healing your pets with acupressure

8/12/2019 Healing Your Pets With Acupressure

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Healing Your Pets with

Acupressure

Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM


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Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM www.theonlinevet.com

Copyright 2012 Four Paws Online Ltd.All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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Table of Contents

HEALING WITH ACUPRESSURE ..................................................................... 2STEP BY STEP PET ACUPRESSURE TREATMENT ............................................. 3PHASES OF TREATMENT .............................................................................. 4POST TREATMENT ....................................................................................... 5ACUPRESSURE POINTS ................................................................................ 5ACUPRESSURE TREATMENTS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS ........................... 10DISCLAIMER: PLEASE READ ........................................................................ 12
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Chi energy flows along pathways or meridians in the body. This links all parts of

the body together, such as the organs, skin, muscles and bones. The belief is that

when a pet gets sick, the natural flow of energy is out of balance.

You can correct energy imbalances by pressing certain places on the skin called

acupressure points. There are 361 acupressure points located along these

meridians, although for our purposes, we are only concerned with a few.

A note for the skeptics: acupressure works. Scientific studies have shown that the

stimulation of these specific points causes the release of brain chemicals,

endorphins, which relieve pain.

Acupressure is very safe. Even if you do not press on the exact point, coming close

to it will provide some relief, and definitely, you will do no harm.

When performing acupressure, place your thumb on the point and press straight

down into the body. Do not rub. You must press hard enough to make an

indentation in the tissue, but not cause pain (larger dogs will require more

pressure, smaller dogs less). Hold the pressure for 30-60 seconds, then release.

Step By Step Pet Acupressure Treatment

In Section IV, Illnesses and Remedies, each illness that suggests using acupressure asa potential remedy will describe which acupressure points you should work on.

When you do use acupressure, follow these steps. For a demonstration of

acupressure treatment, refer to my video, Healing With Acupressure.

1. Select a location

Perform acupressure in a place where your pet feels safe and relaxed

not at your veterinarians. The quieter and calmer the environment, the

better.

When notto perform acupressure:

after feeding,

after exercise,
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when your pet is excited or distracted.

2. Introduce and prepare yourself

It is important to be connected with your own Chi energy and be

centered yourself.

Clear your mind, be present its helpful to perform breathing exercises.

Tell your pet what is going to happen. Affectionately pet them, connect

with them before beginning acupressure.

3. Perform Treatment

Begin treatment phases.

Phases of Treatment

1. Opening

Soft massage starting from the neck, along the spine, down over the hips.

You are applying firm pressure with your palms.

2. Point Work

Stimulate the specific acupressure points in question along the

meridians. Points are primarily located in the depressions between

muscles and bones. Use the Direct Thumb Technique, where the ball of

your thumb directly presses down on the acupressure point.

Perform Point Work from the front to the rear and/or top to bottom.

Keep both hands on your pet while performing the treatment one hand

does the point work while the other feels for reactions in the muscles

(and settles your pet as you go).

Breathe out while pressing down on a point, breathe in when letting up.

Partially use your body weight, to save stress on yourself and ensuresmooth motions.

Apply pressure at a 90 degree angle to the meridian line.

3. Closing


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The idea is to provide a stimulating yet relaxing feeling to close the

acupressure session. Position the palm of your hand in full contact with

your pet exert light pressure and glide your hand over your pets body

from front to rear and top to bottom. Start at the neck, move to the

shoulders, then down the back, along the hips, down to the hock, all the

way to the rear paws, where the session ends.

Post Treatment

As with homeopathy, sometimes your pet may initially feel worse. It can take 24

hours before your pet experiences the benefits of the treatment, so wait the full day

before you judge the effects. During this time, avoid strenuous exercise with your

pet.

Record changes in your pet in the period following acupressure.

Acupressure Points

Each acupressure point is identified by a letter and number. The following list

contains the meridians with their abbreviations:

BL: Bladder

SI: Small Intestine

TH: Triple Heater

SP: Spleen

CV: Conception Vessel

GV: Governing Vessel

PC: Pericardium (outside the heart)

ST: Stomach

HT: Heart

LIV: Liver

LI: Large Intestine

HT: Heart

LU: Lung

GB: Gall Bladder

SI: Small Intestine

KI: Kidney

In explaining acupressure points, I refer often to the locations on the spine, or

vertebrae. The locations (with abbreviations) are:

C: Cervical (Neck) T: Thoracic (Chest)

L: Lumbar (Lower Back) S: Sacral (Pelvis)


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Most acupressure points are located in depressions between muscles and bones.

When you pet your cat or dog, feel for depressions in the tissue; this is likely an

acupressure point. You may detect subtle changes in temperature over these areas.

A hot point often indicates something acute, such as a muscle spasm.

The illustrations on the following pages show the main acupressure points.


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Acupressure is a very safe technique, and in using it, you will never do any harm

to your pet. The direct benefit is from stimulating the acupressure points, while the

indirect benefit is from regularly touching your dog or cat. The two of you will feel

more bonded and that is alwaysa good thing.

Acupressure Treatments for Specific Conditions

1. Shoulder Pain and Arthritis

LI15 (right above shoulder, cranially)

LI14 (right below shoulder, cranially and lateral)

TH14 (immediately behind shoulder scapula/humeral joint laterally)

TH8 (on front of leg midway between elbow and wrist or carpus)

2. Elbow Arthritis

TH10 (right above elbow, behind joint)

LI10 (on lateral side of leg, right below elbow)

LI11 (lateral, right in front of elbow)

3. Hips: Hip Dysplasia, Hip Arthritis

GB29 (right in front of hip) GB30 (right behind hip)

BL60 (in web of tissue behind hock joint)

4. Knee: Cruciate Ligament Disease and Arthritis

GB34 (immediately behind and below knee)

BL60 (the aspirin joint)

5. Lower Back (Lumbar Spine)

Bai Hui (Lumbar Sacral Space)

BL27 (Immediately in front of Pelvis )

L7 (Sciatic Pain)

BL25 (L5 L6)


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BL24 (L4 L5)

BL23 (L3 L4)

BL20 (TL junction)

6. Neck Pain

BL10 (Base of the skull and C1)

BL11 (C7 T1, right in front of scapula)

7. Anxiety

Ying Tang (at base of the nose, between the eyes)

Gall Bladder Meridian (starts at the outer corner of the eye, flows to the

outside of the ear, down the neck)

GB13 (on the outside tip of the ear )

GV24 (point immediately above the eyes)

8. Lick Granuloma

This is a common condition in dogs left alone or with anxiety the most

common area for these is the front wrist (carpus).

HT7 lateral carpus (wrist)

LI5 Medial carpus (wrist)

9. Immune System

LI4 (medial metacarpus between wrist and paw)

LI11 (lateral, and cranial to the elbow point between humerus and

radius)

ST36 (lateral knee)

GV14, (C7 T1, at base of the neck)

10.Vision the onset of cataracts plus Dental Pain

BL1 (Eye Brightness inside corner of your pets eye)

ST1 (Cataracts, conjunctivitis starts at a point immediately below the

outside point of eye this point is also good for dental pain)


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healing your pets with acupressure

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