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.