Need-le to treat the pain? Try acupuncture

A fight over food between Ms Karen Yuen's two dogs - Mello, a bichon poodle, and Blessie, a maltipoo - resulted in Blessie injuring her back severely.

- Joanne Soh

Since that altercation at the start of 2024, Blessie lost mobility in her limbs and could not relieve herself.

Suspecting Blessie was suffering from intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), Ms Yuen was at a loss regarding treatment, as a spinal surgery could put her senior fur kid at risk of death.

IVDD is an age-related, degenerative condition that involves the spinal cord, the vertebrae, or backbones, and the disc material between each vertebra.

"Blessie was already 13 years old and she also had issues with her heart," Ms Yuen, 50, says.

The realtor chanced upon pet acupuncture, which was recommended by her pet-sitter. Though she was initially sceptical about such treatments, she decided to give it a shot, as Blessie could rely only on painkillers to relieve her pain.

To Ms Yuen's surprise, Blessie's condition improved after her second acupuncture session with Dr Nicholas Haw at Bluewater Vet Acupuncture & Rehabilitation.

However, after a month of treatment, the pooch fell off her pram and aggravated her back injury.

"Blessie is now going for monthly maintenance sessions and has recovered almost completely," says Ms Yuen.

Dr Haw says pet acupuncture is a complementary veterinary treatment in which thin, sterile needles are inserted into specific points on an animal's body.

"It is often used alongside conventional veterinary medicine and physical rehabilitation therapies, offering a holistic approach to managing various health conditions," he adds.