Dupont said feline veterinary acupuncture stimulates healing in cats, helps to relieve pain, and improves the function of organs. "It 'wakes up' the immune system, hormonal system and circulatory system to help increase the vitality and health of tissues," said Dupont.

Per an information sheet available at Catzablanca Cat Clinic and Hospital, acupuncture is a part of an ancient Chinese method of diagnosis and treatment called Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture has been used for 3500 years in China as part of their traditional medicine and is still used alongside conventional medicine by one-quarter of the world's population.

Dupont said, "The Traditional Chinese Medicine approach can often work better than a high-tech scientific approach. This is particularly true when dealing with a long-term disease. Traditional Chinese Medicine uses acupuncture and herbs to correct imbalances in the body and allow a patient to heal."

Acupuncture is done by inserting very thin sterilized needles at specific points on the skin surface to stimulate the flow of energy and circulation within the area being treated.

This also causes the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.

The word acupuncture is derived from the Latin word acus, which means needle, and the English word puncture.

Dupont said, "Acupunc-ture can be used as an alternative to conventional treatments or alongside conventional veterinary medicine. No chemicals are administered. When performed by a competent practitioner, it is one of the safest therapies available."

"Older patients respond well to acupuncture," said Dupont. "It appears to be a gentle form of rebalancing the body's energies that can go out of balance as cats get older.

Also many older patients benefit from wellness tune-ups periodically every three or four months."

"Acupuncture should not be used as a substitute for a good veterinary medical work-up," said Dr. Dupont. "For example, we may prefer to have x-rays taken of a painful area to be treated by acupuncture in order to first make certain that the pain is not caused by something which would be better treated by other methods."

Acupuncture is not appropriate for major emergencies such as broken bones or overwhelming infections. This is very important as there are conditions that need surgical or medical treatment, not just acupuncture treatment.