Dogs getting acupuncture

After his initial massage, veterinarian Nicole Karrasch encourages Hurricane to lie down. He’s reluctant at first, but eventually gives in and flops to the floor.   (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
Hurricane the dog
Veterinarian Nicole Karrasch opens a pack of sealed needles and begins to insert them into a few specific areas along Hurricane’s body. She explains that she is targeting points associated with certain muscles, nerves and blood vessels. Stimulating these points allows the nervous system to modulate itself. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
However, after a few minutes pass, Hurricane obviously feels something. He rolls over on his back and relaxes completely. The back half of his body even slides off the bed and onto the floor.  (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
However, after a few minutes pass, Hurricane obviously feels something. He rolls over on his back and relaxes completely. The back half of his body even slides off the bed and onto the floor. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
Chocolate, a miniature dachshund receives acupuncture therapy to help with lumbar disk herniation, at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital on April 12, 2013 in Tokyo Japan.  (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Chocolate, a miniature dachshund receives acupuncture therapy to help with lumbar disk herniation, at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital on April 12, 2013 in Tokyo Japan.   (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Chocolate a miniature dachshund receives laser acupuncture therapy to help with lumbar disk herniation, at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital on April 12, 2013 in Tokyo Japan.  (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Chocolate a miniature dachshund receives laser acupuncture therapy to help with lumbar disk herniation, at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital on April 12, 2013 in Tokyo Japan.   (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Veterinarian Satoshi Okada prepares the acupuncture needles before treatment, at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital.  (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Veterinarian Satoshi Okada prepares the acupuncture needles before treatment, at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital.   (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
A dog receives acupunture treatment at a animal hospital on July 29, 2005 in Bundang, South Korea. The classical Eastern explanation for how acupuncture works is that channels of energy or Qi run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface. These channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam that backs up, creating imbalance and pain. Stimulating the acupuncture points can influence the meridians; the acupuncture needles unblock the obstructions at the dams, and reestablish the regular flow through the meridians. Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points located near or on the surface of the skin which have the ability to alter various biochemical and physiological conditions in order to achieve the desired effect. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
A dog receives acupuncture treatment at a animal hospital on July 29, 2005 in Bundang, South Korea. The classical Eastern explanation for how acupuncture works is that channels of energy or Qi run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface. These channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam that backs up, creating imbalance and pain. Stimulating the acupuncture points can influence the meridians; the acupuncture needles unblock the obstructions at the dams, and reestablish the regular flow through the meridians. Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points located near or on the surface of the skin which have the ability to alter various biochemical and physiological conditions in order to achieve the desired effect. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - APRIL 12:  Veterinarian Satoshi Okada prepares the acupuncture needles before treatment, at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital on April 12, 2013 in Tokyo Japan. The number of pet dogs in Japan has been increasing steadily to 11.5 million animals, almost one-fifth households. One-tenth of Japanese families have at least one dog, according to the survey of Japan Pet Food Association.  (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Veterinarian Satoshi Okada prepares the acupuncture needles before treatment, at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital on April 12, 2013 in Tokyo Japan. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - APRIL 12:  Oreo, a Bulldog receives acupuncture therapy to help fix his flow of Qi energy enhance his self healing power at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital on April 12, 2013 in Tokyo Japan. The number of pet dogs in Japan has been increasing steadily to 11.5 million animals, almost one-fifth households. One-tenth of Japanese families have at least one dog, according to the survey of Japan Pet Food Association.  (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Oreo, a Bulldog receives acupuncture therapy to help fix his flow of Qi energy enhance his self healing power at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital on April 12, 2013 in Tokyo Japan. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - APRIL 12:  Vanilla anxiously watches Chocolate, a miniature dachshund receive acupuncture therapy to help with lumbar disk herniation, at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital on April 12, 2013 in Tokyo Japan. It would be the first ever treatment for Vanilla. The number of pet dogs in Japan has been increasing steadily to 11.5 million animals, almost one-fifth households. One-tenth of Japanese families have at least one dog, according to the survey of Japan Pet Food Association.  (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Vanilla anxiously watches Chocolate, a miniature dachshund receive acupuncture therapy to help with lumbar disk herniation, at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital on April 12, 2013 in Tokyo Japan. It would be the first ever treatment for Vanilla.   (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
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Hurricane the dog
However, after a few minutes pass, Hurricane obviously feels something. He rolls over on his back and relaxes completely. The back half of his body even slides off the bed and onto the floor.  (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
Chocolate, a miniature dachshund receives acupuncture therapy to help with lumbar disk herniation, at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital on April 12, 2013 in Tokyo Japan.  (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Chocolate a miniature dachshund receives laser acupuncture therapy to help with lumbar disk herniation, at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital on April 12, 2013 in Tokyo Japan.  (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Veterinarian Satoshi Okada prepares the acupuncture needles before treatment, at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital.  (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
A dog receives acupunture treatment at a animal hospital on July 29, 2005 in Bundang, South Korea. The classical Eastern explanation for how acupuncture works is that channels of energy or Qi run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface. These channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam that backs up, creating imbalance and pain. Stimulating the acupuncture points can influence the meridians; the acupuncture needles unblock the obstructions at the dams, and reestablish the regular flow through the meridians. Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points located near or on the surface of the skin which have the ability to alter various biochemical and physiological conditions in order to achieve the desired effect. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - APRIL 12:  Veterinarian Satoshi Okada prepares the acupuncture needles before treatment, at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital on April 12, 2013 in Tokyo Japan. The number of pet dogs in Japan has been increasing steadily to 11.5 million animals, almost one-fifth households. One-tenth of Japanese families have at least one dog, according to the survey of Japan Pet Food Association.  (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - APRIL 12:  Oreo, a Bulldog receives acupuncture therapy to help fix his flow of Qi energy enhance his self healing power at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital on April 12, 2013 in Tokyo Japan. The number of pet dogs in Japan has been increasing steadily to 11.5 million animals, almost one-fifth households. One-tenth of Japanese families have at least one dog, according to the survey of Japan Pet Food Association.  (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - APRIL 12:  Vanilla anxiously watches Chocolate, a miniature dachshund receive acupuncture therapy to help with lumbar disk herniation, at the Marina Street Okada animal hospital on April 12, 2013 in Tokyo Japan. It would be the first ever treatment for Vanilla. The number of pet dogs in Japan has been increasing steadily to 11.5 million animals, almost one-fifth households. One-tenth of Japanese families have at least one dog, according to the survey of Japan Pet Food Association.  (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
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