We started seeing Harry for chronic pain issues in February 2021 and was diagnosed with elbow issues when he was still a young dog. Now as he has aged this had progressed to arthritic changes. At first Harry was pretty worried about coming to the vets but over time this has improved hugely and he is very excited to see us which has been wonderful to see!

We aim to have our pain clinics and acupuncture appointments as calm and stress free as possible and often patients that are prone to being worried at the vets are quite happy to come along for these sessions.

Harry’s treatment is multi-modal or holistic approach which means we look at all aspects of his life and make environmental changes to help him cope as well as utilising medications, acupuncture and other veterinary treatments.

Each case is individual and what works for one patient may not work or be suitable for another. By assessing the needs of the individual patient and their owner we can tailor a treatment plan that works best for them.

We have continued to assess Harry’s needs and further tailor his treatment as required as he ages and his condition progresses. What is certain is that Harry is a very happy boy that loves socialising with people and adores living his best life despite his arthritis!

Harry is a true pleasure to treat and his wonderful owners had this to say about the treatment:

‘Acupuncture has quite literally been a life saver for him. In combination with an abundance of medication carefully tweaked over time by Rachel in response to his changing needs, Harry has been able to find enjoyment in walks; trips to the beach; and café culture in his twilight years. Harry has acupuncture every month, it really does give him a boost in terms of mobility.

He is much more mobile following a session. It’s wonderfully reassuring to observe the acupuncture. Harry is so calm to the point of falling asleep. He absolutely trusts Rachel. The results are so positive , the evidence is clear of the benefits of acupuncture. There can be no placebo effect.

During an arthritic flare up Harry has acupuncture more frequently, sometimes with the extra boost of electro acupuncture.

From our personal experience Rachel absolutely has our Labrador’s best interests at heart. She diligently strives to ensure that Harry’s long term pain medication and acupuncture give him a quality life where he forgets about his arthritic pain thus enabling him to lead a happy life. Thank you Rachel, due to the positive results of acupuncture and chronic pain management, our episodes of despair and sorrow in watching Harry struggle are now very rare.’