Acupuncture and chiropractic sit alongside conventional medicine rather than in place of it. For some patients — particularly those with chronic pain, mobility problems, or neurological conditions — they add something worthwhile when other options are limited or poorly tolerated.
Provided by Dr. Bonny Henderson
Acupuncture and chiropractic care at Pathways are provided by Dr. Bonny Henderson, a visiting veterinarian who comes to us once or twice a month. Dr. Henderson founded Henderson Equine Clinic in Avon, New York, and brings a depth of experience in these modalities that we are glad to be able to offer our patients without sending them elsewhere.
Because she visits on a schedule rather than being here daily, these appointments are planned in advance. Call us and we will get your pet onto her next visit, or let you know when that is if the timing matters for your pet’s condition.
Dr. Henderson also offers PRP and Arthramid injections — both regenerative options used mainly for osteoarthritis and joint disease, where the aim is to change how the joint behaves rather than simply to manage pain around it.
Rehabilitation between visits
Dr. Henderson also develops rehabilitation programs for patients who need them, and those programs frequently include underwater treadmill work and therapeutic laser. Our own team performs that work between her visits, which is what makes the arrangement practical: your pet gets a program designed by a clinician with real expertise in it, delivered consistently by people who see them every week.
It also means the plan is one plan. What she prescribes and what we carry out are the same thing, reviewed when she returns.
Where it fits
We use acupuncture and chiropractic as integrative therapies: an addition to a plan that also includes diagnostics, medication where appropriate, weight management, and rehabilitation. They are most often considered for osteoarthritis and chronic pain, for some neurological cases, and for patients who cannot tolerate certain medications.
We will be honest about what the evidence supports and what it does not, and we will not recommend either where it is unlikely to help. Not every treatment is right for every patient.
What a session involves
For acupuncture, very fine needles are placed at specific points and left for a short period. Most animals tolerate it well and many become visibly relaxed; some fall asleep. No sedation is needed.
Sessions are unhurried by design — a rushed acupuncture appointment is a contradiction in terms. Your pet is allowed to settle, and we work at whatever pace they will accept rather than restraining them through it.
Response tends to build over several sessions rather than appearing immediately, so we usually suggest committing to a short course before judging whether it is helping your pet.
What the evidence says, plainly
Acupuncture is better studied in some contexts than others. The strongest support is around chronic musculoskeletal pain, where it is recognized as a reasonable adjunct within a broader plan. For a number of other proposed uses, the evidence is thin or mixed, and we are not going to pretend otherwise.
The AVMA’s position is that complementary approaches should be held to the same standard of evidence as any other treatment, and used alongside conventional veterinary medicine rather than in place of it. That is exactly how we use them.
So we will tell you where it is a well-supported option, where it is worth a trial, and where you would be better served spending the money on something else. Not every treatment is necessary, and not every treatment is right for every patient.
A diagnosis comes first
Pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Before starting acupuncture or chiropractic we want to understand what is causing the discomfort — which may mean an examination, radiographs, or bloodwork first.
That order matters. A limp that turns out to be a torn cruciate, or a reluctance to jump that turns out to be spinal, needs the underlying problem addressed. These therapies then support that plan; they do not replace it.
Common questions
Who performs acupuncture and chiropractic at Pathways?
Both are provided by Dr. Bonny Henderson, a visiting veterinarian who comes to Pathways once or twice a month. She founded Henderson Equine Clinic in Avon, New York. Because she visits on a schedule, these appointments are arranged in advance — call us and we will place your pet on her next visit.
What are PRP and Arthramid injections?
Both are regenerative joint therapies offered by Dr. Henderson, used mainly for osteoarthritis and joint disease. PRP uses a concentrated preparation made from the patient’s own blood, while Arthramid is an injectable hydrogel that works within the joint capsule. Whether either is appropriate depends on the joint, the diagnosis, and the individual patient, which is a conversation to have with her.
Does acupuncture hurt pets?
Needles used in veterinary acupuncture are very fine and most animals tolerate placement well. Many relax noticeably during a session and some fall asleep. Sedation is not required.
What conditions might acupuncture or chiropractic help?
They are most commonly used as part of a plan for osteoarthritis and chronic pain, certain neurological conditions, and for patients who cannot tolerate some pain medications. They complement conventional diagnostics and treatment rather than replacing them.
Who carries out the rehabilitation program between visits?
Our own team does. Dr. Henderson develops the rehabilitation program, which often includes underwater treadmill work and therapeutic laser, and we perform that work between her visits so the plan continues consistently. She reviews progress when she returns.
How many sessions before we know if it is working?
Effects generally build over a course rather than after a single treatment, so we usually recommend committing to several sessions before assessing whether it is helping. We will tell you honestly if we do not think it is making a difference for your pet.
References & further reading
The guidance on this page follows current veterinary consensus. These are the sources behind it, if you would like to read further.
- About Dr. Bonny Henderson — Henderson Equine Clinic
- Complementary and integrative veterinary medicine — AVMA
- Pain management in animals — Merck Veterinary Manual