About us

DR. claire sosna , dvm, CVA

Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

A smiling woman wearing pink glasses and a pink T-shirt with Scooby-Doo on it standing in front of a window with a sign that reads 'AARC' for a holistic acupuncture and rehabilitation center.

Dr. Claire Sosna has been practicing Veterinary Rehabilitation since 2002, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine since 1998, and Western Veterinary Medicine since 1989. She was the first in San Diego to offer underwater treadmill therapy for pets and has provided rehabilitation services to over 6,000 dogs, cats, and rabbits during her tenure.

Dr. Sosna has been interested in medicine and in helping those in need since she was a child. She received her first BA in Theater and Special Populations from the University of Washington, where she worked to combine her interests in dance and medicine by focusing on supporting those with disabilities to engage in the arts. While working toward her BA, she worked at a veterinary clinic and found it uniquely rewarding to work with animals. After that experience, she decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, earning a BS in Veterinary Science and, subsequently, her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Sosna followed up her DVM education with an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Sosna became certified in Veterinary Acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 1998 and then studied Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine through IVAS in 2001.

In her non-veterinary time, Dr. Sosna enjoys West Coast Swing Dance and Argentine Tango. She also appreciates a good movie, mystery series, and reading science fiction and fantasy novels. Dr. Sosna loves spending time with her son and their two cats, TK (The Kid) and Bolillo.

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Why AARC?

  1. over 24 years of rehab experience

    Dr. Sosna provides best in class care and has been practicing Veterinary Acupuncture and Rehabilitation for over 24 years, on top of her 37 years of experience in Western Veterinary Medicine.

  2. Convenient evening hours and flexible scheduling

    We offer later hours and try to offer scheduling that can meet you when you finish work or even later.

  3. Wide range of specialty services

    AARC offers acupuncture, electroacupuncture, laser therapy, hydrotherapy, therapeutic exercise, Chinese medicine, and thermal imaging all under one roof.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A dog with brown and white fur, brown eyes, and an open mouth with its tongue out, lying on a blue and black speckled surface. The dog is wearing a black collar and leash, next to a purple foam roller, and a green plush toy shaped like a fish.

  • We generally recommend 2 weeks post-op. However, we defer to your surgeon's recommendation because some procedures require more time before starting weight-bearing exercise.

  • As soon as it is safe to transport them to the clinic for treatment.

  • Sometimes, treatment can begin immediately. This can help to control swelling and inflammation before starting therapy to rebuild strength and function. The specific timeline for your pet is determined during your initial consultation

  • In most cases, the answer is yes. The sooner you address your pet’s issues, the more likely they are to improve and maintain their quality of life.

  • Most pets come for therapy twice a week at first, but may gradually reduce the frequency of their visits as they improve. Some of our patients continue therapy to maintain their gains or mobility by coming in every 1-4 weeks. Some patients may come intermittently for upgrades to a home exercise program.

  • If you are coming for physical rehabilitation, we will teach you all the exercises that we recommend for your pet. We provide personal and printed instructions on how to do the home exercises, and you are welcome to record the performance of those exercises. If you choose to follow the home program, you will likely see faster and more complete results in your pet’s recovery. 

  • Most pet insurance companies do cover our services. However, a few of them may require that you have added an additional rider to your pet’s policy to cover acupuncture or rehabilitation, which some companies consider to be “complementary care.” For the most accurate information please contact your insurance provider.

  • We offer discounts for combining select services in a single visit. We also offer package discounts when you prepay for 5, 10, 15, or 20 sessions at once. Please visit our services page to view our pricing and discount chart.

  • We accept MasterCard, VISA, Discover, debit cards, and Apple Pay. CareCredit, Scratch Pay, checks, and cash are also accepted.