Equine Acupuncture - Acupuncture for Horses

Welcome to Dr Lindsey Wedemeyer's Lens on Equine Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a common form of complementary medicine for people, but what about animals? Acupuncture is being used by more and more vets to treat a whole range of problems in animals, especially horses and competition horses. Acupuncture works - its effects in animals show that it does not just work as a placebo, as a horse will not be thinking 'Oh great, I'm going to feel better now I've had these needles in me!'. Read on for more information about how acupuncture is done on horses, how it works and what problems it can treat, from a veterinarian certified in acupuncture and with many years of experience treating horses.

Contents...

What is Equine Acupuncture?
A Huge Variety of Horse Conditions can Benefit from Acupuncture
How is Acupuncture Done on Horses?
Equine acupuncture needles are very fine and similar to human needles, just longer!
What Evidence is there that Acupuncture on Horses Works?
What Conditions in Horses Benefit from Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is useful to keep Performance Horses in Great Condition, as well as Treat Illnesses
Acupuncture for Performance Horses
Find a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist for the Best Care for your Equine Friend
How Do I Find a Veterinary Acupuncturist to Treat my Horse?
Check Out my Other Lenses for More Information on Acupuncture and Chinese Veterinary Medicine
Equine Acupuncture Related Books on Amazon
Vote on Acupuncture for Horses
Basic Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Books on Amazon
Guestbook

What is Equine Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is part of one of the oldest systems of medicine in the world - Traditional Chinese Medicine. It was developed in China over 4000 years ago and is still one of most commonly used medical systems in the world.

Around 5000 years ago, the Chinese developed theories about the pulse, circulation and heart, 4000 years before Western medicine. The Chinese theories were later proved to be correct. The first record of acupuncture is found in the Nei Jing, a 4700 year old book written by the Chinese Yellow Emperor, and thought to be the oldest medical textbook in the world.

The ancient Chinese developed acupuncture techniques for animals as well as for people. The earliest veterinary acupuncture book was written between 659 and 621BC. The Chinese were interested in the treatment of horses for use in war and for transport. They discovered acupuncture points unique to horses (known as classical points) as well as those found in corresponding locations to those on the human body (known as transpositional points).

A Huge Variety of Horse Conditions can Benefit from Acupuncture

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How is Acupuncture Done on Horses?

Acupuncture is done on horses using sterilized, single-use needles that are only 0.18-0.25mm wide. Since these needles are so thin (much thinner than an ordinary hypodermic needle), it is rarely painful and over 95% of patients are comfortable with acupuncture. Humans receiving acupuncture generally report that they feel a sensation of warming, tingling, numbness or heaviness, but not pain. With their owner/handler to comfort and reassure, the vast majority of horses relax and tolerate acupuncture very well. Treatment at the horse's own yard is also very helpful in reducing fear of treatment and the vet! Often the horse will become quite sleepy due to the pain-relieving transmitters released in the brain during acupuncture. Horses benefit from light exercise following acupuncture.

Generally 6-8 treatments are given at weekly intervals, and at least 6 treatments should be given to judge the effectiveness in a particular patient. After the initial course of treatments regular follow-ups may be required to maintain the effect. These are usually given at 4 week to 6 month intervals depending on the patient. Acute conditions may benefit from only 2-4 treatments and generally respond more quickly.

Acupuncture is very safe when conducted by a qualified practitioner. In the UK, and most US states, only qualified veterinary surgeons may administer acupuncture.

Equine acupuncture needles are very fine and similar to human needles, just longer!

What Evidence is there that Acupuncture on Horses Works?

There has been much research on acupuncture in people, and its pain-relieving effects for conditions such as arthitis are now widely accepted. There is increasing research on acupuncture on animals. Much data comes from clinical studies of cases where acupuncture was used on horses and its results. Examples include:

Clinical condition:
Lameness due to acute injury
Result of acupuncture treatment:
96% improved
Over 50% became sound
(Researcher - Xie - a highly respected practitioner and professor at the University of Florida)

Clinical condition:
Chronic arthritis
Result of acupuncture treatment:
Nearly 60% became sound
96% improved
(Researcher - Xie)

Clinical condition:
Muscular atrophy
Result of acupuncture treatment:
87% became sound
nearly 90% improved after acupuncture
(Researcher - Xie)

Clinical condition:
Acute and chronic laminitis
Result of acupuncture treatment:
90% success
(Researchers - Kilde and Kung)

Clinical condition:
Paralysis of various nerves
Result of acupuncture treatment:
Over 90% improved
(Researcher - Xie)

Clinical condition:
Wobblers (before pronounced articular degeneration)
Result of acupuncture treatment:
90% improved
(Researchers - Jeffries and Cain)

Clinical condition:
Chronic back pain preventing work in competition horses
Result of acupuncture treatment:
87% had relief such that they could resume work
(Researchers - Kilde and Martin)

What Conditions in Horses Benefit from Acupuncture?

