Business: Acupuncturists share space, work on people and pets
With the myriad of advertising signs along Northwest Boulevard on the city’s North Side, it’s unlikely that any one of them is going to make a lasting impression.
What with the signs for fast-food franchises, coffee kiosks, fingernail salons, convenience stores, tire shops and so on, the tendency is to ignore them all.
Of course once in a while something will make an impression.
For example, this one in the west 1400 block of Northwest Boulevard. “Acupuncture,” it says on the top line. Not really unusual. “For Pets & People,” it reads just below that. Now that’s different – and look who gets top billing.
“Acupuncturist Veterinarian Nutritionist” provides further explanation on the bottom line.
Access to these services is just off the boulevard at 1428 W. Mansfield Ave. Angela-Marie Slotten, a licensed acupuncturist and nutritionist, and Dr. Rosemarie Asterino, a graduate of Washington State University’s veterinary school, share the premises.
“We’re unusual in that we have facilities here for both people and animals,” Asterino said, stressing that they are not business partners but have distinct practices. They have been at the location since May.
Both women have appropriate credentials, and both possess manners that should provide reassurance to their clients, both people and pets.
Slotten graduated with a Master of Science degree from Bastyr University and passed the national boards in her speciality. So, she has the human clients.
Along with her degree from WSU, Asterino has earned certification in veterinary acupunture from the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. Asterino stresses that it is necessary to be a veterinarian to practice acupuncture on animals. Some reading for patients in the waiting room includes “Acu-Cat, A Guide to Feline Acupunture.” Or “Four Paws, Five Directions – A Guide to Chinese Medicine in Cats and Dogs.” Also “All You Ever Wanted to Know About Herbs for Pets (a guide to Chinese medicine for cats and dogs.)
Slotten said the patients are divided about equally between people and pets, pointing out many of her patients enjoy seeing the animal clients visiting the other treatment room. Asterino treats dogs, cats and birds and even has an appointment coming up with a ferret with a spinal cord injury.
Acupuncture has been used to treat animals for more than 4,000 years, originally on valuable livestock in Asia. It can be used alone or in conjunction with more conventional Western methods for a variety of problems.
Slotten said more athletes, both amateur and professional, are turning to acupuncture for treatment of athletic injuries.
She also offers “smoking cessation” for humans. This procedure focuses on five points on an ear and is repeated in varying intervals after the initial treatment. “This an estimate,” Slotten said, “but if the person comes within 24 hours of not smoking and is determined to quit, this can be effective 85 percent of the time.
Asterino added, with a laugh, “Fortunately, pets don’t smoke.”