“Red”  13 year old Arabian gelding, competes in endurance riding

Red developed a left front lameness in 2007 which was ultimately diagnosed via digital radiology as calcification irritating the nerves exiting the spinal cord around his C5 – C6 vertebrae at the base of his neck.  Deep injections of steroids were performed to reduce the inflammation around the nerves.  This worked well and Red was able to restart training.  However, the American Endurance Ride Conference regulations do not allow competition with any drugs in the horse’s system, so he could not compete for 45 – 60 days after an injection.  Acupuncture treatments to reduce inflammation, increase Qi flow through the neck, and nurture the bones and nerves started pre-training  in 2008.  Monthly treatments for maintenance, with occasional more frequent sessions as clinical signs (neck stiffness and mild left front lameness) occur, have kept him sound for the 2008 competition season.  He has been finishing well in all his rides.

“Zeigen”  9 year old male Large Munsterlander dog, used for upland bird hunting

Zeigen ruptured the cranial cruciate ligaments in both rear legs several years ago, with the injuries occurring about 1 year apart.  Surgical correction was not an option for his owners, although this would be the preferred treatment.  He was treated conservatively with rest and anti-inflammatory medications.  He did well at home, but quickly became too lame to hunt.  Over the past several years, he has developed arthritis in both joints, which has helped the stability of the joints but causes some chronic pain with more severe pain with over-exertion.  Acupuncture treatments to address chronic pain, the joints themselves, and bones and ligaments throughout the body, have made Zeigen much more comfortable in general.  He also receives occasional anti-inflammatory medications, as well as a daily joint supplement and herbal remedy.  Zeigen is able to continue hunting every fall, with some reductions in the length of hunts and difficulty of terrain.

“Guinness” 11 year old Arabian gelding, used for pleasure riding, trail, & dressage

Guinness developed saddle fit problems and the loss of forward impulsion in August 2008.  The saddle fit was addressed at that time, but Guinness had not returned to his previous level of performance by February 2009, despite conscientious effort by his rider to improve his use of his back and hindquarters and Western herbal therapy.  Guinness would exhibit a significant shortening of his stride and refuse to reach his hind legs underneath himself.  Guinness was diagnosed with a Qi blockage in his back, which is preventing him from using either his back or his hindquarters effectively, and therefore also causing heat & soreness in his shoulders & neck.  After just two biweekly acupuncture treatments, Guinness is amazingly improved.  Guinness is engaging his hindquarters, lifting & engaging his back, and is a happier horse.  Treatment is continuing for Guinness currently.

“Shaili” 10 year old female Pug, competes in agility

Shaili  has chronic hip dysplasia in both hips and arthritis of her left front shoulder.  Shaili is a very vibrant and active dog and her owner would like to improve her mobility and reduce discomfort to continue agility training.  Shaili receives electroacupuncture and aquapuncture with Adequan on a monthly basis.  Shaili continues to show lameness on her left front shoulder, but it is improving since treatment began.  Shaili has shown a impressive increase in mobility of her hips since beginning acupuncture therapy, and now has a normal gait in her hind legs.  Shaili is very sensitive to needle placement and requires the smallest needles that I use.  She wiggles and squirms, making placing the needles difficult.  Once the needles are in place and the electrostimulation unit is turned on, Shaili shows a marked response to her electroacupuncture sessions, becoming very quiet & relaxed for the duration of treatment. Once treatment is concluded, however, she is running & bouncing again!

“Patches”  aged Shire mare, used for pleasure riding & driving

Patches has had chronic respiratory disease (“heaves”) for many years, and also develops a scabby, itching skin condition in the winters.  Patches began acupuncture therapy during the winter of 2008, at which time her breathing was normal but her skin condition was flaring up.  Her regular veterinarian has been unable to identify an underlying cause for the skin condition, and it tends to improve somewhat with various conventional skin therapies, but always returns.  The mare is so itchy that she rubs bald patches in her coat and even makes herself raw in those areas.  Patches received biweekly dry needle acupuncture to begin, treating her skin and overall well being.  Her skin condition gradually improved, with less itching as time went by.  In the spring, all the scabs & crusts were gone and she did not seem itchy.  Typically, Patches’ breathing worsens in hot, humid weather and she requires steroid therapy to reduce the inflammation in her lungs.  Even with treatment, she often has severe episodes of respiratory distress throughout the summer.  Through the summer of 2008, Patches received acupuncture treatment every 4 -6 weeks and a low dose of maintenance steroid therapy.  She had no episodes of severe respiratory distress in 2008 at all.  She continues to receive periodic acupuncture sessions for wellness, and her chronic winter skin condition has not returned.  

