The Basics of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture for Dogs.
It all began with a dog named Merlin............
In 1995, while studying for my Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine my 13 year old German Shepherd, Merlin was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. He was no longer able to stand on his own. His eyes were dim, he looked tired and he aged over night. The vet wanted to "put him down". That was not an option for me. Merlin was more than a dog to me. He was my best friend and I was determined to do what I could to help him.
At that time I was attending The Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego. It was there that I was fortunate to learn, from a few of my professors the basics of how to treat Merlin with acupuncture, herbal remedies and a change of diet. I began giving Merlin acupuncture a few times a week.
His diet was changed from store bought food to home-cooked meals everyday. I added Chinese herbs to his food. He was soon able to get up by himself and walk short distances. I was able to take him to his favorite spot on the planet, Dog Beach in San Diego.
Merlin lived to be almost fifteen. Thanks to him, I was inspired to learn more about veterinary acupuncture, take additional classes, and to focus my acupuncture practice on dogs. I started Four Paws acupuncture. I now make veterinary acupuncture house-calls on the North Shore of MA and offer herbal and nutritional consultations by phone.
The purpose of this lens is to provide basic information on how Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture can help dogs. I will be adding more detailed lens focusing on how these modalities can help specific canine diseases.
Alternative medicine is beginning to be accepted in most of the United States. I believe that once people are educated in the benefits of holistic medicine it will no longer be considered an alternative. In a perfect world, Eastern and Western works together to the benefit of the patient.
In 1995, while studying for my Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine my 13 year old German Shepherd, Merlin was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. He was no longer able to stand on his own. His eyes were dim, he looked tired and he aged over night. The vet wanted to "put him down". That was not an option for me. Merlin was more than a dog to me. He was my best friend and I was determined to do what I could to help him.
At that time I was attending The Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego. It was there that I was fortunate to learn, from a few of my professors the basics of how to treat Merlin with acupuncture, herbal remedies and a change of diet. I began giving Merlin acupuncture a few times a week.
His diet was changed from store bought food to home-cooked meals everyday. I added Chinese herbs to his food. He was soon able to get up by himself and walk short distances. I was able to take him to his favorite spot on the planet, Dog Beach in San Diego.
Merlin lived to be almost fifteen. Thanks to him, I was inspired to learn more about veterinary acupuncture, take additional classes, and to focus my acupuncture practice on dogs. I started Four Paws acupuncture. I now make veterinary acupuncture house-calls on the North Shore of MA and offer herbal and nutritional consultations by phone.
The purpose of this lens is to provide basic information on how Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture can help dogs. I will be adding more detailed lens focusing on how these modalities can help specific canine diseases.
Alternative medicine is beginning to be accepted in most of the United States. I believe that once people are educated in the benefits of holistic medicine it will no longer be considered an alternative. In a perfect world, Eastern and Western works together to the benefit of the patient.
New Table of Contents
- Hip dysplasia (canine) Wikipedia
- Acupuncture: Ancient Solutions for a Modern World
- Dogs and Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Got Pain? Acupuncture can help!
- Healthy Foods for your Dog
- Chinese Herbal Medicine for Dogs
- Jeanie Marie Kraft, L.Ac gives Chula and acupuncture treatment.
- Herbal and Nutritional Phone Consultations
- Kobe the Dancing Therapy Dog gets Acupuncture!
- Canine Health Lenses
- Acupuncture on Wikipedia
- Traditional Chinese Medicine on Wikipedia
- Pawsitive Books
- Pawsitive Links
- The Four Paws Acupuncture blog
- Reader Pawsitive Feedback
- Probiotics for you and your pets
Hip dysplasia (canine) Wikipedia
Learn more about hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that, in its more severe form, can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. It is a polygenic trait, that is affected by environmental factors in the production of the final phenotype. It can be found in many animals and occasionally in humans, but is most commonly associated with dogs, and is common in many dog breeds, particularly the larger breeds.
Hip dysp...
Acupuncture: Ancient Solutions for a Modern World
"Acupuncture was used on animals as long as 3,500 years ago, when, legend has it, an elephant was treated for a stomach disorder similar to bloating. Since then, acupuncture and other forms ofTCM have been used to treat a variety of problems, including pain, arthritis, heart, lung, kidney, digestive, hormonal, allergic, reproductive and mental illness." - Cheryl Schwartz, DVM in "Four Paws, Five Directions.
Acupuncture in animals was first used on the horses of the Chinese emperors over 2,000 years ago and has widely been used in the treatment of horses in America and England for decades. Almost every month there is new research or a new story about how acupuncture has helped an animal to heal, to lead a better quality life or both.
Chinese medical theory states that disease is the result of a blockage of energy flow (Qi or Chi) along the pathways in the body. Inserting needles into these pathways unblocks the energy and restores health.
Dogs and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture is a time-tested clinically effective holistic solution to the stresses and health problems of your pets in our modern times. The effects of acupuncture and herbal therapy are gentle yet very effective for a wide range of health problems, and it is a cost-effective method to regain and maintain the health of your pet.Acupuncture is only one element of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Other TCM modalities incorporated into most treatments are laser acupuncture, infrared heat, moxabustion, magnets, Bach Flower Remedies, and a form of Chinese massage known as Tui Na.
