Integrative Medicine for Pets: How Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy Support Whole-Body Healing

We are proud to expand the care options available to our patients through our Integrative Medicine Service, which offers acupuncture and herbal medicine. These therapies can support the body’s natural healing processes, help manage a wide range of medical conditions, and promote overall health and wellbeing in our beloved pet companions.

What is veterinary acupuncture and how does it work?

Acupuncture involves the placement of very thin needles into specific points on the body to help restore physiologic balance and address disease. Research suggests that acupuncture can modulate the nervous system, improve circulation, regulate inflammatory pathways, and stimulate the release of the body’s own pain-relieving and neurochemical mediators. Point selection is guided by a thorough physical examination and a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine assessment, which offers a complementary framework to a conventional (Western) medical diagnosis.

After needles are placed, a treatment session typically lasts 20-30 minutes. Acupuncture may be performed using needles alone (dry needle acupuncture), with gentle electrical stimulation (electroacupuncture), or by stimulating points with vitamin or medication injections (aquapuncture) or therapeutic massage (Tui-na). Acupuncture has an excellent safety profile and is generally well tolerated with minimal side effects when performed by a trained veterinarian.

How do Chinese herbal formulas support healing and how are they prescribed in veterinary medicine?

Chinese herbal medicine uses carefully selected plant and mineral ingredients combined into targeted formulas to address specific clinical conditions. These herbs contain biologically active compounds that can influence immune function, inflammation, gastrointestinal health, and other regulatory systems. For veterinary patients, formulas are compounded into powders, capsules, or tea pills to ensure safe and accurate dosing. Often used alongside acupuncture, herbal medicine can enhance and help sustain therapeutic benefits.

When appropriately prescribed, herbal therapy is typically well tolerated and has been associated with fewer adverse effects than many conventional medications in comparative studies. However, as with any long-term therapy, periodic bloodwork monitoring is recommended for animals receiving chronic herbal treatment. The herbal formulas we source at Art City are manufactured under the strictest quality-control standards to ensure consistency, potency, and safety.

Will my pet benefit from acupuncture and/or herbs?

Acupuncture and herbal medicine can relieve pain and support the management of many chronic conditions in dogs and cats. These therapies may be used on their own in select cases, but are most often incorporated alongside conventional treatment plans to provide more comprehensive care. They can be particularly helpful for patients who have had incomplete responses to standard therapies or who may benefit from a more integrative approach.

These therapies are particularly well-suited for patients with the following conditions:

• Pain conditions, including arthritis, hip or elbow dysplasia, and neck or back pain

• Geriatric patients, to support mobility, comfort, and overall quality of life

• Neurologic disorders, such as intervertebral disc disease, seizures, cognitive dysfunction, and vestibular problems

• Chronic diseases that have responded incompletely to conventional therapy, including conditions such as seizures, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, Cushing’s disease

• Cancer care, as adjunctive support to help reduce treatment-related side effects or to provide palliative care when curative therapy is not pursued

How soon can I expect to see results?

Every pet responds differently to acupuncture. Some owners may notice improvement after the first session, while others see more gradual changes over time. As with most therapies for chronic conditions, meaningful improvement often requires a series of treatments. Even after progress is observed, follow-up sessions are important to help maintain and build upon those gains.

Treatment plans are individualized based on each patient’s condition, overall health, and response to therapy. In most cases, treatments are recommended once weekly for the first 4–6 weeks, followed by gradually increasing intervals (every other week, then monthly) as improvement is achieved. Some pets ultimately require only periodic maintenance visits, while others benefit from more frequent care. At each visit, your veterinarian will reassess your pet’s progress and adjust the treatment plan accordingly.

Meet Dr. Xie

Dr. Sherrie Xie (pronounced "see-eh") is a fourth-generation acupuncturist and holistic medicine practitioner who bridges a rich heritage in Eastern medicine with rigorous scientific training in Western veterinary medicine. She earned both her Veterinary Medical Degree (VMD) and PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania, where her doctoral work focused on advanced quantitative methods and population health. After graduate training, she spent three years leading research initiatives investigating global rabies outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance before transitioning into clinical practice, where she applies her research training to deliver thoughtful, evidence-informed care.

At Art City Vets, Dr. Xie serves as an Associate Veterinarian and heads the Integrative Medicine Service. She is also an Assistant Professor at Chi University, where she teaches and conducts research on complementary and integrative therapies in veterinary medicine. She complete

d her formal acupuncture training at Chi University in 2019 and remains deeply committed to advancing the scientific understanding and effective integration of these therapies into modern veterinary practice.

What Dr. Xie treasures most in practice is building trusted relationships with pets and their families while tailoring care to their individual needs. She lives in South Philadelphia with her husband, who is also a veterinarian, and their senior dog and cat, both proud "foster failures." They are eagerly awaiting the birth of their first (human) child. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and rock climbing.