Horses have been receiving acupuncture for almost as long as
people have—since the practice began in China some 2,500 years ago. As beasts
of burden, horses were of tremendous value to the Chinese, and their health was
almost as important as that of their owners. Today veterinary acupuncturists
can treat nearly any animal, from a bear to a porcupine to a dog. Training
courses, such as those from the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society,
teach licensed veterinarians how to incorporate acupuncture into their
practice. 
Acupuncture is thought to have arrived in the U.S. in the 1800s with the
immigration of Chinese doctors. It wasn't until the 1970s, however, that
acupuncture's popularity began to take hold. Though limited studies qualify it
as evidence-based medicine, those who practice acupuncture say that the effects
can be explained in physiological terms.Veterinary acupuncture has been performed on both domesticated pets and zoo animals. The latter must be sedated while the needles are inserted, but most pets are accepting or unfazed.
