Veterinary medical acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years and is believed to stimulate the nervous system and alleviate certain tensions. In Taiwan, the treatment was introduced in the 1980s by pioneering veterinarians such as Yang Ching-jung (楊清容) and has been gaining popularity ever since.
In animals, as in humans, the technique involves administering sterilized or disposable micro-needles into specific insertion points on the skin for about 20 minutes, where they are supposed to engage various afferent nerve fibers. Such activation can alleviate pain and stress, reduce disease, increase mobility, regulate blood pressure, regenerate nerves, improve digestion and produce other physiological effects.
Like the form and benefits of acupuncture, trigger points also have human origins, with dogs having approximately 360 acupoints that belong to various meridians located throughout the body. These informational channels are related, but not strictly analogous to, anatomic organs and include bodily functions such as immunity, digestion and respiration.
Although acupuncture is considered an effective modality in pain management, there are patients for whom it may not be suitable. Counterindications in dogs may include a fracture, severe injury or bleeding disorder as well as other problems such as fear.
With the number of pets in Taiwan rising by an estimated 33%, from 2.1 to 2.8 million, between 2021 and 2023 as indicated by the Ministry of Agriculture, treatment options such as acupuncture have increasingly attracted more attention from pet owners. Although the number of trained veterinary acupuncturists is still limited, the increased awareness from the public has resulted in a greater acceptance of acupuncture as an integral part of conventional veterinary medicine.