Posts tagged "pet acupuncture"

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.