Acupuncture Combined with Chinese Medicine Iontophoresis Treatment for Chronic Progressive Cervical Intervertebral Disk Disease in a Dog.

Abstract

CASE REPORT: A 12-year-old castrated male dog with nonambulatory tetraplegia was diagnosed with spinal stenosis at C3-C4 through X-ray examination and with ventral extradural spinal compression at C3-C4 through myelography and computed tomography. The diagnosis of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine was local Qi and blood stagnation, spleen Qideficiency, blood deficiency, and kidney Yang deficiency. We initiated treatment using a combination of acupuncture and Chinese medicine iontophoresis with laser therapy. After 12 treatment days, there was a significant improvement in the dog's ambulation function, which was indicated by proper walking and flexible head-turning. CONCLUSION: This indicates that combining acupuncture and Chinese medicine iontophoresis could be a potential treatment for chronic progressive cervical intervertebral disk disease in dogs.