Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Acupuncture and herbs used for dogs and cats with muscle, nerve
By Shmalberg, Justin et al.·Published in Journal of acupuncture and meridian studies·2019·Department of Comparative, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine and Feline Patients Referred Exclusively for Acupuncture and Herbs: A Two-Year Retrospective Analysis.
Plain-English summary
A study looked at 161 dogs and cats that were referred for acupuncture and herbal treatments at a veterinary hospital. Most of the patients were dogs, with common issues like joint pain, neurological problems, cancer, and skin conditions. Cats tended to be older and were more often treated for cancer. The treatments included acupuncture, herbal supplements, and other methods like electroacupuncture. This research helps understand how these alternative therapies are used in pets, but it doesn't provide specific outcomes for individual pets.
People also search for: dog acupuncture benefits · cat cancer treatment options · herbal supplements for dogs · acupuncture for joint pain in pets
Abstract
Acupuncture and the administration of herbal supplements are increasingly used in veterinary practice, but no retrospective studies have examined patient characteristics and treatment interventions in a population of dogs and cats presenting exclusively for such therapies. This two-year retrospective analysis of 161 referrals to an integrative medicine service at an academic teaching hospital found that dogs were more frequently treated than cats (91.9% vs. 8.1%, respectively) and that small animal patients most frequently were presented for musculoskeletal (26.7%), neurologic (16.8%), oncologic (14.9%), and dermatologic (10.6%) conditions. Cats were older than treated dogs (12.7 ± 3.7 vs. 9.5 ± 4.3 years) and more likely to be treated for oncologic complaints (odds ratio = 5.6). Patients received acupuncture (95.4%), herbal supplements (76.4%), acupuncture with percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (electroacupuncture, 26.1%), and/or cyanocobalamin injections in acupuncture points (pharmacopuncture, 23.6%). Some differences were detected between treatment groups. This retrospective analysis provides a foundation for designing future prospective studies using acupuncture and herbs in dogs and cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31028973/