DOGS line Up to get 1,000 Year-Old Therapy in Tokyo!

Chocolate, a Mini-Dachshund receives acupuncture for a disk herniation | Getty Images

DOGS just, like humans, can become vulnerable to ailments and physical impairments in every sense. In 2012, the U.S. spent $13.67 billion on veterinarian costs alone, according to the APPA (American Pet Products Association). With costly therapy sessions involving surgery, more and more pet owners are seeking alternatives. One Tokyo animal hospital is offering cutting edge alternative therapy that's having dogs lining out the door!

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat pets in both
China and Japan | Getty Images

The Marina Street Okada Animal Hospital in Tokyo is one of many hospitals in Asia that treats dogs with the thousand year-old practice of acupuncture, a treatment in traditional Chinese medicine with historical references of Hieroglyphs and drawings that date back to the Shang Dynasty, around 1,500 BC.

Chocolate patiently waits as he is being given needles on his head | Getty Images

The clinic treats its patients (dogs) with traditional acupuncture, along with the cutting edge technology of laser acupuncture therapy. According to the Japan Pet Food Association, number of dogs in Japan has been increasing steadily to 11.5 million animals, almost one-fifth households. One-tenth of families in Japan have at least one dog.

The waiting room at the Marina Street Okada Animal Hospital | Getty Images

Acupuncture for animals have been around for centuries, according to the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, and is common in Japan.

Dog acupuncture is used mainly to relieve pain from musculoskeletal problems such as slipped lumbar discs, arthritis and nerve damage, skin allergies, gastrointernal problems and respiratory problems such as asthma. With costly vet bills that face millions of dogs owners in the US, dog acupuncture is an alternative that is slowly gaining acceptance in the US.