1. Acupuncture For Pets
Dr. Allison Mhoon received her DVM from the University of
Florida and began practicing with CareFirst Animal Hospitals in
2007. In 2008 she went back to UF to receive her Certification in
Veterinary Acupuncture. She travels to each of the four
hospitals to perform acupuncture on dogs and cats.
What is acupuncture for animals?
Acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine and, like
its use in human medicine, it is used with animals to stimulate
immune function, improve pain relief, boost overall stamina,
and improve body homeostasis. In acupuncture, we use very
thin needles to stimulate specific points on the body (called
acupoints). These acupoints are special because they contain
lots of free nerve endings and immune cells, as well as blood
vessels.
I’m not sure I buy into the idea of needles in my pet, how does

2. traditional Chinese veterinary medicine fit into Western
medical views?
Great question! There definitely is a scientific reason for why
acupuncture works. The tiny prick evokes a cascade of
reactions. At a local level, the prick stimulates immune cells to
release histamine and heparin. This improves the blood flow to
the area, which is great because improved blood flow means
more immune cells and more healing. The prick also stimulates
the free nerve endings. Now, there are different types of nerves
- thin and fast sensory nerves versus thick and slow pain nerves.
The prick stimulates more thin sensory nerves which, in result,
blocks the thick pain nerves (like when you rub your banged
knee to make it feel better). So, if a dog has painful hips and
receives local acupuncture there, the dull pain will be blocked.
Additionally, the nerves stimulate signals in the spinal cord and
brain for endorphins, enkephalins, and seratonin to release,
which function in systemic pain relief. Lastly, the brain signals
the pituitary gland to activate hormones that function as anti-
inflammatories and in homeostasis control.
How did you become interested and trained in acupuncture?
I was pretty skeptical of acupuncture growing up. I didn’t know
much about it and just figured it was a placebo effect. My first

3. exposure to veterinary acupuncture was during college. I rode
along with an equine veterinarian who also practiced
acupuncture. She worked on a horse that had an obvious
lameness, and after the acupuncture session, the horse had a
normal gait. Talk about getting my attention! I then went to vet
school at the University of Florida. UF is fortunate to have an
acupuncture service in the hospital, as well as the Chi Institute
of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine nearby. I was
exposed to several cases during my neurology and orthopedic
rotations. One particular patient of mine stood out. He was a
paralyzed Chow who had an unsuccessful surgery to remove
compressed disc material. He was anxious, painful, could not
urinate, and was just miserable! Within 15 minutes into the
acupuncture session, he was calm and resting. It was the first
time in almost 2 weeks he had been able to do so. Within 2
weeks after the session he was urinating on his own, and within
a month he was walking. Acupuncture helped him heal when
our regular Western medications and therapies were
unsuccessful. I decided then that I wanted to utilize
acupuncture for my patients. After joining CareFirst Animal
Hospitals, I went back to Florida to study at the Chi Institute
and became certified in small animal acupuncture.
What ailments have you had the most success with using
acupuncture as a treatment?

4. Intervertebral disc disease, Wobbler’s disease, and hip
dysplasia. I have ~ 80% success rate for improved function and
pain relief with these patients. Other conditions that typically
respond well are: degenerative joint disease, inflammatory
bowel disease, as well as post-operative orthopedic pain and
low stamina after chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
Acupuncture may also be used to treat allergies, chronic renal
failure, megacolon, chronic urinary infections, urinary or stool
incontinence, heart disease, and anxiety conditions.
How does an acupuncture treatment schedule work? Is it
expensive?
It depends on the patient and his/her health. Young pets with
an acute condition usually only need acupuncture for a short
time. For example, I saw a young cat with femoral nerve
paralysis after getting stuck in a tree. She only needed 3
treatments - each 1-2 weeks apart. However, a senior pet with
many conditions will respond slower and will need more
sessions. Since acupuncture has an accumulative effect, we
start out on a weekly basis. Typically by the 3rd session, we can
tell a pattern and can discuss spacing out the appointments
more. Often pet owners can tell when the acupuncture benefits
are "wearing off," which is helpful in determining the frequency

5. of sessions. Most senior pets come every 2-8 weeks.
The initial consult is $100. Acupuncture sessions are $95
individually. Pet owners can choose to purchase a package of
three sessions with a 10% savings. When you consider the costs
involved in Western medicine therapies for many of the
diseases pets have, acupuncture can be a great deal. For
example, arthritis medications alone for dogs can run $100-
200/month. Acupuncture can lessen or replace the need for
those medications and thus lessen frequent sick pet veterinary
visits and negative side effects of medications. Also, when
owners are faced with a paralyzed dog and a $3000+ back
surgery, acupuncture can be an affordable option and a great
help. Lastly, consider a dog with inflammatory bowel disease.
Often these patients are hospitalized for 2-4 days at a time for
each flare up. Even if the pet needs to come in monthly for
acupuncture, the cost would be significantly less than each
hospitalization.
Anything else you’d like to share?
We now offer acupuncture appointments at all four CareFirst
Animal Hospital locations! Dates and times vary, so please
contact your pet’s Care First Animal Hospital for details. Also, I
can be reached directly at

6. amhoon@carefirstanimalhospital.com
Our patients are amazing animals! It is such a gift to get to work
with them and their families. I never imagined how rewarding
acupuncture would be - to hear reports of pets playing again at
home and enjoying life is a huge blessing. I praise God for this
opportunity!
Contact Care First Animal:
Contact Person: Debbie Gordon
Address: 571216 Oberlin Rd, Raleigh
NC 27608
Contact No: 919-523-0441
Email Id: dgordon@carefirstanimalhospital.com