Natural Awakenings - Community Spotlight
February 2009
by Rachel Sokol
Pet owners want nothing but the best for their animals. After all, dog is man's best friend. So, when a pet needs medical attention, owners will often times do whatever they can to help their furry friends feel better, both physically and emotionally, which usually means a trip to the veterinarian.
Nina Malik, DVM is a veterinary acupuncturist. But she's not your average veterinarian. A member of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture, and the AVMA, Malik practices both traditional - Western - medicine and Eastern, more holistic, medicine. She embraces acupuncture as a means of healing for animals.
"I started out as a Western practitioner and in doing so had to euthanize pets that weren't really in critical condition. I thought, there has to be a better way than just putting these animals down, " she says, admitting that practicing solely as a traditional vet was "very hardening" at times. "So, I looked into acupuncture."
According to Malik, who trained extensively as an animal acupuncturist in both Pennsylvania and New York, only certified veterinarians legally can practice acupuncture on animals. In fact, Malik is one of the few animal acupuncturists on Long Island, which makes her practice truly unique.
"On Long Island, there is a big division between treating animals the Western way or the Eastern way; it's either one way or the other. However, I do both," she says.
When treating an animal, Malik is extremely thorough, and will sit with the animal for 30 minutes if she has to when using acupuncture needles on their bodies. "I do a full physical with the animals. I'll conduct a full Western exam on them and then do a Chinese exam." After that, she'll give the animals both a Western and an Eastern diagnosis.
Malik recalls a situation she had when a pet owner thanked her for being so thorough with their dog, informing Malik that another veterinarian didn't even glance at their dog's X-Rays or charts.
Most of Malik's patients are older dogs suffering from paralysis and arthritis, but she says acupuncture can be effective on any animal, large or small, and treat various ailments including the side effects of cancer and gastrointestinal issues. Because cats don't usually have as many arthritis ailments as dogs, Malik doesn't treat as many of them via acupuncture.
"With older dogs, the owners often bring them for acupuncture to just try it out; just give it a whirl. They don't want to put their dog through surgery at 13 years old." According to Malik, most dogs are nervous when they first come in for acupuncture, but by the third treatment or so, they fall asleep.
Any breed of dog meets the criteria for acupuncture, for Malik hasn't found that acupuncture is more or less effective on a certain type of dog. And, practicing what she preaches, Malik herself underwent a series of acupuncture treatments a few years back, when a tumor was discovered in her ankle.
Various types of acupuncture can be practiced on animals, including aquapuncture, in which a small solution is injected at an acupuncture point, extending the effects of acupuncture. "I'll use aquapuncture on an animal's acupuncture point when I don't want to put a needle in that particular spot, such as over the lungs," says Malik.
Malik truly believes in the power of acupuncture as a healing modality for pets. Stressing her compassion and patience with every animal she works with, according to Malik, the animals really love their acupuncture sessions. "They know they will feel better after their session and are excited to see me when they come in."
Malik is well-aware about some of the skepticism surrounding what she does. "While Long Island is progressive compared to other places, I still feel like I am a pioneer. It will take time for acupuncture to become popular as a form of animal treatment," she says.
Veterinary Acupuncture Links
1. International Veterinary Acupuncture Society
http://www.ivas.org/
2. American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture
http://www.aava.org/
3. Long Island Health Care Hero Award
http://libn.com/health-care-heroes-awards-2011/
4. Long Island Press - Best Veterinarian 2011
http://bestof.longislandpress.com/2011/health-wellness/veterinarian
5. LI Veterinary Acupuncture Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Long-Island-Veterinary-Acupuncture/185569164806654