Musculoskeletal problems:
- laminitis
- chronic lameness, including lameness of unknown origin
- chronic back pain and sacral problems
- arthritis and rheumatism
- tendon problems
- navicular disease
- azoturia ('tying up')
- muscle atrophy
- Wobbler syndrome

Respiratory problems:
- allergies
- chronic cough or nasal discharge
- respiratory infections
- COPD
- nasal bleeding / EIPH

Digestive problems:
- non-surgical colic
- gastro-duodenal ulceration
- proximal enteritis
- diarrhoea
- rectal prolapse

A full examination of any colicking horse must always be carried out to determine if surgery is necessary. Acupuncture must only be used where surgery is not indicated. If surgery is deemed necessary, it must be conducted as soon as possible or the condition may be fatal.

Reproductive problems:
- anoestrus
- irregular cycles in mares
- infertility
- cystic ovaries
- excessive behaviour of mares in season
- uterine infections
- insufficient lactation

Skin conditions
- allergies
- non-healing wounds
- urticaria

Eye conditions
- corneal ulcers
- cataracts
- recurrent uveitis (moon blindness)

Urinary problems
- incontinence
- infections such as cystitis
- kidney disease

Behavioural problems
Since acupuncture considers the whole horse, emotional and behavioural problems can respond to acupuncture and/or Chinese herbs. Often an imbalance from a Chinese point of view will be found where there is no conventional medical problem and so these may benefit the mental problem. Once this imbalance is resolved the horse will generally work and perform to a higher level as well as being easier to manage. For horses which do not tolerate acupuncture due to behavioural problems such as aggression, Chinese herbs may be used alone to good effect. Some forms of head shaking may also benefit from acupuncture.

Other conditions
- facial paralysis
- paralysis of other nerves and areas
- immune-mediated diseases
- jaw pain (causing symptoms such as head shaking and teeth grinding)

Acupuncture is useful to keep Performance Horses in Great Condition, as well as Treat Illnesses

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Acupuncture for Performance Horses

Acupuncture is increasingly used for performance horses, both to treat clinical conditions and maximize sub-optimal performance in the absence of clinical disease. Many racing yards in the US use veterinary acupuncture as part of their general health programs, and veterinary acupuncturists have accompanied several european Olympic Teams.

Acupuncture can be used to aid recovery from stressful events, such as competition and travelling, to boost the immune system and benefit overall health. It is especially useful for niggling problems which are causing loss of performance, but for which there is no effective conventional veterinary treatment. Examples of these conditions include lameness of unknown origin and back pain. In racing horses, acupuncture is an effective treatment for exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (nasal bleeding on exertion), an extremely common condition which limits performance.

A major benefit of the use of acupuncture in competition horses is that no drugs are used. If a horse is treated with drugs, it can be banned from competitions.

Find a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist for the Best Care for your Equine Friend

Buy at AllPosters.com

How Do I Find a Veterinary Acupuncturist to Treat my Horse?

It's important to find a veterinarian who is trained and experienced in equine acupuncture. There are two bodies which certify vets in acupuncture, the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society and the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. Both have lists of certified veterinarians searchable by location. Certification means that the veterinarian has undertaken a theoretical and practical course, passed written and practical exams, spent time working with an experienced veterinary acupuncturist and submitted case reports. Certified veterinary acupuncturists will generally use the letters CVA after their names to signify this.

Check Out my Other Lenses for More Information on Acupuncture and Chinese Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Acupuncture - All about animal acupuncture

Canine Acupuncture - All about acupuncture, specifically for dogs.

Rabbit Acupuncture - All about acupuncture, specifically for rabbits.

Feline Acupuncture - All about acupuncture, specifically for cats.

Cow Acupuncture - All about acupuncture, specifically for cattle.

Gold Bead Implantation at Acupuncture Points - How gold beads implanted at acupuncture points can give long-lasting relief of chronic arthritis pain and epilepsy

Chinese Veterinary Medicine - All about Chinese Herbal Veterinary Medicine

Equine Acupuncture Related Books on Amazon

Kindred Spirits: How the Remarkable Bond Between Humans and Animals Can Change the Way we Live

by Allen M. Dvm Ms Schoen

All about the relationship between animals and their owners, complete with fascinating case studies, by one of the top veterinary acupuncturists in the US.

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 10/10/2008)