Animal acupuncture: local vets tout the benefits
(AP) — Local veterinarian Candice Carden spent the first two weeks of December at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, treating Kr Montana Shake Em and Rusty, two of her clients' horses.
Acupuncture — a traditional Chinese practice — consists of sticking fine needles into the skin in various strategic places around the body to release pain or provide other treatment.
Most often, Carden uses acupuncture to ease pain, but she also tries it when an animal has nerve damage and cannot use a muscle properly.
Arrott, who has been practicing veterinary medicine for 19 years, said that while the theory behind acupuncture is the same for humans and animals, the practice is, as one would expect, quite different.
"Because you can't say, 'Lay down on this table, take a deep breath, lay still, shut your eyes, think calm thoughts, you know, enjoy your acupuncture session,'" she said.
Arrott said that beyond easing pain, animal acupuncture can boost nervous system, endocrine system, liver, kidney and reproductive health, among other benefits.