Proceedings of the 9th international symposium on veterinary rehabilitation and physical therapy

Abstract

Background: Hip osteoarthritis in canines is a common diagnosis. The prevalence in adult dogs is estimated to be 20 percent. The primary treatment is usually an NSAID. Acupuncture as treatment for pain conditions is commonly used within human medicine and is becoming more frequently used within veterinary medicine. Acupuncture studies that show the pain relieving effects in animals are few, which make it important to elucidate the effects of this treatment method. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of acupuncture in relation to function, passive range of motion, thigh circumference and palpation for pain in a ten year-old German Shepard dog with x-ray verified left sided osteoarthritis of the hip. Materials and methods:The study was conducted with a single subject experimental ABA-design. Twice before the first treatment (A1-baseline) function, passive range of motion (PROM), thigh circumference and palpation for pain were assessed. The dog then received three acupuncture treatments, once a week (B1-3-intervention). The choice of points in order of insertion was Bai Hui intraspinal L7-S1, BL 25 bilateral, BL 23 bilateral, and GB 30 left. The needles were stimulated during insertion as well as before removal. During intervention, PROM was measured after each treatment. Seven days after the last acupuncture treatment the same examination that was conducted initially was conducted again (A2-evaluation). Data were analyzed with 2SD-line where all the results that orient above 2SD-line are significant. Celeration line shows the trend before, during and after the intervention. Results: The results showed decreased symptoms regarding limpness and rigidity and normalized functional tests, improved passive range of motion in the left hip joint (Fig. 3), decreased pain of the outer part of passive extension, increased thigh circumference bilaterally, and decreased pain with palpation. Conclusions: The single subject experimental design has great clinical applicability for the scientist-practitioner and can provide clinicians with useful information. This single subject experimental design indicates that acupuncture seems to have an effect on dogs with hip osteoarthritis. Further studies with larger study groups need to be conducted to be able to make evidence-based treatment decisions.

Is ECLIA Serum Cortisol Concentration Measurement, an Accurate Indicator of Pain Severity in Dogs with Locomotor Pain?

“…However, cortisol levels after propofol administration seem to restore to premedication levels after 24 h, whereas medetomidine seems to have no influence on them. Atipamezole triggers a faster recovery to premedication levels of cortisol [30][31][32].…”