Got Pain? Acupuncture can help!
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture can treats the following conditions in dogs:
* Hip & Elbow Dysplasia* Internal Medicine
* Movement Disorders
* Neurological Disorders
* Pain Management
* Stress/Anxiety
* Arthritis
* Osteoarthritis
* Allergies
* Asthma
* Low Energy
* Spinal Cord Injuries
* Shoulder & Elbow Injuries
* Ligament and Tendon Injuries
* Recovery from Fractures
* Neurological Disorders
* Degenerative Myelopathy
* Muscle Strains
* Off Season Agility Conditioning
* Low Back Pain
and so much more!
Worried about how your dog will react? Dogs actually like acupuncture. Most dogs fall asleep or become very relaxed once the needles are placed. It is a very gentle and effective therapy.
While acupuncture is effective for a wide range of canine ailments, don't expect too much from a single treatment. Acupuncture in dogs and humans have a cumulative effect. Over time, the treatments build on one another, giving greater effect with each treatment.
Please visit the Four Paws Acupuncture Happy Dogs Page to read how acupuncture and TCM can help improve a dog's life.
PLEASE NOTE!
Each state has its own regulations about veterinary acupuncture. It is important to find a practitioner who has more than a few weekends of training. Some states only require veterinarians to have 130 hours of training in veterinary acupuncture. Unfortunately this is not an adequate amount of time to learn Traditional Chinese Medicine. Other states only allow veterinarians to practice.
All licensed acupuncturists have at least 3,000 to 3,500 hours of training and graduate with a Masters degree. To find an acupuncturist in your area visit http://www.acufinder.com.
Healthy Foods for your Dog
You are what you eat applies to dogs too!
Nutrition play a crucial role in canine health as well. What you feed your dog can have a major impact on his recovery rate.I recommend either cooking for your dog or using a brand that is organic and free of wheat, corn or soy. Wheat exacerbates allergies and arthritis. Make sure the treats you feed your dog are also wheat free.
Recipe for Merlin's Magic Congee
Grains should be thoroughly cooked for animals, as they don't really chew their food. Congee is a Chinese dish made from rice, meat and vegetables that is slow cooked and easy to digest
In a crock pot or heavy pot with lid add:
* 5 cups of spring or filtered (not tap) water or free-range chicken broth.
* 1 cup of grain.
* Several pieces of frozen or fresh organic chicken or turkey.
* 1 cup or more of chopped or frozen veggies such as carrots, celery, sweet potato, yams, parsley,string beans.
Use brown rice during the cold winter months. Use white basmati rice for spring or summer.
If cooking in a crock pot, set on low and cook for 4-6 hours. If using a heavy pot on the stove, set the flame or electric burner on the lowest setting, and cook for 4-6 hours.
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Dogs
Chinese herbal medicine is a major part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Combining both acupuncture with herbs when treating a patient can dramatically produce positive healing results."In the last 1500 years the Chinese and others developed very logical,
sophisticated and effective models for using herbs in the treatment of
disease and promotion of health.
Chinese herbal medical theory and practice is much more developed and sophisticated than most Western herbal traditions, and relies on carefully balanced formulas. These formulas are combined in ways that are simple in principle yet show a remarkable sophistication behind their construction methods. Formulas
are made up of individual herbal substances with complementary (or
sometimes antagonistic) properties to achieve what are often complex
therapeutic goals. Some ancient herbal formulas have stood the test of
use over hundreds of years and millions of patients." - Norman Kraft, L.ac
www.MyAcuDoc.com
PLEASE NOTE! Chinese herbs are pharmaceutical grade substances and should only be prescribed by a licensed acupuncturist or veterinarian trained in TCM herbal therapy. Please be careful of websites selling miracle curing herbs. Unfortunately most of these are scams and can be harmful to your dog's condition.
Jeanie Marie Kraft, L.Ac gives Chula and acupuncture treatment.
This was filmed about 2 years ago. Chula, a shepherd/lab mix suffered from arthritis back pain.
Canine Acupuncture with Jeanie Marie Kraft, Lic.Ac.
As part of the "Protecting Your Pet" series on WHDH News in Boston, this segment shows Jeanie Marie Kraft, Lic,Ac. a Massachusetts canine acupuncturist, giving a treatment to Chula, a German Shepherd/Labrador mix while discussing how acupuncture works on dogs.
curated content from YouTube
Herbal and Nutritional Phone Consultations
Jeanie Marie Kraft, L.Ac. receives a number of calls each week from outside her travel area, even from across the country. To better serve those who may not have similar expertise and services in their area, Jeanie Marie offers telephone/email consultations, applying the considerable breadth of Oriental medicine to your pet's health issues.Jeanie Marie has studied traditional Chinese medicine extensively for more than 10 years. She holds a masters degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine, and has written a book on Chinese herbs, She is Red Cross Certified in Pet First Aid and CPR, and has completed additional training in Bach Flower Remedies for pets.
