Most of the time, they're not much different if not feeling better. Sometimes, on the first exam, they may feel sorer or be more tired for the first 24 hours. That can be expected because, a lot of times, we are loosening up very tight muscles. It's almost like your muscles might be a little sore after you get a really good massage.

I tell my clients that I don't expect to see results for at least a minimum of three to five sessions. However, some clients do notice that after one session, they see significant results.

Most dogs tolerate it very well. As you can see here with my friend Hallie, it's just a simple stick with the needle that I put into a specific spot. Some dogs may be a little more nervous. There are even some biting dogs, and I've had to occasionally use a muzzle. We sometimes use treats as a distraction too. There are some dogs who do not tolerate it very well. I've found one or two, but 90% of my pets love acupuncture and even sometimes fall asleep during acupuncture.

It really depends. Usually, the first session lasts anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. After that, subsequent sessions will last anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes or so.

There really isn't much to prepare for. In fact, I tell owners to try not to stress out. I feel like owners sometimes worry more about it, but they just need to come in as a normal exam.

There are definitely chew toy options. There are water additives and other things that you can do at home to brush their teeth if you can't actually brush. As I said, all of those things are going to be useful. I would say those things aren't as good as brushing, but they are still helpful.

Dogs can get cavities. It's not very often that we see that because they don't eat the sugary things that we often eat that help break down that enamel to allow cavities. They can get them, and they can be fixed, though most people opt to just remove that tooth if that's the case.

Brushing their teeth will be far superior to anything you can give them. So yes, if you are able to brush your dog's teeth and you're willing to do that, even if you give them treats, I would still recommend that you brush.

No, human toothpaste is not meant to be swallowed, and most dogs will not spit it out for you, so you definitely always want to use dog toothpaste. Most dog toothpaste is flavored with something they're going to like, such as chicken or beef or something like that, so most of the time, it's not mint. It's going to be a flavor that they really enjoy.

They make specific toothpaste for dogs, and I always recommend using one of those products.