Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicinal technique that is supposed to calm the body and soothe muscles. Acupuncture points are tiny clusters of blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic vessels that can be manipulated through pressure. When affected, these vessels can enhance blood circulation, nervous system stimulation, and the release of anti-inflammatory or pain relieving hormones. While commonly used on humans, most people don’t realize that pets can benefit from acupuncture too! In fact, some veterinarian clinics perform the procedure on pets when they want to enhance certain health aspects.

For dogs, giving acupressure attention to the GV20 can help to calm a pet. The governing vessel 20 sits on top of your dog’s head between the ears. Normally, it is at the site of convergence between the ridges of the skull. When pressed or stroked, this point can calm a dog. If your pet has anxiety issues, especially in certain situations like thunderstorms or fireworks displays, then pressing and rubbing this small point may help your pet to mellow out. Other governing vessels are located along the midline of a pet’s body on the line of the spinal cord. Pressing on acupressure points 14, 4, and 3 on the body will help to release pain and excess heat. The GV14 is located on the spinal cord at the base of your dog’s neck. The GV4 is at the junction of the chest and low back, and the GV3 is at the intersection of the low back and pelvis.

Does your pet have allergies? Interestingly enough, applying pressure to the Gall Bladder 20 acupressure point might help those allergies to go away. According to PetMD, the GB 20 is located just behind your dog’s ears at the base of the skull. This is the small spot that your dog often scratches with his hind leg when he has cases of pruritus. Stimulating this spot can actually stop inflammation that is associated with allergies. The GB 29/30 and the Bladder 54 spots may be key to curing your pet’s hip dysplasia arthritis or another disease of the like. Pressure or a massage on these points can promote blood flow to joints that are affected by disease. Dogs that have middle and low back pain can often be healed when pressure is applied to the BL 23. This is a point that is just behind the junction of the chest and low back on the right and left sides of the spine.

If your dog is in pain all over, and medications don’t seem to be working, then you may want to consider veterinarian acupuncture that focuses on the aspirin point. This is the BL 60/ Kidney 3 acupressure points. They are located form the Achilles tendon on the top of the calcaneus and on the outside and inside of the limb. The LI4 and LV 3 points that are on the front and hind limbs can help your pet with geriatric disease or cancer. Pressure can also benefit dogs that have general weakness, and need an energy boost. In addition, pressuring these points can leave your pet with better eyesight, hearing, or a healthier mouth.

Other pressure points can help your pet with shoulder or neck pain, or improve your pet’s digestive system. In fact, when pressure is given to the Stomach 36 point, it can end the discomfort associated with abdominal organs. While acupuncture for pets may sound odd, there are times that this natural method can do a world of good. It is important that you only allow a pet professional to perform these treatments. Talk to a local vet today to get more information about pet acupuncture!