Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leech therapy for treating arthritis and injuries in dogs cats
By Sobczak, Natalia & Kantyka, Magdalena·Published in Annals of parasitology·2014·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hirudotherapy in veterinary medicine.
Plain-English summary
A dog with hip dysplasia or arthritis might benefit from a treatment called hirudotherapy, which uses medicinal leeches to help reduce pain and inflammation. The saliva of these leeches contains substances that can improve blood flow and promote healing. This painless procedure typically lasts between 30 to 120 minutes, depending on the dog's size, and is often used when other treatments haven't worked well. Many pet owners have found success with leech therapy, especially after surgeries or when dealing with chronic conditions.
People also search for: dog hip dysplasia treatment · leech therapy for dog arthritis · hirudotherapy for pets · dog pain relief options · medicinal leeches for dogs
Abstract
The saliva of medicinal leeches, e.g., Hirudo medicinalis and Hirudo verbana commonly used in hirudotherapy, contains more than 100 bioactive substances with various therapeutic effects, including anticoagulant, vasodilator, thrombolytic, anti-inflammatory and anaesthetic properties. Recently, leeches have been used very successfully in veterinary medicine to treat many diseases of animals, especially dogs, cats and horses. The most common indications for the use of leeches are hip and elbow dysplasia, acute and chronic arthritis, diseases associated with inflammation of tendons, ligaments, and fascia, diseases of the vertebrae and the treatment of scars. Leech therapy is a painless procedure which takes an average of 30 to 120 minutes, the time being dependent on the size of the animal. All leeches used in medical procedures should originate only from certified biofarms. The maintenance of sterile conditions for the culture, transport and storage of medical leeches is very important to protect animals from microbial infections. Hirudotherapy is successfully used in veterinary medicine, especially when traditional treatment is not effective, the effects of treatment are too slow, or after surgery, when the tissues may be threatened by venous congestion.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25115059/