Animal Acupuncturist

What animal lover hasn't daydreamed about ditching their desk job and applying for a job at the zoo? Or at a doggy daycare? Or tracking gorillas in Africa? We sure have, but since most of us may never actually get to work with the animals we love, we thought we'd introduce you to a few people who do.

Name: Leanne J. Lipton
Age: 44
Title: Doctor of veterinary medicine and certified veterinary acupuncturist (among other specialist certifications) at Meridian Veterinary Services

How long have you been treating animals?
I have been a veterinarian for 11 years and a veterinary acupuncturist for 5 years.

Where did you get certified to perform acupuncture on animals?
In the U.S., there are currently only two institutions that train veterinarians in acupuncture: the Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine and the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. I studied at the Chi Institute, which is sponsored by the University of Beijing, China.

What does the certification entail?
The classes focus on the principles of Chinese medicine, the location of acupuncture points and the changes we'd expect to see from treatment. Although class time is only about 16 days, certification requires about six months of text readings, quizzes, exams and the completion of a case study.

Can one become an animal acupuncturist without a veterinary degree?
It depends on the state and the municipality. In some places, a lay person can get certified after taking a course in animal acupuncture at a human acupuncture school, but they do have to take a qualifying exam to get certified.

How did you get into acupuncture?
Back in the 1980's my mother had acupuncture for a few health issues, and she enjoyed the benefits she received from her treatment. I also learned about acupuncture while in vet school at the University of Florida. It was intriguing to me – it's been practiced on animals in China for 3,000 years. As a health care professional, a healer, I like having as many tools in my toolbox as possible to help my patients.

What animals can you treat with acupuncture?
I have been trained to treat almost any animal willing to be handled without having to use sedation. Currently I treat cats and dogs in my practice, but I've also treated an iguana, a rabbit and a bird.



What conditions does acupuncture address?
The most common health problem I treat is arthritis, but there is practically no health condition that can't be treated with acupuncture. A few months ago, I treated a dog dying from a tumor of the spleen. The goal was actually to hasten his passing as a form of benign euthanasia, but the result was unexpectedly amazing. The acupuncture treatment put him in a coma, but the next morning he awoke and was a new dog. He could walk again, he demanded food, and he had a voracious appetite. He is still living fairly well 5 months later.

What's involved in a typical treatment?
My treatments can last an hour to two hours or more, and usually involve a combination of therapies. In addition to standard acupuncture needles, I sometimes use "aquapuncture," in which I inject vitamin B12 or other remedies into an acupuncture point. In other cases, I use electrical acupuncture, which sends a mild electrical current through the needles. I can use anywhere from 2 needles to 25 needles depending on the patient and the problem I'm treating.

How does it work?
The body is smarter than we are. After an evaluation, I determine which acupuncture points to use. If the body is weak or deficient – if an animal has arthritis, for example – then the needles provide a toning and strengthening effect. If the body has an "excess" condition, such as a fever, then the needles are sedating. The body is like a car, and a needle I insert is like a key in the ignition. Once the car is turned on, the body knows where to drive. We know acupuncture works, because there is no placebo effect in animals. Dogs and cats aren't having psychological reactions to the treatment, and we see positive results.

How much do you charge?
Prices range from $195 for the initial visit, which can take up to two and a half hours, to $50 for a follow-up visit.

When do pets start to improve?
Generally clients see improvement in their pets one to two days after the first treatment, but it can take time. I suggest that clients try acupuncture with their pet at least three times, and if there is no improvement at that point, then there are other treatment options we can try.

Don't pets freak out when you start poking them?
In general, pet skin is tougher than ours. The needles are very fine and soft. For the most part, they don't react to the insertion of a needle. But of course, some pets are nervous and agitated even before we begin. I start with Tui-Na massage to relax them. When I attach an electrical acupuncture unit, they seem to relax even more. Some even sleep and snore. For those patients that are unusually sensitive and have a painful reaction, I remove the needle, redirect it, or place it in another acupoint. Overall, pets don't have the same emotional hang-ups that people do over needles.

How does acupuncture fit in with traditional veterinary medicine?
Acupuncture is a great complement to Western medicine. It is virtually harmless when performed by an experienced acupuncturist. Sometimes, it even reveals other underlying conditions. My practice really integrates western and eastern medicine. I still recommend many Western tests and some Western medications. It's about taking a balanced approach.

Tags: pet acupuncture, PetAcupuncture