“Greta” 13 year old female German Wirehaired Pointer

Greta began urinating large amounts of clear urine frequently, including having accidents in the house and on her bed.  Her regular veterinarian was able to identify that Greta’s kidneys are not concentrating her urine normally, but the cause is unknown.  Greta began weekly electroacupuncture treatments to strengthen her kidneys, support her bladder, and boost her overall well being.  She also began a Chinese herbal formula for kidney support.  After 4 treatments, Greta was only rarely having accidents in the house.  Greta continues her herbal therapy and receives acupuncture treatments approximately once a month.  

“Diego” 12 year old male mixed breed dog

Diego has severe, debilitating degenerative joint disease in multiple joints.  His most severely affected joints are his knees, elbows, and spine in the mid-back region.  He has been receiving twice daily anti-inflammatory therapy, daily joint supplements, and strong pain relievers as needed.  Diego began acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy in June 2008 and continues treatment on a biweekly schedule.  We have been able to reduce Diego’s medication to once daily and decrease the frequency that he requires the strong pain relievers.  Diego’s overall mobility is greatly improved with regular treatments.  He will lick his front legs when they are painful, and after a session of laser acupuncture his licking stops for about 10 days.  He also receives electroacupuncture and aquapuncture with Adequan to nourish his joints, as well as a Chinese herbal therapy to promote smooth flow of Qi through his joints.  Our treatment goal for Diego is to reduce his dependence on medications and improve his quality of life.  

This is a radiograph of one of Diego's elbows.  His chest is to the top right in the image, and his paw is to the bottom left. The bright white circular area in the center is the end of the humerus (upper arm bone) where it forms the hinge joint of the elbow.  The two bones extending downwards are the radius and ulna (forearm bones).  This elbow joint is severely affected with degenerative joint disease (arthritis) and shows extensive calcification around the joint as well as cartilage loss.  A normal joint should be smooth and crisp to look at; this joint is "fuzzy."  

“Charley”  1 year old male Persian cat

Charley has been diagnosed with a skin condition called idiopathic facial dermatitis of Persian cats.  He sees a veterinary dermatologist along with his regular veterinarian.  No one knows what causes this condition and it is considered a lifelong problem.  Charley develops inflamed skin with lots of flaking, crusty areas around his ears, eyes, lips, and chin. He has been on multiple courses of antibiotics for secondary skin infections, as well as steroids for inflammation, and a special medication to suppress his immune system.  He can only tolerate small doses of the special medication because he develops a rare side effect of swollen gums. To reduce his dependence on medication and increase his quality of life, we began treating Charley with infrared laser acupuncture therapy in the summer of 2009.  Charley has responded remarkably well to the infrared laser therapy, which we apply locally to the affected areas, and hasn’t required antibiotics since we began treatment.  During stressful times, he occasionally has flare-ups of his condition, but we are able to maintain his skin in a very “quiet” phase the majority of the time with a low dose of medication and laser treatments several times per week.  His owner applies most of these treatments on an ongoing basis.

“Fred”  9 year old male Siamese cat

Fred has chronic kidney failure and was in intensive care for several days in the fall of 2009, after which he was not expected to live.  Fred came home and started weekly acupuncture treatments with dry needling and aquapuncture with vitamin B12.  He was extremely thin, lethargic, dehydrated, and with no appetite when we began treatment.  Currently, he has gained weight back to his normal weight, he eats regularly, his skin & coat are shiny and healthy, his laboratory tests for kidney function have improved, and he has excellent energy levels.  Fred continues to receive acupuncture approximately once a month for maintenance.  

“Time”  23 year old Arabian gelding

Time spent the summer of 2008 on multiple medications for an allergic respiratory condition called “heaves” as well as recurrent insect bite allergy leading to whole-body hives.  His owner was concerned about the potential side effects of these medications, and we began biweekly acupuncture treatments in the spring of 2009 before the bug season started.  Our goal was to reduce the amount of medication Time needed during his difficult summer season.  We treated him throughout the summer and fall, and he never required any medication at all for the entire season.  He had no episodes of hives, and only a few episodes of difficulty breathing which were resolved without medication.  We look forward to another good summer for Time, and are continuing with maintenance acupuncture sessions every 6 – 8 weeks through the winter.  Time really loves his acupuncture sessions, often dozing while his needles are in.