Local Veterinarian Using Acupuncture To Heal Pets

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

OWASSO, OK -- Acupuncture has been used to treat illness and pain in humans for centuries.

What is good for us humans might be good for our dogs and other animals too.

A local veterinarian is using this ancient treatment to improve the lives of her patients.

Max is a 12-year-old German Shepherd. He has a degenerative spinal disease; he is in Dr. Heather Owen's living room rug for his acupuncture appointment. So how many needles does he get?

"Different dogs different needles," Owen said. "We're gonna do a lot of back points to keep his spine feeling, we're gonna do a lot of lower leg points, so he can continue to have feeling in his toes."

He gets a treatment every week, he's been at it now for a couple of years without this treatment he would eventually lose the use of his back legs there is no surgical cure.

"I was an emergency vet for three years and I continually had to tell people I'm sorry, that's all we can do, there is nothing more we can do for your pet," Dr. Owen said.

She got tired of saying I'm sorry, and went back to school to learn acupuncture.

Another patient, Madeline, an 8 year old Dutch shepherd, sees Dr. Owens cat under the dining room table and well she is a dog and barks.

Madeline had a ruptured disk in her neck surgery removed that, acupuncture is helping her get better, faster.

She says it's like jump starting a car; the needles stimulate the nerves and muscles.

Every now and then there is some yelps, usually not.

Skeptical? Dr. Owen says everyone is she says until they see the results.

"See that big smile; it's worth every penny I've ever spent," Max's owner said.

http://www.animalacupuncturellc.com/index.html