Dr. Benson trained at the Chi University in Florida for both her acupuncture and medical manipulation (animal chiropractic) therapies. The Chi Univeristy trains veterinarians in the traditional chinese veterinary medicine and other integrative modalities such as herbal medicine, Tui na, and food therapy. By being able to integrate both eastern and western medicine, Dr. Benson and her team can treat a wide variety of diseases with varying options for her patients. For more information on integrative medicine and the Chi Universiy visit https://chiu.edu.

Acupuncture is an integrative veterinary medical therapy that works by stimulating predetermined points (acupoints) to generate a physiological response.  Acupoints have high density free nerve endings, small blood vessels, mast cells, and lymphatic vessels, which aid in creating a therapeutic response.  Acupuncture can assist in controlling pain and muscle spasms as well as promoting vasodilation and neuronal regeneration. 

  Methods of acupuncture include dry needling, electroacupuncture and hemo acupuncture where blood of vitamin b12 is injected directly into the acupuncture point. The specific condition and patient dication the frequency of treatment and method of stimulation.  Acupuncture for animals can only be performed by a veterinarian. 

The goal of medical manipulation, or animal chiropractic care, is to restore normal function to the skeletal system, thereby restoring normal function to all tissues the surrounding the skeleton.  Horses of all types can benefit from chiropractic care.  Regular chiropractic care can find and treat issues that may not be leading to overt lameness.  Chiropractic care can also prevent chronic issues from muscle imbalances, overuse or trauma.  Animal chiropractic care should only be performed by a veterinarian or doctor of chiropractor trained in animal chiropractics. 

Mesotherapy is a therapeutic modality used to address chronic neck and back pain.  Treatment consists of multiple transdermal injections that are used to stimulate nerve fibers within the mesoderm of the skin.  Once stimulated intradermally there is inhibitory effect on the conduction of pain, ultimately stopping the pain spasm cycle.  The principle is based on the theory of gait control of pain that originates from the spinal cord. Specific diseases it can treat include: sacroiliac pain, ‘kissing spine’ discomfort, arthritis in the neck and back, one sided neck stiffness, generalized back discomfort. Mesotherapy is often used in conjunction with medical manipulation (animal chiropractic), acupuncture and shockwave therapy.