Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Acupuncture treatment for dogs with distemper nerve damage
By Santos, Bianca P C R et al.·Published in Journal of acupuncture and meridian studies·2022·Department of Veterinary Surgery and Anesthesiology, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effects of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Dogs with Neurological Sequels of Distemper Virus.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 24 dogs infected with the distemper virus and showing neurological issues received acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatments once a week for 24 weeks. Owners noticed improvements in their dogs' movement, mental status, and even urinary function over time. By the end of the treatment, many dogs showed significant recovery, with some regaining normal responses in their limbs and pain sensations. This suggests that acupuncture could be a helpful option for dogs dealing with long-term effects of distemper.
People also search for: dog distemper recovery · acupuncture for dog neurological problems · dog urinary issues after distemper · dog movement problems treatment
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acupuncture (AP) has been empirically used to relieve post-canine distemper virus (CDV) infection neurological signs in veterinary clinics. OBJECTIVES: This clinical study aimed to investigate the effects of AP combined with electroacupuncture (EA) on neurological function in dogs infected by CDV. METHODS: Twenty-four CDV-infected dogs with neurological sequelae were recruited to receive weekly AP/EA sections for 24 weeks. Neurological improvements were assessed before each AP/EA session using a modified scoring system. Data were analyzed using the McNemar test, Friedman test, Fisher's exact test, and Kaplan-Meier curves (< 0.05). RESULTS: Neurological scores improved from seven to 24 weeks after AP/EA treatment compared with pretreatment scores (< 0.001). Significant improvements were recorded over time for functional limb recovery, cranial nerve deficits, mental status (= 0.025 - 0.014), and urinary function (< 0.001). Myoclonus was improved and entirely reversed in 75% and 25% of the dogs, respectively. At the end of treatment, the proportion of dogs with normal proprioception, posture, hopping (< 0.001), and superficial pain sensation responses (= 0.004) was greater than pretreatment values. CONCLUSION: AP/EA therapy promoted significant neurological recovery in CDV-infected dogs and may be considered within the chronic phase of the disease to improve motor and sensory rehabilitation. However, these results are preliminary and must be confirmed by further investigations.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36521772/