To learn more about herbal & nutritional consultations visit the Four Paws Acupuncture Phone Consultations page.
Kobe the Dancing Therapy Dog gets Acupuncture!
Kobe is a 5 year old Collie Mix who does free-style dancing
Kobe's treatments included acupuncture, laser acupuncture, magnet therapy, Tui Na with Chinese liniments and a change of diet. He was an excellent patient and a delight to work with.His owner wrote this:
"Eight months ago, my dog Kobe was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and arthritis. I could see the pain in his eyes, the limp in his walk. His movement was slow; he had a hard time going up and down the stairs. He could barely finish a mile walk. My young 5 year old Collie mix was not well.
I tried traditional things that his vet suggested, but nothing seemed to help. I heard about canine acupuncture from a friend, and I had to try it! Within a short time, I could see a difference! My dog could finish a two mile walk with ease; he could run and jump and play! With the help of acupuncture and the suggestions Jeanie made about changing his diet and trying new supplements, my dog was feeling better and stronger!
He still has a bad day every now and then, but those sad, pain filled eyes are gone and my happy, loving therapy dog Kobe is back!
Thank you Jeanie, we will be forever grateful!"
Isis M
To read about more dogs who have had acupuncture visit the Four Paws Acupuncture Happy Dogs Page
Canine Health Lenses
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Treating Canine Torn Cruciate Ligament with Acupuncture
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Nikki is an 9 year old Schnauzer who just recently celebrated her ninth birthday. During the summer of 2005, Nikki somehow managed to injure her rear cruciate ligament and began limping. Her owner, Maria,took her to see her regular vet as well as a s...
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Natural Solutions for Dog Stress
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Is your dog stressed out? Is your dog exhibiting any unusual behavior? This purpose of this lens is to give safe and natural solutions to help your dog relax and be healthy. Dogs are such wonderful creatures.Companions, protectors, members of the fa...
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Canine Degenerative Myelopathy and Acupuncture
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Welcome to the Foo Dog TCM Learning Centre. The purpose of this lens is to explain how acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can helps dogs diagnosed with the autoimmune disease know as Degenerative Myelopathy (DM). This lens is to prov...
Acupuncture on Wikipedia
Acupuncture is the procedure of inserting and manipulating Category: wikt - :filiform|filiform needles into various points on the body to relieve pain or for therapeutic purposes.Acupuncture: the Chin...
Traditional Chinese Medicine on Wikipedia
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Category: Image - :ChineseMedicine-HK.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Traditional Chinese medicine/dried goods shop in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, China.
Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known as TCM (), includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China. Although well accepted in the mainstream of medical care throughout East Asia, it is considered an alternative medical system in much...
Pawsitive Books
Here are some of the books I recommend to patients.
Pawsitive Links
- Four Paws Acupuncture of MA
- For more information on veterinary acupuncture on the North Shore of MA
- Acupuncture Center of Salem
- Acupuncture for Humans!
- The Monks of New Skete
- My heros!
Authors of How to be Your Dog's Best Friend,, The Art of Raising a Puppy and Divine Canine. - Four Paws Acupuncture Happy Dogs
- Read about dogs who have had positive results with acupuncture and TCM
- Handicappedpets.com
- This is a great source for everything you may need to care for your pet.
- Tao of Dog Depot
- Unique canine art on clothing and gifts for the home or office.
The Four Paws Acupuncture blog
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byReader Pawsitive Feedback
This lens is a work in progress. I will be doing my best to add more content to is as soon as I can figure out how! Thanks for stopping by.
We welcome positive suggestions.
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- Jerry-G-Dawg Jerry-G-Dawg Oct 16, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
- Dr. Craft, we are so glad we found you! I hope that more Tripawds get to know the many benefits of acupuncture therapy like I did. Keep up thre great work.
Probiotics for you and your pets
Most of us have been on antibiotics at some point in our lives. Some of you may have even experienced a yeast infection, diarrhea or constipation during or after your course of the medication.Dogs and cats also have similar side-effects from taking antibiotics. Some may experience diarrhea, constipation or more gas. Others may develop yeast infections which can manifest in the intestine, genitals or the ears.
After a course of antibiotics it often helps to take probiotics. Antibiotics kill harmful bacteria which cause infection. The down side is that they also kill the good bacteria in the intestine as well. Probioitcs help to put the friendly bacteria into the body.
Some of the important benefits of taking a probiotic supplement can include:
* Keeping constipation and diarrhea under control.
* Reduction of internal gas.
* Suppression of candida yeast.
* Suppression of a number of intestinal disorders.
* Reduction of bad breath
* Counteracting lactose intolerance by its association with lactase
One of my favorite probiotic products for both humans and pets is PB8.
PB 8® Pro-Biotic Acidophilus is a combination of 8 types of beneficial bacteria that favorably alter the intestinal balance, promote healthy digestion, inhibit growth of harmful bacteria and support immune system function.
by jeaniemarie
Jeanie Marie Kraft, L.Ac. is an acupuncturist, herbalist, nutritionist and author on the North Shore of Massachusetts with a private practice treating... (more)
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