Use of acupuncture in veterinary practice

Dijana Divjak

Use of acupuncture in veterinary practice

Dijana Divjak

Blue Oasis Veterinary Clinic, UAE

: J Vet Sci Med Diagn

Abstract

Acupuncture represents the ancient art of medicine, used long time ago primary in ancient China. These days it is implemented in medical practice as part of integrative medicine to treat or to support treatment. It was used for thousand years for human and domestic livestock, but in cats and dogs it was used only for about last 30 years. There are several mechanisms of acupuncture effect. There is first local response, but then it spreads down meridians (most of them which are located on long nerves) to effect most of the body and at the end there is effect on endocrine and immune system. In practice, it is frequently used in geriatric patients with changes on bones and joints, where use of NSAID (non steroidal anti-inflammatory medication) or steroid use is reduced or completely stopped, pain relief and general wellbeing is in that case fully replaced by traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (acupuncture, herbal therapy, Tui-na massage, food therapy). Acupuncture is also widely used to support treatment of internal organs, like for example renal failure. I would like present few cases to explain how I used it for renal failure in cat, for complete recovery of radial nerve paralysis in cat, case of spondylosis and case of cruciate ligament rupture.