07/10/2025
Our vets are using acupuncture to help Abby, a three-year-old Maine C**n cat, manage her pain.
Abby was diagnosed with degenerative joint disease in both her hips last month. She was prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatories to help reduce her pain, but she was still sensitive to her lower back being touched.
Vets suspected that Abby had hyperasthesia, a neurological condition that made her very sensitive to pain, and suggested acupuncture as a way for her body to help itself.
Acupuncture can be used alongside conventional veterinary medicine to try and alleviate pain in a variety of animals. It involves placing very fine needles into specific points on the body to stimulate nerves under the skin and in the muscle, triggering the release of natural chemicals like endorphins, which act as natural painkillers and can produce feelings of well-being.
The placing of needles is painless and the acupuncture sessions last between 15-20 minutes.
Abby, pictured below during her first acupuncture session with practice vet and qualified acupuncturist Maaike, has responded well to the treatment and her owner reports that she is moving a lot easier.
Abby will have an initial block of four weekly sessions with Maaike, and then be assessed to see if acupuncture, given in conjunction with her existing medical treatment, could be beneficial in the longer term.
If you think your pet may benefit from acupuncture, please ask to speak to one of our vets.
