LunarPoodle Veterinary Services: In Home Mobile Veterinary Care in the Seattle WA area for acupuncture, exams, laser therapy, and Tui-Na. Strenghen the bond between you and your pet with in-home veterinary care!
Special interest in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
Q: You can do acupuncture in animals?
A: Absolutely! Many conditions respond well to acupuncture, and many pets find it relaxing as well. I can provide integrated therapies combining western and traditional Chinese medicine for both dogs and cats in their own home. See a video here.
Q: What can veterinary acupuncture do for my pet?
A: While most people think of acupuncture as a therapy for arthritis, back problems, and other musculoskeletal conditions, acupuncture can also be a powerful therapy to heal or manage a wide range of internal medicine conditions as well. From skin rashes, gastrointestinal issues, endocrine or immune problems to supprtive care for cancer patients, acupuncture and other Chinese medicine modalities can provide comfort and healing for nearly any condition.
Q: Why LunarPoodle Veterinary Services?
A: LunarPoodle Veterinary Services is a mobile service. You can schedule a checkup at home. Let me do the traveling – not your pet!
Q: Where do you provide services?
A: I provide veterinary care in the North Seattle, South Snohomish County & East King County areas. Call to inquire for others!
Q: How much does it cost?
A: Cost varies depending on the type of treatment provided and distance traveled. Call or email for specific questions.
Q: Can you provide a phone consultation?
A: A veterinarian-patient relationship (recent hands-on exam and/or treatment) is required before I can give specific advice regarding your pet. Otherwise, I can only provide general advice but am happy to have a discussion to answer your questions. Consultation rates are available on inquiry.
Q: Will acupuncture hurt my pet?
A: The needles used in acupuncture are not like the needles used to give vaccinations or draw blood. Acupuncture needles are very thin- similar to a thread or a hair in thickness.
Generally placing the needles causes little or no discomfort, and any discomfort dissipates very quickly. Occasionally there is a point, such as a trigger point, at which there is a strong feeling of pressure, strong ache, or heat- this is called “de qi” or “arrival of the qi.” While very uncomfortable initially, again this dissipates very quickly.
At the initial appointment, the pet may be a bit apprehensive. This is quite normal- many people are a bit apprehensive at their first acupuncture appointment too! I generally place fewer needles at the first appointment, so as to make the session as low-key as possible. After a few sessions, most animals feel very comfortable receiving acupuncture and in fact some nap during the session!
Q: How many sessions do I need to cure my pet?
A: That is very difficult to predict, as there are a lot of variables involved. Some illnesses are not cured but are managed; other variables involve individual response to acupuncture, how chronic the problem is, and complexity of the problem. Improvements with acupuncture are cumulative in nature; that is, as more treatments are given, more and more improvement is seen. In general we can expect to require 3 to 5 treatments to begin to see improvements in dogs (cats respond more quickly, generally 1 to 3 treatments). Initial improvements may be slight or short-lived, but with further treatments the improvements become stronger and longer-lasting. As the results become stronger, we usually increase the time between appointments until we find the frequency that best maintains optimal health for your pet.
Q: How long do your visits last?
A: The first session may take an hour to an hour-and-a- half. During the first session I will start by talking with you about the history of the problem and the pet’s lifestyle as a whole. This gives me a good deal of information and also allows your pet time to get used to me being in the home. While I’m talking to you, I’m also watching your pet- how it moves, how it behaves, and what the physical condition is in general. After we finish talking, I start to examine your pet to gather additional information about the problem we’re addressing. Finally, I give your pet its first acupuncture session!
Follow-up visits are usually a bit shorter- a half hour to one hour in general. Your pet is more used to my presence and to acupuncture, so I can administer the treatment sooner.
Q: Can my pet exercise before/after the acupuncture session?
A: I recommend that pets avoid having a heavy workout session at least an hour before acupuncture (a brief walk to relieve him- or herself is fine; your pet will be much more comfortable with an empty bladder!). Likewise, don’t feed your pet a meal at least an hour before the session. Afterwards, your pet may exercise if desired. Like humans, some may be a bit drowsy or wobbly for a time afterwards and others may feel fine, so let your pet tell you how much exercise he or she can tolerate.
Do you have questions not covered here? Feel free to call (425) 395-4815 or email vet@lunarpoodle.com to find out more or to schedule an appointment.
Why "Lunarpoodle?" Whenever you see the moon, you can see the shape of the poodle in the mare, or lunar seas. Easily seen is the poodle's head at the Sea of Serenity (Mare Serenitatis); the famous Sea of Tranquility (Mare Tranquilitatis) where Apollo 11 landed in 1969 forms the shoulders. The appropriately named Sea of Fertility (Mare Fecunditatis) forms the hind quarters, and the equally ironically named Sea of Vapors (Mare Vaporum) forms the snout. Completing the picture is the Sea of Crisis (Mare Crisium) - anyone who has had interaction with a poodle knows the crisis that befalls us all if they'd lose their famous tail