3 Reasons To Talk To Your Vet About Acupuncture If You Have An Aging Dog

Your four-legged pal has had a long and healthy life, but now its glory days are long gone and poor Fido is definitely slowing down. Having a senior dog will show you the canine aging process in ways you probably will not want to see, such as aching joints and problems with mobility.

However, just as an aging human, there are treatments that can make your pooch a little more comfortable in spite of its age, and this does not have to involve medication or serious procedures. In fact, pet acupuncture services are now fairly easy to find. If you have an old dog who's still a good boy or girl and you want to make them feel better, you should check out these three reasons to talk to your vet about acupuncture for dogs. 

Acupuncture can help with skin irritations that come along with aging. 

Senior dogs are more prone to skin conditions as they grow older, most of which are relative to poor circulation. With skin conditions, such as rashes or redness that contribute to excessive scratching, acupuncture can help encourage blood circulation to the area, which may help reduce the symptoms of the problem. 

Acupuncture can provide relief from the pain associated with musculoskeletal problems.

As your dog gets older, musculoskeletal problems are just part of the process of aging. Your dog may struggle from conditions like:

• arthritis 
• hip dysplasia
• inflammation around bones and tendons
• injuries to the nerves surrounding joints and bones

Acupuncture is one way to help relieve your dog from the pain that can be associated with these symptoms. While there are medicinal options most of the time, many of these treatments come along with some undesirable side effects, such as changes in appetite or fatigue. 

Acupuncture may help alleviate problems with digestive problems. 

The older a dog gets, the more likely it will be that it will face some type of digestion problems, whether it is urinary, intestinal, or otherwise. Some dogs start to see problems with their kidney functions and incontinence. Some dogs may be more sensitive to foods and experience problems with nausea or vomiting. In any of these cases, it is a good idea to talk to the vet about acupuncture because it can help to stimulate the dog's nervous and circulatory system to ward off some of the problems. For example, if yoru dog suffers from frequent constipation, acupuncture may be able to help the body naturally produce more digestive secretions.