Acupuncture at Tails of Rye
We're very fortunate to have Dr. Lee Gregory from the The Veterinary Emergency, Critical Care & Cancer Treatment Center of New Hampshire with us one day a week to offer her acupuncture services. In addition to acu
puncture, Dr. Gregory offers aquapuncture (injections of either B12, adequan, or traumeel) and Chinese herbs. At the Veterinary Emergency, Critical Care & Cancer Treatment Center of New Hampshire she can perform aculaser (application of therapeutic laser to acupuncture points). Currently Dr. Gregory is seeing acupuncture appointments at Tails of Rye on Tuesday, but that day is subject to change based upon her rotation at VECCNH. So be sure to call ahead to find out when she'll be here. Your dog does not have to be a Tails of Rye physical therapy client to utilize our acupuncture service, and you do not need to be referred by your veterinarian. We do, however, recommend that you speak to your veterinarian about trying acupuncture for your dog's condition in case it is contraindicated for some reason.
Acupuncture is a safe and effective natural healing method that can be used to treat both acute and chronic problems—as a complement to conventional medicine or when conventional methods of treatment have failed. Senior dogs especially can benefit from the effects of acupuncture. An older dog who has multiple health problems, can't tolerate medications, and isn't a viable candidate for surgery can be given a new lease on life with routine acupuncture treatments. To read more about the benefits of acupuncture and to determine if it is something that will benefit your dog click here to continue reading.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Gregory call the office at 603-379-2099 or click the following link to schedule the appointment online yourself. The appointment times that appear on the list are currently available.
Surgery or a Conservative Approach?
There are times when pet owners either can't or aren't ready to put a dog through surgery. These pet owners can choose conservative management over an aggressive drug regimen or invasive surgery. Conservative management involves any non surgical treatment of an injury.
Some of the more common methods are physical therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, chiropractic, prolotherapy, Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation (VOM), massage, homeopathy, TTouch, Reiki, nutritional supplements, herbal medicine, and essential oils. Conservative management is not a panacea. It doesn't necessarily eliminate the need for surgery, but it can speed recovery and improve the dog's chance for a full recovery no matter what the method of treatment. In the case of a cranial cruciate ligament tear, for example, if the tear is partial, you may be able to consider conservative management. If the symptoms improve then a non-surgical recovery may be possible, but if they don't improve and surgery becomes necessary, the conditioning gained beforehand through conservative treatment will result in a reduced course of rehab afterwards and a quicker recovery period.
Acupuncture: A Complimentary Therapy for Pain Management
One of the more popular methods of conservative treatment is acupuncture 
and it's used to treat a wide variety of health conditions. Acupuncture stimulates nerves, relieves muscle spasms, increases blood circulation, speeds up tissue regeneration, releases endorphins that lessen pain and cortisol that reduces inflammation. Unlike drugs and surgery, which can have serious side effects, acupuncture utilizes the body's own healing force and is completely safe for your dog. It can treat disorders of the reproductive, musculoskeletal, neurologic, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and dermatologic systems. Using acupuncture as a form of conservative management can eliminate or postpone the need for surgery and eliminate or greatly reduce the amount of pain medication the dog needs.It can improve a dog's mobility, increase his energy, and enhance his quality of life.
Some of the Conditions and Diseases in Pets that Acupuncture can Help
- Acral lick granuloma or hot spot
- Allergies
- Arthritis
- Back pain
- Behavioral and stress induced problems
- Cancer, by reducing pain, side effects of chemotherapy, recovery time from surgery to improve the animals quality of life for the time remaining
- Cushing/Hyperadrenocorticism
- Degenerative Joint Disease
- Diabetes
- Disc related problems
- Disease prevention
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Ear infections
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Geriatric weakness
- Hip dysplasia
- Immune system support
- Itching
- Kidney insufficiency/renal failure
- Ligament injuries, incomplete crucial ligament tears
- Lumbosacral conditions, such as compressed nerves
- Megaoesophagus
- Muscular problems
- Nausea
- Neurological disorders
- Osteoarthritis
- Pain of unknown origin or residual traumatic pain
- Pyoderma
- Recovery after surgery, wound and bone healing
- Respiratory problems: chronic coughing that is unresponsive to treatment
- Rheumatism
- Seizures
- Skin problems
- Stroke/Ischemic attacks
- Tendon injuries, strains
- Thyroid problems
- Tremor
- Urinary problems
- Vestibular syndrome
- Vomiting
Routine Treatments, Before and After Surgery — Acupuncture Offers Relief for Whatever Ails Your Dog
Routine acupuncture treatment can also treat minor sports injuries and help keep muscles and tendons resistant to injury. If your dog is involved in any athletic activity such as agility, flyball, dock diving, herding, or is a frisbee/disc dog, acupuncture can help keep him in peak physical condition.
For many years acupuncture has been used before and after surgery for pain re
lief and to accelerate healing. No matter what kind of surgery your dog is having, the body perceives the surgery as trauma, the trauma produces stress, and the stress then weakens the immune system. Stimulating acupuncture points causes the body to release proteins, hormones, and brain chemicals that control a number of body functions. These changes in the body regulate blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature, strengthen the immune system, and release endorphins, which are opiate-like substances produced by the body that bring about an analgesic effect and a sense of well being.
Using acupuncture before surgery can diminish the amount of anesthesia drugs needed and their side effects and can reduce postoperative pain and the amount of painkillers needed.It can also lessen the occurrence of post operative nausea and vomiting.
Using acupuncture after surgery will reduce pain and inflammation, speed up tissue regeneration, increase circulation, reduce swelling, and minimize the build up of scar tissue.
A Biography of Veterinary Acupuncturist Dr. Lee Gregory, DVM
Dr. Gregory obtained her DVM from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary M
edicine in 2007. She practiced mixed animal practice and small animal general practice in New Hampshire and Maine before settling into small animal
emergency medicine. She is currently an emergency clinician at the Veterinary Emergency, Critical Care, and Cancer Treatment Center of NH in Portsmouth, NH. In 2009-2010, Dr. Gregory embarked on specialized training in acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, obtaining certification in the discipline in 2010.
Dr. Gregory is a member of the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture, the American Academy of Pain Management, the American Canine Sports Medicine Association, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. She is excited to begin offering acupuncture to the clients and patients of Tails of Rye.
Dr. Gregory lives in seacoast Maine with her husband and six needy geriatric animals. When she’s not practicing veterinary medicine or walking the dogs, Dr. Gregory enjoys Bikram Yoga, community gardening, and surfing.
*Special thanks to jdurham at morguefile.com for providing the third photo on this page, the photo of the injured dog.