Some humans swear by it, and if they could talk, some dogs might too. We're talking about animal acupuncture.
The Animal Medical Center of Chandler is one animal hospital that has started seeing results with the procedure. One patient, a 9-year-old Dachshund named Sophie, wasn't able to walk, wag her tail or control her bladder two months ago. Her human parents tried everything and now acupuncture is helping.
"We love her so much," said Sandy Miller. "We were just, 'let’s just try something.'"
Vets say the most common reason for treatment is pain but they can also treat nausea and appetite issues.
"All the nerves that go to the internal organs all come off the spine at a specific point," said doctor Carolyn Duregger with the Animal Medical Center of Chandler. "That's how we can target those nerves to try and calm them down."
Sophie is now able to put weight on her back legs and get around the house on her own. The Millers credit acupuncture.
Normally dogs come twice a week for the first couple of weeks and then taper down depending on the treatment. Each session lasts about 30 minutes. For more information, visit the center's website.
