Acupuncture for dogs, spas for cats… Dubai pet owners splash out

From acupuncture to hydrotherapy, and relaxing spas to animal behaviourists, pet owners in Dubai are ensuring their canines and felines get a more refined, holistic treatment.

It’s no longer about just heading to the vet or signing up for surgery, residents find impactful, non-drug treatments that works wonders for their canine friends.

Hydrotherapy is one such treatment that uses a safe method to cure the patient of “mobility problems, pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation, injury prevention and rehabilitation, obesity and weight loss management, hip dysplasia, increasing body awareness, balance, coordination and geriatric arthritis sufferers”.

That could be straight out of an advertising literature of a hospital aimed at well-heeled patients. Only, in this case, the patient in question happens to be a canine.

Gui Palanque, who set up the service at Dogwalk Centre on Jumeirah Beach Road, insists that this specialized Jacuzzi treatment is remarkably beneficial for dogs.

“It has the same benefits as for humans. The sessions are deeply beneficial for arthritic dogs helping them build and relax muscles and joints,” she explains.

“It also helps in pain management post-surgery.”

The session is conducted by a qualified hydrotherapist, who remains in the temperature-controlled pool during the entire 20-30 minute session.

A single session costs Dh160, and monthly membership packages can be purchased at discounted rates. A five-day week plan for a month costs Dh2,700.

During the hotter months, the centre offers a fun swim for dogs. “It is to help dogs exercise indoors, when the weather outside is too hot.

“A five-minute swim is equivalent to walking for an hour,” she elaborates. A 20-minute fun swim costs Dh95.

Gui also chalks out unique spa therapies to ensure the dogs are “relaxed and energised”.

Starting at Dh200, the Thalassotherapy massage ensures the dogs are cleaned up in a special mud treatment.

Even cats are treated to special spa treatments. Paws Pet Planet in Dubai offers specialised grooming and relaxation treatments for the felines.

Acupuncture and homeopathy treatments are also hot on the radar.

At the Modern Veterinary Clinic Dubai, Dr Renata Maik, an accredited animal acupuncturist cures injured dogs and cats through this age-old Chinese healing technique.

It is greatly beneficial to help them control pain control, stiffness, lumbosacral pain, urinary incontinence, constipation, dermatology and vestibular disease informs the website.

“The concept is getting popular now. Some people are still a bit wary but others trust the method when they start seeing the results,” reveals Dr Maik.

The first consultation is charged at Dh160 and the first acupuncture session is Dh130.

Dr Maik elaborates about a certain case of how she cured a dachshund with crossing back legs. “We started using acupuncture to reduce the pain, but within four-to-five sessions, he started walking normally.

“It is amazing. It is when you witness such recoveries that you start reiterating your belief in the treatment.”

A cat owner claimed acupuncture helped in healing her pet of a complicated skin disorder, and all it took was a 45-minute session. 

The clinic also offers homeopathic treatment for animals, but Dr Maik admits it’s still not openly accepted. “When they see the tiny pills, the pet owners aren’t entirely sure if it will work or not.”

Some pet owners even opt for animal behaviourists to help sort minor setbacks in their personalities that can be linked to more serious medical conditions.

Qualified animal behaviourists are crucial in such cases, and are appointed following a trip to the vet.

Paws Pet Planet links pet owners with the experts after the vet has advised an assessment. “We work directly with the owner and the vet to diagnose and treat (the) dog or cat,” reads their website.

There’s also laser therapy that’s popular. This drug-free option is mostly used to heal muscle injuries and reduce pain, and works by stimulating the body cells responsible for tissue repair, post-surgery trauma, pain reduction and inflammation.

[Image via Shutterstock]

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