Pets who are extremely anxious, fearful, or aggressive may not be good candidates because the experience should be as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
🐶 What conditions may benefit from acupuncture?
Acupuncture may be incorporated into treatment plans for a variety of conditions, including:
• Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
• Degenerative myelopathy
• Nerve injuries
• Hip dysplasia
• Arthritis
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Urinary incontinence
• Allergies
• And more!
Every patient is different, and acupuncture is generally used as one part of a comprehensive treatment plan, rather than a replacement for other necessary medical care.
We’re so proud of how well Buffy handles her treatments — needles, hair clips and all! 🌸
Have questions about whether acupuncture might be appropriate for your pet? Ask our team! 🐾
