Acupuncture
Horses
For which condition is acupuncture indicated?
Acupuncture is commonly used for:
- Neurological Disorders: Traumatic Nerve Injury
- Musculoskeletal Disorders: Arthritis, Spondylosis
- Respiratory Disorders: Asthma, Bronchitis
Numerous other conditions have responded to acupuncture as well. Acupuncture can help to shorten rehabilitation after orthopaedic operations.
Specific conditions to treat in horses are
- Gastritis
- Colitis
- Long Term Injuries
Then there are all the problems related to horses competing or being ridden
- Back Problems
- Lameness
- Tying Up
- Head Shy
- Kissing Spine
How often are acupuncture treatments given?
The initial acupuncture therapy in horses includes three treatments. The first session is performed, the second session is four weeks later and the third session is another 8-10 weeks later. A positive response is usually seen after the first treatment.
After the initial sessions the treatments are tapered off to whatever is necessary to maintain the improvement. That can be from every six weeks to about once a year depending on what the horse is doing.
In addition a treatment shortly before or after a hard competition can be beneficial.