pc 110428 equine acupuncture flyer final

8/6/2019 PC 110428 Equine Acupuncture Flyer FINAL

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Acupuncture Defined and How It Works

Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points on

the body (called acupoints) using thin, sterile

needles. This stimulation results in many

physiological responses and changes, including, but

not limited to:

• Immune system stimulation

• Pain relief

• Decreased inflammation

• Muscle tension relief

• Increased circulation

• Regulated blood pressure and

gastrointestinal motility

• Hormonal regulation

There are different techniques used to stimulate

acupoints, including dry-needle acupuncture (the

most common), electro-acupuncture, aqua-acupuncture, hemo-acupuncture, pneumo-

acupuncture, acu-pressure and moxibustion.

Equine Acupuncture

Different techniques are used depending on

the desired response and disease process

being addressed.

Common Equine Conditions That

Benefit From Acupuncture

Acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of

conditions including, but not limited to:

• Acute and chronic pain

• Musculoskeletal disorders (DJD,

Wobbler’s, lameness, exercise-

related conditions)

• Neurologic disorders (seizures, paralysis)

• Dermatologic disorders

• Gastrointestinal disorders (diarrhea,

constipation, gas-colic)

• Respiratory conditions (heaves)

• Behavioral disorders (anxiety,aggression, fear)

• Reproductive disorders (infertility,

impotence)

• Geriatric conditions that negatively affect

our patients’ quality of life

Dr. Meyer treating Luke for cervical degenerative joint disease.

Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital – Equine Services

Phone: 360.568.3111

www.pilchuckvet.com

By Stephanie

Meyer, DVM, CVA

Pilchuck’s

Certified

Veterinary

Acupuncturist

and Equine

Practitioner



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Current Research on Acupuncture

Benefits and Effectiveness

Published scientific clinical trials substantiating the

effectiveness of equine acupuncture is lacking in

comparison to human research. However, there arenumerous equine-specific publications applicable to

common conditions seen in our equine patients.

The American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary

Medicine (an international, peer-reviewed journal on

veterinary acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine,

Tui-na and food therapy) is an excellent resource for

original scientific reports, clinical studies, reviews

and case reports.

When to Consider Acupuncture for Your Horse

Acupuncture can be used for almost any condition

(see page 1). Acupuncture is commonly used to

relieve and manage pain, in geriatric medicine, and in

sport horse medicine.

There are very few reasons not to consider

acupuncture, as it has little to no side effects and is

virtually painless. There are not any specific diseases

that cannot be treated with acupuncture. However,

we do exercise caution when treating weak or

geriatric patients.

Integrating Western Medicine With

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese veterinary medicine may initially

sound like a foreign language to individuals who have

only experienced Western veterinary medicine

modalities. At first, it may seem that these two

medicine practices are very separate, but there is

actually a large area of overlap.

Western medicine is largely mechanical and focuses

on a disease process to determine its specific,

physical cause. Western medicine focuses on this

abnormality and strives to control the physiologic

processes (down to a cellular level) in order to

treat diseases.

Chinese medicine focuses on maintaining balance

in the entire body – believing energy imbalance

and disruption of energy flow cause disease.

Both forms of medicine rely on an accurate

history and physical examination to make a

diagnosis, to develop a treatment plan or to

identify a pattern of imbalance (deficiency

or excess).

Western medicine and Chinese medicine are not

mutually exclusive and the integration of these

practices is often extremely beneficial. The goals

of both are the same: healing, maintaining a good

quality of life for our patients, and disease

prevention. This integrative approach to

diagnostics and treatments gives our animal

patients so many more options.

Equine Acupuncture, Continued

Dr. Meyer with Raleigh and her Great Dane, Gimli.



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Equine Acupuncture, Continued

What to Expect at Your Horse’s

Acupuncture Session

Your horse’s acupuncture appointment at Pilchuck

Veterinary Hospital will begin with a thorough

history (including past and current concerns orproblems). We will discuss your goals and

expectations, and explain what we can hope to

achieve with acupuncture treatment.

After examination of your horse, a typical

acupuncture treatment lasts 20-30 minutes and

often only requires two to three treatment

sessions, depending on the problem(s) being

addressed and treated.

Again, acupuncture has little to no side effects, andthe procedure is virtually painless. However, every

horse has a unique personality (or “constitution”),

and each patient will react differently. Most horses

do not require physical restraint or sedation for

treatment. The majority of horses are very relaxed

during the treatment session, while others can be

more reactive. The treatment plan will vary

depending on the patient’s response.

Other Integrative Services Offered

Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital has veterinariansprofessionally trained in Western medicine

(including board-certified surgeons and a board-

certified internist), acupuncture, Chinese herbal

medicine and chiropractic.

More About Stephanie Meyer, DVM,

CVA, Equine Practitioner and

Veterinary Acupuncturist

Dr. Stephanie Meyer received her DVM degree in

2006 from Texas A&M University. She then

completed a one-year rotating internship in large

animal medicine and surgery at Pilchuck

Veterinary Hospital in 2007.

She joined Pilchuck’s equine ambulatory and

integrative medicine staff in 2011 after completing

a three-year residency in 2010 in large animal

internal medicine at the University of Florida.

Although extensively trained in Western medicine,

after recognizing the benefits that Eastern

medicine and acupuncture had on her own horses,

Dr. Meyer pursued certification as a large animal

acupuncturist at the Chi Institute in Ocala, Fla.

Since becoming certified in December 2010, she

has completed an advanced diagnostic and

treatment acupuncture course and is currently

pursuing certification in Chinese herbal medicine.

Appointments:

In-hospital and ambulatory appointments

are available.

Please call 360.568.3111

to schedule an appointment.

Pre-paid multiple-treatment packages

(three-session and five-session) are

available at discounted prices.

“Veterinary acupuncture has been used for over

2,000 years. With an increasing amount of

public awareness, availability of professionally

trained veterinary acupuncturists, and published

and ongoing clinical trials, we are gaining a

better understanding of how acupuncture works

for specific disease processes and conditions.

Our animal patients have so many more options

these days. Having veterinarians professionally

trained and certified in modalities such as

Western medicine, acupuncture, Chinese herbal

medicine and chiropractic make Pilchuck

Veterinary Hospital a unique practice. The

greatest benefit is to our patients. Seeing the

positive results in our patients from this

integrative approach to diagnostics and

treatments is very exciting.”

– Stephanie Meyer, DVM, CVA

pc 110428 equine acupuncture flyer final

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