The University of Minnesota Lewis Small Animal Hospital has relaunched its acupuncture services with expanded offerings for patients.

Acupuncture is now provided on an outpatient and inpatient basis by Drs. Kara Carmody, Caitlin Tearney, and Erin Wendt-Hornickle, who are or are on their way to being certified in veterinary medical acupuncture. 

Veterinary acupuncture elicits a healing response through the insertion of needles into specific points on the body and may be used to treat many conditions and prevent disease. Common conditions in small animals that may be treated with acupuncture include: 

• Acute pain
• Post-operative surgical pain
• Trauma 
• Spinal cord or nerve injury or compression
• Chronic pain 
• Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease
• Neuropathic pain
• Lack of appetite or inability of the bowel to contract normally

At the Lewis Small Animal Hospital, acupuncture is part of an integrated medicine model, which uses natural or alternative modalities to complement Western/conventional medicine. 

Acupuncture is available in two formats. Dr. Carmody offers an outpatient acupuncture service that will be available by appointment. Drs. Tearney and Wendt-Hornickle offer acupuncture to patients who are having procedures performed or being cared for in the wards or the intensive care unit of the hospital. 

Speak with your pet’s primary care clinician to see if they would benefit from acupuncture. Comprehensive acupuncture treatment involves a thorough medical history and physical examination, followed by a patient assessment and formulation of a treatment plan.

For more information about acupuncture and its benefits, see this handout.