‘TREAT THEM GENTLY’:
Many animals recover from conditions that seemed impossible to treat, pet owners said, although the furry patients might be scared at first
Strapped in tight, the prone poodle nervously eyes the vet, who gently sticks fine needles into its back and paws, summoning the ancient art of acupuncture to treat the pet’s aches and pains.
Duniu is just one of a growing number of animals being signed up for traditional medicine in China — care their masters have said is less invasive and comes with fewer side effects than conventional treatments.
In one Beijing practice, pets of all shapes and sizes come for treatments.
Photo: AFP
“The advantage of traditional Chinese medicine is that there is no surgery,” 38-year-old Zhai Chunyu said, accompanied by Duniu, his poodle. “The animal’s suffering is reduced.”
At just three years old, Duniu suffers from Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, which affects the thigh bone and can lead to painful osteoarthritis.
“He was in so much pain that he could no longer put his paw on the ground” and “had no appetite,” said Zhai, who works in finance.
“A doctor advised me to have the head of the femur removed, but I didn’t want to because I have another poodle who has been there and he suffered a lot from the operation and the after-effects,” Zhai said.
A friend advised him to try acupuncture.
“After five to six sessions, we saw the results. Duniu manages to walk and even run a little now,” Zhai said.
Animal acupuncture is centuries old in China, said veterinarian Li Wen, who founded his practice in 2016.
“Traditional Chinese medicine is not intended to replace conventional medicine” because “both have their strengths” and are complementary, he said.
Before starting the treatment, the vet first checks the animal’s body, examines its eyesight and the color of its tongue, takes its pulse and asks its owner questions.
He then plants his needles at acupuncture points specific to dogs and cats.
“Out of the 10 animals that I receive on average every day, there are always one or two who rebel,” Li said. “You have to communicate with them, treat them gently, reassure them that you’re not here to hurt them.”
Recordings of soft bamboo flute music and the chirping of birds are played at the clinic to help the animals relax.
Li mainly deals with cases of paralysis, limb weakness, epilepsy, pain and urinary retention.
However, acupuncture can also be used for ailments when no other treatment is available.
That was the case with Xiaomei, a 12-year-old male Labrador suffering from nerve compression in his lower back.
“Last September, after swimming, he was unable to get back on his feet. A veterinarian then told us that it was impossible to treat and that he would become paralyzed,” his owner, Ma Li, said.
“Thanks to acupuncture, he still has difficulties, but can walk normally and even run.”
“The first time, he was scared,” said Yang Lihua, a 65-year-old retiree accompanied by her Pekingese Niannian, who has a herniated disc.
“Now he loves it! After the session, he is so relaxed that he sleeps in the car on the way home,” Yang said.
The acupuncture market for animals remains limited for the moment, Li said, adding that “since 2016, it has been gaining popularity.”
“As education levels, living conditions improve and incomes rise, more and more people are realizing the benefits of this medicine,” Li said.
Ma’s Labrador jumps into the back seat of his owner’s car after his session, looking content.
“Doesn’t he look happy?” she exclaimed.
Comments will be moderated. Keep comments relevant to the article. Remarks containing abusive and obscene language, personal attacks of any kind or promotion will be removed and the user banned. Final decision will be at the discretion of the Taipei Times.
Beijing pets benefit from acupuncture & Latest News Update
Beijing pets benefit from acupuncture & More Live News
All this news that I have made and shared for you people, you will like it very much and in it we keep bringing topics for you people like every time so that you keep getting news information like trending topics and you It is our goal to be able to get
all kinds of news without going through us so that we can reach you the latest and best news for free so that you can move ahead further by getting the information of that news together with you. Later on, we will continue
to give information about more today world news update types of latest news through posts on our website so that you always keep moving forward in that news and whatever kind of information will be there, it will definitely be conveyed to you people.
Beijing pets benefit from acupuncture & More News Today
All this news that I have brought up to you or will be the most different and best news that you people are not going to get anywhere, along with the information Trending News, Breaking News, Health News, Science News, Sports News, Entertainment News, Technology News, Business News, World News of this made available to all of you so that you are always connected with the news, stay ahead in the matter and keep getting today news all types of news for free till today so that you can get the news by getting it. Always take two steps forward
Credit Goes To News Website – This Original Content Owner News Website . This Is Not My Content So If You Want To Read Original Content You Can Follow Below Links