Complementary Medicine
Acupuncture & Laser Treatment

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Dr. Linda Rydgig is a certified veterinary acupuncturist (CVA) through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS). She has also completed advanced training for equine at the Chi Institute in Florida. For more than 15 years, Dr. Rydgig has been treating horses with musculoskeletal soreness, nerve damage, ophthalmic conditions, behavior issues, and other conditions that respond well to this complementary therapy.
Although acupuncture has been widely used in China for thousands of years, equine acupuncture in the United States has been introduced in just the last century. Equine acupuncture is recognized as an accepted treatment modality by both the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
Acupuncture for your horse
How Acupuncture Works
According to ancient Chinese medical philosophy, disease is the result of an imbalance of energy in the body. Acupuncture is believed to balance this energy and, thereby, assist the body to heal disease.
In Western terms, acupuncture can assist the body to heal itself by affecting certain physiological changes. For example, acupuncture can stimulate nerves, increase blood circulation, relieve muscle spasm, and cause the release of hormones, such as endorphins and cortisol.
For Which Conditions Is Acupuncture Indicated?
Acupuncture is indicated mainly for functional problems such as paralysis, noninfectious inflammation (allergies), and pain. Some general conditions may be musculoskeletal (sore backs), nervous system (suprascapular nerve paralysis "Sweeney"), skin problems, respiratory problems, gastrointestinal (non surgical colic), and reproductive disorders.
Is Acupuncture Painful?
For small animals, needle insertion is virtually painless. The large needles necessary for large animals may cause some discomfort as the needle passes through the skin. Once the needles are in place, there should be no pain. Most animals become very relaxed. Nevertheless, acupuncture treatment may cause some sensation, presumed to be those such as tingles, cramps, or numbness, which can occur in humans and which may be mildly uncomfortable to some animals.
After examining your horse, Dr. Rydgig will discuss the treatment options with you, such as dry needle, aquapuncture (injection of B12 or saline into points), electro acupuncture (electrical stimulation), and/or Chinese herbal medicine.
If you would like to learn more about these complementary medical treatments or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact us at (805) 482-1902.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy is often called photobiomodulation or low-level laser therapy (LLLT).
It is a painless treatment that uses clinically tested wavelengths of light to stimulate natural biological processes leading to faster healing and pain relief. Cells in the body will absorb laser energy that will stimulate the body to release pain relieving compounds, increase circulation and energize the cells to start the healing process. There are no side effects of laser therapy and at times it can reduce or eliminate the need for pharmaceuticals or surgery to treat long term problems.
The most common laser devices used for Laser Therapy are Class 3b and Class 4 lasers. (Laser class is only about laser safety, not effectiveness). Both Class 3b and Class 4 are equally effective as they both emit laser light at a specific wavelength and it is specific wavelengths that determine the effectiveness of the laser light.
Some conditions that can be treated with Laser Therapy:
-Tendon/ligament injuries, SI pain, Kissing Spine, nerve impingement, wound healing.
-With specific laser probe heads, acupuncture points can also be treated.
Laser Therapy will help get your animal moving and working sooner and also reduce the scar tissue and inflammation so the healing is stronger.

