The Use of Acupuncture to Successfully Treat Hip Pain and Behavioural Symptoms in a Young Large Crossbreed Dog with Canine Hip Dysplasia

Authors: Underwood C
Publication: Complementary Veterinary Medicine Branch Newsletter, Volume 2020, Issue Summer, pp 15-27, Dec 2020
Publisher: Complementary Veterinary Medicine Branch of the NZVA

Animal type: Dog
Article class: Clinical Article

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Abstract:

Acupuncture treatments improved the clinical signs of hip pain, hind limb weakness and gait abnormalities, as well as behavioral symptoms of inactivity during the day, nocturnal restlessness, insomnia, violent dreaming, and aggression, in a one-year-old neutered male large crossbreed dog with hip dysplasia. Acupuncture was implemented on April 17th, 2018, from which time the dog was treated with acupuncture weekly for four sessions, and treatments have since continued beyond these sessions every one to three months if the clinical signs begin to reappear. Improvements in the patient’s demeanor, gait, activity levels and body condition were reported by the owner after each treatment and continued to steadily improve until the fourth treatment, at which point no more improvement was seen, and ongoing treatments have been aimed at maintaining the patient’s comfort at this level.

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