Acupuncture treatment for hind leg lameness in a ferret

Abstract

A geriatric ferret with a complicated medical history (adrenal disease, kidney disease, hindlimb lameness/weakness, chronic diarrhea, urinary incontinence) was presented for traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM) evaluation. A thorough conventional medical work-up had been performed but financial resources were unavailable for specialty referral. The owner, however, still wanted her pet to have a good quality of life for as long as reasonably possible. The ferret was a good candidate for acupuncture given that TCVM theory explained many of the clinical abnormalities. The owner’s most significant concern was the patient’s mobility and pain; therefore, the TCVM Patterns of Kidney Qi Deficiency and local Qi Stagnation were the focus of the initial TCVM visits. Aside from the deslorelin implant, the owner elected to discontinue all traditional medications. Improvements noted in the patient’s quality of life correlated with the acupuncture therapy received. Over a 2-month period and 5 acupuncture sessions, the patient’s mobility and urinary incontinence improved and complete resolution of the diarrhea occurred. At the conclusion of care for this patient, a recommendation for continuing TCVM was made with acupuncture treatments every 1-2 months along with disease monitoring with conventional diagnostics. This case is an excellent example of the medical benefits of acupuncture in an exotic companion mammal.