One of the common uses of acupuncture is musculoskeletal disorders including Osteoarthritis , benefits have shown to reduce chronic pain, improve mobility , reduce the need for pain medication, which some dogs may struggle to take. This should then reduce pain and improve a quality of life.
Acupuncture may alter the behaviour in dogs by regulating the autonomic nervous system (ANS) This controls involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion and respiratory rate. balancing the sympathetic or parasympathetic branches of the ANS, acupuncture has been shown to reducer stress , anxiety and aggression in some dogs. Cortisol levels have been reduced and increased serotonin levels, both can influence mood and and behaviour in dogs ref
The Journal of Veterinary behaviour looked at the effects of acupuncture for separation anxiety, symptoms were shown to reduce after treatment, (Wen et al,2016)
Zhang et al (2017) also studied the affects of acupuncture for dogs with aggression and results showed it helped to reduce the frequency and intensity of the aggression. However the sample size was small of 4 dogs , 2 client owned dogs and 2 shelter dogs.
Client dogs were shown to have decreased in anxiety and aggression, shelter dogs were reported showed little to no improvement.
Date collection may have been biased on the client owned dogs and owners interpretation may have been bias.
Further studies were needed to include a larger sample size ,measures of serotonin and cortisol also would be beneficial. (K, 2019)
Acupuncture for dogs releases endorphins, causes an anti inflammatory modulation and improve blood flow (Kapatkin et al., 2006).
Intervertebral disc disease common in some breeds of dogs like Dachshunds may also benefit from acupuncture, which can aid in pain management, neurologic recovery support and also used in rehabilitation post surgery. Acupuncture has shown to increase blood flow to the spinal cord and reduce inflammation. (Anderson.,2023)
Acupuncture has been used In the treatment of behavioural disorders and stress related behaviours in dogs, alongside other therapies to assist with anxiety, aggression and cognitive dysfunction. However research in this area is limited and most research has been done on humans and rodents.
Maccariello et al.,(2018) conducted a study on Beagles and the effects of acupuncture on the heart rate variability, cortisol levels and behavioural response induced by thunder.The experiement involved exposing beagles to a recording of thunder. Prior to being exposed to thunder the dogs received acupuncture at points including Yintang, GV20,HT7,PC6,ST36 versus non points or no treatment.
Resuts did show a reduction on behaviours such as hiding, restlessness, bolting and running in response to the thunder being played , the dogs also shifted autonomic balance toward parasympathetic activity , suggesting calmer responses. However cortisol did not change significantly, which is an indicator of a stress response.
