Objective

To report using acupuncture to treat head and spinal injured dogs

Material & Method

Three head-traumatized dogs from car accident and another sudden self-neck or head trauma were referred. Dogs were treated by conventional methods for 4-21 days without good response before referring. Chief complaints were tetraparesis (no. 1, 2, 4), blindness (no. 3, 4), rolling (no. 1, 4) and circling (no. 3). Acupuncture using plain needles (no. 0.20 x 15 or 30 mm) as integrative medicine was applied at GV20 LI11 LI4 GB20 BL11 BL23 as major points twice weekly until satisfaction.

Results

Dog no. 1, 3 and 4 were recovered with good signs (in 6 days-2 month duration) such as walking and running. Dog no. 3 (right eye) and 4 (both eyes) were still blinded. Dog no.2 showed head movement stability (13-day duration) with tetraparesis.

Summary

Acupuncture may improve recovery time (11 days in dog no.1, 7 days in dog no.3, and 2 months in dog no.4) and ease tetraparetic patients to achieve normal gait 75% (3 of 4 dogs).