A Chinese medical history and examination may be a little different than what you are used to when you take your pet to the veterinarian. The practitioner will likely ask questions that your Western veterinarian has not asked before. While these questions may seem unusual, they are questions that have been asked by Chinese medical practitioners for thousands of years.
Before Your Pet's First Acupuncture Visit
Consider the answers to the following questions:
What kind of food does your pet eat?
Is it canned, dry, raw or prepared by you?
What is the brand name and ingredients of the food
Does your pet have a preference for temperature: Does he seek out warm or cool places?
Has your pet had any behavioral changes or any behavioral problems?
Has your pet had any changes in energy level?
Does the problem you are bringing your pet in for occur at a particular time of day or year or in conjunction with a particular activity?
Is it seasonal?
Is it related to exercise or rest?
Daytime or nighttime?
Has your pet's thirst increased or decreased?
The Chinese medical approach is the assessment of the entire patient, rather than focusing on a single problem area. Western medicine often focuses on treating symptoms whereas Eastern medicine treats the patient as a whole. The emphasis is on restoring balance and energy flow throughout the body.
During your first visit, the holistic doctor will develop a comprehensive treatment/wellness plan for your pet, which will be revisited and revised over time. Holistic care is about helping the body heal itself. Keep in mind, some problems take longer than others to resolve and long-term problems often require long-term solutions.
