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 Practice news and FAQ's

Bookmarking (add to favourites in Internet Explorer) this page is a great way to stay up to date on what's happening here at the Hillside Veterinary Centre. You may also like to read any FAQ's (frequently asked questions) we've prepared too!

IMPORTANT: Animal health and welfare issues, especially those that effect our area may also be found here, when needed.

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Do you have any questions?
We are delighted to answer your questions and help you better understand how we can help to keep your pet healthy. Modern veterinary medicine is every bit as complex as human medicine so don't hesitate to ask.

Veterinary Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the placing of needles into various points of the body to provoke a healing effect. Veterinary acupuncture is over 2000 years old. Veterinarians in ancient China observed that digital pressure applied to certain points in an animal's body relieved pain in a given area or reduced signs of generalised ill-health. It was later discovered that a better effect was produced if a needle penetrated these points. Recent research in the western world has identified the effects of acupuncture on pain pathways and the release of products that affect the brain to cause pain.

Over the last 30 years, veterinarians have been using acupuncture to treat both large and small animals with considerable success. Although a relatively small number of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK are using acupuncture so far, there is a growing interest amongst the profession.

Acupuncture can be used very successfully in veterinary medicine, either on its own or as a complementary therapy alongside conventional methods. It is often successful when conventional treatment fails or is contra-indicated. Although it is widely renowned for its analgesic (pain-killing) effects it is also thought to have a beneficial effect on the immune system, thereby increasing an animal's ability to promote its own healing.

The following conditions have classically responded well to Acupuncture;

  • Soft tissue sprains/strains

  • Back Pain

  • Arthritis

  • Allergic conditions

  • Respiratory problems

  • Some skin conditions

  • Non-specific vomiting/diarrhoea

  • Paralysis/paresis (weakness)

  • Incontinence


Animals accept acupuncture needles reasonably well. The needles are stainless steel and very fine. They are left in situ for approximately 10 minutes and that time is spent reassuring the animal so that it does not move. As the animal is made a fuss of during the treatment some animals even come to enjoy it. Often they will relax and some will even fall asleep! The number of treatments varies according to the severity of the condition and the length of time the problem has been present. Rarely only one treatment may be needed; on average 4-6 treatments are carried out.

Sometimes a chronic condition will require 'booster' acupuncture at a regular interval. Treatments are usually given at weekly intervals although in acute conditions it may be carried out daily or 2-3 times weekly. If no improvement has been shown after 3-4 sessions then the treatment will probably be ineffective. If, however even the slightest improvement has been made then it will be worth carrying on with further treatment.

Acupuncture can therefore be a useful form of complementary therapy, especially for those conditions that normally could not be treated effectively, or those, although treated by orthodox means, run the risk of medications giving undesirable side-effects.

Vet Keith Moore runs an acupuncture clinic at the practice and if you would like further advice or for an appointment contact the reception and ask to speak to Keith.