Everyone knows about acupuncture for humans, but did you know that pets can benefit from the ancient Chinese healing practice? Acupuncturists insert very fine needles into an acupuncture point, which releases endorphins and causes a sense of well-being. According to Catster, cats have 112 acupuncture points in their small bodies. Therefore, your feline companion can benefit from acupuncture to relieve a host of ailments, from arthritis to epilepsy.

Arthritis

Just like with humans, as cats get older they sometimes develop arthritis in their joints. Their activity decreases, and they're especially leery of running, jumping or climbing the stairs.

Acupuncture has long been known to relieve pain. The practice reduces inflammation and improves circulation. Combined with that release of endorphins, acupuncture gives your cat respite from arthritis pain, allowing her to move more freely.

Epilepsy

When the neurons in your cat's brain become uncoordinated, she has a seizure. If this is a regular occurrence due to congenital defects, the cat has epilepsy. Seizures can also be caused by other disorders, infections and tumors.

Acupuncture is especially effective in treating neurological disorders. The treatment helps restore neurological recovery. Acupuncture also works in conjunction with traditional drug treatments to improve their efficiency by facilitating delivery of the medicine.

Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infections are a pesky nuisance to humans but can be dangerous for small animals. Affected cats also have difficult or painful urination. Signs of this illness include urinating in inappropriate places or the presence of blood in the urine. Sometimes the urethra is partially or even fully blocked.

Acupuncture eases the flow, so to speak. Their symptoms calm down in response, allowing for a more comfortable flow of urine. Increased blood flow also allows the antibiotics to work more effectively.

Blocked Nasal Passage

A lot of your cat's head is taken up with nasal passages. When these become blocked, it's uncomfortable, to say the least. Allergies, virus and infection are some of the causes. Your vet examines the color and consistency of the mucus to determine the cause.

Acupuncture improves the flow here, too. Correct placement of the needles reduces inflammation in the target area. This relieves your cat's congestion.

Anxiety

There's no such thing as a crazy cat. Sometimes cats have anxiety attacks or are anxious overall. Illness, pain and age sometimes cause anxiety. Fear is another cause. Anxious cats hide, look for escape routes and bolt from the room. In more severe cases, they may have diarrhea.

Acupuncture is made to treat anxiety. That release of endorphins is pleasurable for the cat, relaxing her. After a series of treatments, she is likely to return to being the easy-going kitty she used to be.

Acupuncture has been around for millennia – even for animals. Your cat can benefit from the addition of acupuncture to her traditional medical treatment. Contact a clinic that specializes in pet acupuncture for more information.

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