Whether you’re slumped over in an office chair all day or battling chronic arthritis, it’s easy for grueling aches and pains to completely take over your body. Luckily, your local acupuncturist or chiropractor is just a call away - but what about when our furry friends’ bodies feel out of whack? Asking for help isn’t so easy!
Pet owners are constantly trying to address their pets’ medical concerns with expensive visits to the vet and countless at-home remedies, but there's another solution: canine acupuncture.
Johanna Parisi, a certified acupuncturist and owner of the Acu Lounge in Riverdale, is introducing a new way to help alleviate the pain your furry companion may be experiencing with this special treatment. In addition to helping treat chronic pain issues in dogs, it can also help with anxiety and allergies.
Up until now, canine acupuncture had been governed by veterinarians, but there is now a new certification acupuncturists can receive to tap into the industry.
Parisi recently received her certification in canine acupuncture from the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture in Phoenix, Arizona, and is one of few people certified in New Jersey to perform this treatment.
“I found out about the program through an acupuncturist friend and knew it was something that I wanted to do,” Parisi reveals.
Parisi started her career working at multiple spinal rehabilitation facilities in the local area and has specialized in orthopedic pain for the past several years. She opened The Acu Lounge in 2023.
Due to the newness of canine acupuncture, a New Jersey resident needs a prescription or referral from a licensed veterinarian in order to treat dogs at her center despite her extensive experience and certification.
There are a lot of questions that come with those interested in pursuing this treatment for their pups. Many ask how acupuncturists know the dog feels better or is responding well to the treatment.
The answer - it’s unlike typical acupuncture performed on humans. “We don’t put dogs on a table where they can’t get down,” Parisi explains. “We do the treatment on the floor. Once the dog gets up and shakes the needles out or tries to pull them out, the treatment is done.”
She notes that a good reaction to the treatment is a “release.” “This could be anything from a yawn to a fart or...more. A lot of dogs will get up and move their bowels right after,” Parisi adds.
Treatment can last anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the dog and the issue being treated. In terms of how many sessions each pet needs, it depends upon the dog and the condition you are attempting to treat.
In addition to the physical treatment, Parisi is also passionate about educating pet parents on what they can do to help their four-legged friends at home.
“It’s not just heavy activity and genetics that can cause issues with dogs, you have to look at the whole picture - like diet,” Parisi clarifies.
If your dog’s tail wagging is lacking, it’s time to head over to The Acu Lounge and let Johanna Parisi work her magic.
The Acu Lounge is at 3 Mullen Ave, Riverdale. To get more information for both humans and pets, call Johanna at 862-340-1247 or visit acupuncturebyjohanna.com