AJTCVM

American Journal of
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Treatment for Neck Pain and Cervical Disc Disease: A Retrospective Study in 42 Dogs

Donna Hein DVM, MS-TCVM

Abstract

Cervical intervertebral disc disease accounts for 12.9-25% incidence of intervertebral diseases in dogs. This retrospective cohort study compared the efficacy of conventional treatment to traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM) for neck pain and/or cervical disc disease (CDD). Medical records were collected on 42 dogs that exhibited one or more of the following clinical signs: cervical pain, cervical stiffness, decreased range of motion of neck, hemiparesis or tetraparesis. Qualified cases were classified into a TCVM Treatment Group (n=31) using acupuncture/Chinese herbal medicine or a Control Treatment Group (n=11) using corticosteroids/non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). For each subject, assessment scores in cervical pain, stiffness, range of motion, neurological deficits and front limb lameness before and after 4 treatments were reviewed. The sum of all 5 clinical scores (overall improvement) was used as the final treatment outcome measurement for group comparisons. No statistically significant group differences were found in sex, age, weight and pre-treatment overall clinical score (p>0.05). The Control Group had an overall pre-treatment score (M±SD) of 8.36±3.07, which significantly improved (decreased) to 4.91±3.73 after completing the treatments (p=0.006). The TCVM Group’s overall score (M±SD) improved from 9.39±3.13 to 1.23±0.72 (p=9.3×10-10). The improvement in the TCVM Group was significantly greater than the Control Group (p=0.00004). The results from this retrospective study suggest that, while both treatment schemes can improve clinical signs of cervical pain and/or cervical disc disease in dogs, the TCVM treatment has the potential for superiority to conventional medical treatment.

Keywords
Citation
Hein D. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine treatment for neck pain and cervical disc disease: A retrospective study in 42 dogs. Am J Trad Chin Vet Med 2022; 17(2): 29-37. DOI: 10.59565/001c.81914

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Treatment for Neck Pain and Cervical Disc Disease: A Retrospective Study in 42 Dogs

Donna Hein DVM, MS-TCVM

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