|
Although still regarded as experimental, veterinary
acupuncture has been shown to be clinically safe and
effective modality for specific conditions if used properly
and competently.
The most common uses for acupuncture in small animals
are
- paralysis and pain associated usually with ruptured
disks or trauma;
- large dog paralysis or weakness caused by disk
rupture, spinal instability, or degenerative myelopathy
(common to the German Shepherd breed);
- pain caused by
hip dysplasia and resulting arthritis;
- other arthritic pain conditions;
- conditions not responding to conventional therapy,
including allergy, epilepsy (seizures), stomach and
intestinal problems, nerve injuries, and miscellaneous
pain syndromes.
Treatment by an individual competent in the art of acupuncture
is essential. Your veterinarian may be able to
refer you to a qualified individual in your area. Most
Veterinary teaching institutions now have acupuncture
capability.
In cases of acute injury, treatments every 2 to 3 days
is usually necessary. Improvement varies on the
situation and frequency of treatments. In chronic
conditions, improvement is generally slower until the
desired effects are seen.
In two large scale studies, acceptable improvement
was seen in 50 % to 64 % of the cases treated.
Most of these cases had previously been un-responsive
to more conventional therapies.
|
