Originally published November 8 2005
Colorado vets use acupuncture to prolong pets' lives
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Veterinarians at Colorado State University are pioneering the use of acupuncture to relieve the pain of pets.
For centuries humans have gotten to the point -- discovering the benefits of acupuncture.
In the last 25 years the ancient practice has found its way into animal clinics too and veterinarians at Colorado State University are leading the way.
At CSU's Vet Teaching Hospital, Dr. Nara Robinson sets the lights low and replaces a sterile table with a soft mat.
An Irish wolf hound she is seeing, named Ginger, relaxes for another round of acupuncture.
At 8 years old, Ginger suffers from arthritis and muscle tension in her neck and back so her owner turned to acupuncture.
"These (needles) are probably as thick as her hair is," said Robinson.
Ginger's owner, Nancy White, says acupuncture works.
You can see a difference," White said.
The painless procedure dates back thousands of years.
While some believe it involves a mysterious energy, Robinson said scientific evidence shows the needles stimulate nerve fibers, releasing endorphins.
"So acupuncture mainly makes use of the body's own healing pathways and pain control pathways," said Robinson.
The science of animal acupuncture is attracting vets from around the world and Robinson is leading the charge for a national certification program.
"We are making end roads into the more mainstream of veterinary medicine," Robinson said.
White believes the treatment has added years to Ginger's life.
And you can see, she's not crying now," White said.
The cost for dog acupuncture ranges from $45 to $50.
Robinson treats many animals including cats, rabbits, birds and a variety of exotic animals.
Other vets at CSU are trained to give acupuncture to horses, llamas, cows, and even goats.
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