On Point Veterinary Services

Dr. Kate Huggler DVM, CVA is a licensed veterinarian, veterinary acupuncturist and is certified in animal chiropractic through the IVCA. She offers veterinary acupuncture and wellness care in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes Regions. Her equine pain management and wellness services include chiropractic, acupuncture, herbal and cold laser therapies. She offers baseline bloodwork screening tests such as Selenium, Vitamin E, and Lyme disease testing. Companion animal services include acupuncture, chiropractic, laser, PEMf and herbal therapies as well as nutraceuticals and medication management.

ABOUT ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific anatomical points on the body to elicit a biochemical response which aids in pain-relief and healing. Acupuncture points are located in areas of the body with large numbers of free-nerve endings which are stimulated to generate release of beta-endorphins, opioid peptides, serotonin, and other mediators which affect the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems.

Acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of imbalances which manifest as physical disorders such as pain and lameness, skin and respiratory disease, immune dysfunction, urinary and gastrointestinal disorders, and behavioral changes to name a few.

There are several forms of point stimulation, including dry needling, electroacupuncture, aqua-acupuncture, moxibustion, hemoacupuncture and stimulation with laser.

● Dry Needling

A very thin, sterile metal needle is placed in the acupuncture point to stimulate an effect.

● Electroacupuncture

Dry needles are placed, and a gentle, electric current is applied to the needles to create a stronger effect on the nerve endings within the acupuncture point. This method is particularly effective in treating pain, and the effects may last longer than with dry-needling alone.

● Moxibustion

This is a method where a stick of moxa is burned and held close to a needle in order to create a warming effect around the acupuncture point. This method may be used in cases such as with chronic orthopedic disease such as osteoarhritis. It may also be used in cases where patients are less tolerant of needling.

● Aqua-acupuncture

Vitamin B12 or saline may be injected into an acupuncture point for a longer-lasting effect.

● Stimulation with Laser

Rather than inserting needles into a point, a laser is used to stimulate the point. Infrared light with a wavelength between 700-1000 nm penetrates deep into the acupunture point to stimulate cells and their organelles. This method is particularly beneficial for patients that do not tolerate dry needling.

●Hemoacupuncture

During hemoacupuncture a larger needle may be used in the acupuncture point, to stimulate movement of blood out of a painful area of stagnant blood.

Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years, and is part of a broader philosophy of Traditional Veterinary Chinese Medicine (TCVM).