Acupuncture, massage and other treatments help pets recover

Some veterinarians are turning to acupuncture, massage and other alternative therapies to help pets recover from pain and thrive.

Like their human companions, house pets sometimes have aches and pains that can be treated with physiotherapy or acupuncture.

For energetic animals and for less active pets, these services can help reduce pain.

Three-year-old Maui, for example, is an athlete. He runs obstacle courses, and his slalom is very speedy in competition but can lead to aches and injuries.

At The Liesse Animal Clinic in Dorval on Thursday, Maui did a slow slalom so Dr Sophia Skoulikas could see where it hurt.

“Either they’re panting because they’re in pain, they’re not acting themselves, or it’s been a chronic condition where they’ve stopped jumping on couches, stopped jumping into the car,” she said.

Under the guidance of Ellen Queiroz, a veterinarian graduate and rehabilitation specialist for cats and dogs, Maui does physical exercises to strengthen his muscles.

In addition, he undergoes massage therapy and even a laser light treatment.

“It also helps them regain the strength in their muscle and just helps with overall function,” said Skoulikas.

Not quite an athlete anymore, the 13-year-old cat Cinders also gets sore since he has severe arthritis in his hips and gets acupuncture for it here.

Dr. Chantal Coutu has a special certification to do the treatment, one that Cinders usually sleeps through.

“For chronic conditions, especially with like arthritis or after injuries, whether they’re muscular or joint, so after orthopedic surgeries as well,” said Coutu.

“It stimulates receptors, nerve endings. the brain also increases blood flow to that area,” said Skoulikas.

At Liesse Animal Clinic, an appraisal appointment for these services costs about $120, and the price drops with subsequent treatments.

“It can take a couple of weeks to see those benefits, so patients at the beginning is ideal, but we do see positive feedback from everyone,” said Coutu.

Jumping around the room, Maui looked clearly ready to be back in the game on Thursday, and Cinders seemed to be experiencing less pain as his family watched him run and jump around the house once again.