Pet Acupuncture

Acupuncture for animals?

Acupuncture for pets is a safe alternative therapy for treating health conditions and improving an animal’s physical and emotional well-being. It is particularly effective in relieving the severe, chronic pain an arthritic dog may feel.

At North King Animal Clinic, integrating the proven health benefits of holistic and alternative therapy into how we care for companions throughout Western Mass is what makes our practice so unique.



“Maybe acupuncture is worth a try?”

“Certainly a growing number of veterinarians think so,” answered the 2008 New York Times article “Old Dog, New Trick: Acupuncture” that posed this common question on the minds of dog owners.

General acupuncture is a medical practice that traces back in origin to ancient civilizations in what is today India and China. The central technique works by applying fine needles at specific points on the body. These trigger responses proven to be beneficial in the treatment of sickness, health conditions, or localized pain.

Surprisingly, the use of acupuncture with animals is not a new idea. A three-thousand-year-old record in India details the use of the treatment with elephants, while the Ancient Chinese military general Shun Yang (480 BC), also known as Pao Lo, is thought to be the first formally practicing veterinary acupuncturist. He authored the text entitled The Canon of Veterinary Acupuncture to describe the use of equine acupuncture with the army horses under his command.

Veterinary acupuncture began to take prominence in the United States when the California Veterinary Association Committee on Acupuncture met in January of 1973. By the late 70s, a system for certifying American veterinarians in acupuncture had begun evolving.

Here at North King Animal Clinic, our certified veterinary acupuncturist and veterinarian Dr. Susan Kelly works with clients to develop a holistic plan that matches acupuncture therapy to the personal, medical needs of your companions.