14/10/2025
Acupuncture is now an option to help manage chronic pain at Nurture Vet GP & Dentist.
Zara MRCVS, has recently completed a WVAG ( Western Veterinary Acupuncture ) foundation course in acupuncture and has started offering acupuncture appointments at Nurture Vet Hospital in Wells.
Chronic pain — whether orthopaedic, muscular, visceral, or neuropathic — remains a significant challenge in veterinary practice. While medications such as NSAIDs, opioids, and gabapentinoids are essential, they are not always sufficient and may have side effects or contraindications. This has led to growing interest in acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy.
Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points on the body, activating somatic afferent nerves and triggering neurophysiological responses that promote analgesia, reduced inflammation, and improved local circulation. Key mechanisms triggered by a treatment include: neuromodulation, anti-inflammatory effects, enhanced circulation, muscle relaxation, autonomic regulation.
Many pets experience improved comfort, mobility and overall improvement in quality of life, helping them feel more active and engaged. Acupuncture is generally well tolerated, even by nervous or sensitive pets.
Outcomes depend on the skill of the practitioner, the patient’s health status, the chronicity of the condition, and the selection of points and stimulation techniques.
Acupuncture is not a replacement for conventional treatments, but when integrated into a multimodal pain management strategy, it can improve mobility, reduce pharmaceutical burden, and enhance quality of life.
By combining traditional approaches with modern neurophysiology and focusing on homeostasis, acupuncture offers a safe, evidence-informed complimentary therapy for chronic pain management in veterinary patients.
There is a 50% discount offer on all Acupuncture appointments at Nurture Vet Hospital in Weston for 2025, so if you feel this would help your cat or dog please get in touch to find out more.
