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Gus' First
Acupuncture Treatment
By Dr. Rachel Addleman, DVM, DiplABVP, CVA
After pulling my acupuncture bag from the
car, I walked up the driveway and decided that between the big dog Gus and
me, it wa s Gus who stood more confidently. Even with his arthritis, it
looked like I might not be able to outrun him!
I am a veterinarian and I use acupuncture
and Chinese herbs to treat animals that need more than Western veterinary
medicine can provide. I often travel with Linda, my assistant. She
doesn’t weigh much more than Gus and she’s my mother. So, it just
wouldn’t look right if she were attacked by my newest acupuncture
patient.
Now, if Linda was off to Nordstrom’s and
it was between Gus and her for a parking space . . . I’m pretty sure she
could outwit him. Outwit the dog I mean, if he were the type to drive.
Cleverness aside, I was worried.
Gus is a 15 year old chow who suffers
from arthritis in his hips and knees. His back was so sore it was
difficult for him to stand from a sitting position or even lift his tail
to wag. He lumbered about slowly and things had gotten much worse for him
recently. His once robust appetite was declining.
During his first treatment, Gus made a
very convincing argument that acupuncture wasn’t for him! Gus reminded
me of my own father. Not because they looked alike, of course, as Gus has
lots of hair and not just on the sides of his head and back. They
were similar because both Gus and my father were resistant to trying
acupuncture.
Gus stood with his eyebrows arched and
his hackles raised. His mother kneeled over him in her business suit.
She had come home special for his treatment and explained that he should
behave! His father patted his head with a thump! thump!
I inserted tiny sterile acupuncture
needles to specific anatomic points by feeling the muscles and skeleton
under his fur. Acupuncture needles stimulate the body causing a release
of natural chemicals and endorphins. Gus didn’t notice the tiny needles
going in. He just didn’t like me standing too close to him!
After a few minutes, Gus lay down,
stretched out across the floor, and put his head into his owner’s lap.
Gus approved! He liked the acupuncture and seemed to give a doggie grin.
Five days later Gus received his second
treatment. He greeted us as we got out of the car, practically skipping
over to us! He was getting up with much less effort and definitely had
more energy! It was apparent he was in less discomfort and had more
mobility. His parents commented that his appetite had improved. Gus only
growled a little during his second treatment. Then he wagged his tail
and flopped over sideways onto the carpet as if to say, “Go ahead, and
treat me! I love it!"
Gus still has arthritis, but acupuncture
helps him to be more comfortable. He especially likes his treatments
days. Afterward his treatment, he has more energy and as I leave I
always catch his boyish grin.
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