Veterinary acupuncturist brings practice to South Whidbey

If your pet is suffering from a painful ailment, there may be an unusual alternative to a trip to the veterinarian’s office: pet acupuncture.

And as far as pet acupuncturists go, South Whidbey newcomer Richard Panzer’s experience suggests he’s one of the forerunners in the Puget Sound area.

Panzer moved to Langley from Kenmore, where he has operated his house-call practice since 1994, in early November to escape the overcrowded mainland. Panzer has a wealth of experience as a certified veterinary acupuncturist after 30 years of pricking furry friends. He is also a licensed veterinarian, which is required by state law in order to perform acupuncture on animals. According to Panzer, veterinary acupuncture is formally recognized as a method of healing and is more common than one may think.

“As far as veterinary acupuncture is concerned, it’s been formally recognized by veterinary groups since ‘83 or so,” Panzer said. “There is absolutely a lot of acupuncture for pets out there. There’s a lot of pet acupuncturists on the mainland and plenty in China.”

Panzer’s path to veterinary acupuncture is extensive and well-traveled. He began studying traditional Chinese veterinary medicine in 1987 as a veterinary student at Cornell University. Following college, he moved to China where he would further his studies before working at a Taiwanese zoo, where he was able to treat some unusual patients.

“When I was in Taiwan, my boss asked if I could do acupuncture on a 400-pound African lion who was lying on his side for three weeks and unable to get up,” Panzer said. “That was interesting. After we treated him, he was somehow able to rest on his breast bone.”

Panzer’s work caught the attention of researchers at the University of Florida’s veterinary college, who took him on as a graduate student to study acupuncture treatment for horses. He now offers to pass on his knowledge to veterinarians who want to learn acupuncture for pets through the American Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, which he founded.

Panzer says acupuncture has similar results on animals as it does on humans. Treatment is said to relieve general pain, increase longevity and act as preventative treatment. Panzer typically works with smaller pets like cats and dogs who are growing old, suffer from various illnesses or are experiencing pain with arthritis, slipped discs or other ailments. But he also works with performance animals such as horses, whose owners say the treatment improves their overall fitness and wellbeing.

Cathie Vincent, owner of a 25-year-old Morgan horse named Chief, decided to have Panzer treat him for the first time for the overall benefits. Chief was treated with acupuncture as a dressage and liberty horse before, but not with Panzer.

“We have used it as preventative medicine,” Vincent said. “Doing it routinely helps them move more freely in their day to day life.”

Panzer says he does get a few veterinarians who shun acupuncture as a form of treatment, but adds many see its value for treating pain and various ailments. Any resistance to acupuncture comes from those who Panzer says are very western medicine oriented, since the treatment has to do with yin, yang and chi. Yet veterinarians on South Whidbey acknowledge its legitimacy.

“It hasn’t caught on for the general practice, so it’s not something you’ll find everywhere,” South Whidbey Animal Clinic owner Eric Patrin said. “But there’s definitely a place for it and those who see the results are going to be big believers in it, and I think that’s great.”

While most of his clients remain on the mainland, Panzer is trying to build an island client base. His practice is based on house and barn calls, since he says animals are much more relaxed when at home. His rates vary based on what people can pay and how far he has to commute, but says sessions typically are $125. He offers his services from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during weekdays to any animal, chiefly dogs, cats and horses. According to Panzer, acupuncture isn’t for every animal; those that are significantly skittish or jumpy may not take to the treatment as well as more docile breeds.

But he says many would be surprised at how well some animals do, adding that many don’t even feel the needles.

“If it’s not relaxing, it’s not as good for treatment,” Panzer said. “Sometimes people won’t even realize I’ve stuck five needles in their dog and the next thing you know they dog is dozing off.”