Frequently Asked Questions

Each acupuncture treatment session ranges from 10-30 minutes, however, the exact amount of time is both unique to the patient and the condition being treated. Sometimes Dr. Couch will recommend additional or alternative treatments for your pet which can vary in duration. These include acupuncture, consult for herbal therapy, electroacupuncture, massage, laser (coming soon), essential oil therapy, chiropractic therapy (coming soon), home physical therapy exercises, supplement recommendations, or pain management medication consult, etc.

The number of sessions depends on each individual patient. Think of it like a diagnosis and prescription. In general, acute diseases typically require anywhere from 2-5 sessions to see results where chronic conditions may require lifelong treatments once a week to once a month. For chronic disease we typically recommend 3-5 sessions each one week apart and then taper to once monthly sessions for maintenance.

Dr. Couch can do acupuncture on cats, dogs, and small exotics, however, dogs are her most common species of patient. Most pets tolerate acupuncture quite well- some find it so relaxing they even fall asleep during their treatment sessions. It is helpful to provide a calm, quiet space that encourages relaxation. Additionally, providing a treat like a pupsicle or frozen lick-lick pad can provide distraction.

Acupuncture can be used for a variety of reasons, however, it is used most commonly to treat arthritis, intervertebral disc disease, seizures, injuries, surgical recovery, allergies, and anxiety.