AJTCVM

American Journal of
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

Prevalence, Clinical Features and Chinese Herbal Medicine Prescription Patterns of Equine Patients Treated in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital with Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine: A Retrospective Study

Junjie Liu DVM, PhD; Mushtaq A. Memon DVM, PhD; Aituan Ma DVM, PhD; Justin Shmalberg DVM, DACVN, DACVSMR

Abstract

The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the prevalence of equine patients treated with traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM) in a veterinary teaching hospital (VTH) and to investigate the relationship between their clinical signs, signalment and prescribed treatment. A total of 3,604 equine patients with a total of 8,123 appointments were seen over a 4-year period. The prevalence of horses receiving TCVM treatments was 4.9% and accounted for 7% of all equine appointments. Musculoskeletal disorders were the most common clinical presentation for both TCVM treatment (51%) and Western Medical (WM) treatment (29%). Study results demonstrated the proportion of musculoskeletal cases treated with TCVM was significantly higher (p <0.01) than WM proportional caseload. There were also significant differences (p<0.01) in proportional caseload when comparing TCVM and WM for dermatology, behavior, surgeries and ophthalmology along with significant differences (p<0.05) for reproduction and dental disorders. Additionally, all horses with emergency appointments (n = 23) were significantly more likely to be treated with WM compared to treatment with TCVM (p <0.01). Evaluation of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) prescription patterns revealed 8 clinical categories where 75% of horses were CHM treated and in categories such as dermatology, behavior and reproduction, there was 100% treatment of clinical cases. Though still a small percentage, TCVM is seeing an increase in VTH equine treatment prevalence. The authors conclude that TCVM is experiencing increased acceptance by both VTH and equine owners as a standalone or adjunct therapy to conventional medicine to treat common equine problems.

Keywords
Citation
Liu J, Memon M, Ma A, et al. Prevalence, clinical features and Chinese herbal medicine prescription patterns of equine patients treated in a veterinary teaching hospital with traditional Chinese veterinary medicine: A retrospective study. Am J Trad Chin Vet Med 2019; 14(2):45-54

Prevalence, Clinical Features and Chinese Herbal Medicine Prescription Patterns of Equine Patients Treated in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital with Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine: A Retrospective Study

Junjie Liu DVM, PhD; Mushtaq A. Memon DVM, PhD; Aituan Ma DVM, PhD; Justin Shmalberg DVM, DACVN, DACVSMR

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