Herbie – a  Trenton Terrier – was abandoned and landed in a shelter at three weeks old. At the time, she was emaciated, covered in fleas, and so hungry that she got into something toxic at the shelter, leaving her with seizures.  Fortunately the veterinarian who worked to save her  eventually  took her home as a rescue pup.  Because she was so loving, a child named her  ” Herbie the Love Bug.”

There’s nothing quite like a whippoorwill’s call at dusk to let you know the night is coming. It’s a lonely echo in the woods that has captured the imagination of song-writers, poets and authors – a metaphor for rural America.  

Artists and writers such as Jim Croce (“I’ve got a Name), Washington Irving (“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”), Randy Travis (“Deeper than the Holler”) and many others.

But few people have actually seen a whippoorwill, because of its camouflage that mimics bark and dried leaves, as well as its nocturnal habits. It looks something like a dwarf owl, with tiny feet and a flattened head. With its coloring and spiky tufts of feather, some think it looks a bit like a Texas horned toad.

Another interesting fact about whippoorwills is their Latin family name: Caprimulgus. It literally means “goatsucker.” That’s because the Europeans who named this order of birds thought that they sucked milk from goats.

Interestingly this is the same name as the folk legend creature Chupacabra, which also means “goatsucker” in Spanish. But in this case, the chupacabra is a vampire that sucks blood from goats.

Whole tissue supplements and glandular therapies involve feeding glands, organs or tissues from healthy animals to patients. Supplements are given either as fresh tissue or as tissue extracts in the hope that the supplement contains constituents that will help improve the function of the corresponding organ in the patient. 

What is the history of whole tissue supplementation in medicine, and in veterinary medicine?

The history of glandular or tissue therapy has its roots in ancient cultures, as exhibited by the common belief that the health or function of a specific body part could be enhanced by consuming the same organ from a specific animal.  The practice was accepted to varying degrees as modern civilizations advanced.  With the development of endocrinology (the study of hormones, glandular organs and their function), and the understanding of the actions of hormones on the body, glandular therapy acquired a basis in science, and gained popularity as a form of medical treatment. The modern use of thyroid hormone supplements in hypothyroid patients, and even porcine insulin in diabetics, can be seen as stemming from this historical practice. 

As chemists and biochemists developed improved analytical and extraction methods, the medical profession embraced the use of pharmacologic doses of pure hormones and other pharmaceutical agents for therapy, either as natural or synthetic products.  Physiologists, nutritionists, and medical professionals accepted the idea that other tissue constituents such as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates were not absorbed intact, but were broken down into their amino acid, fatty acid or simple sugar components.  Consequently, the scientific community generally abandoned glandular therapy in favor of pure drug treatments.  

The principal challenge to oral glandular therapy was the lack of evidence that large molecules were absorbed intact across the intestinal wall, and that there was no evidence that ingested materials could exert specific effects (either sparing effects or healing effects) on target tissues.  However, radioactive and dye studies have demonstrated that large hormones, enzymes, proteins and peptides are routinely absorbed intact or only partially degraded, and that these constituents can concentrate in target tissues.  Laboratory studies have documented a more rapid uptake of tagged cells or their components by traumatized organs than normal organs, leading to enhanced healing rates. These observations have lead to the resurgence of interest in whole food supplementation, or glandular therapy, as a method of promoting tissue sparing and cellular repair in specific disease states. 

Veterinary use of whole tissue supplements has paralleled its use in the human field.  In recent decades, holistic practitioners have begun to employ glandular therapy and whole tissue supplementation in immune-mediated and degenerative disorders that are often refractory to conventional therapies. 

How can glandular therapy benefit my pet?

Whole glandular products and tissues are good sources of enzymes, fats, steroids, nutraceuticals and proteins.  Low doses of supplemental enzymes and hormones such as the levels that would be found in these tissues or extracts may have a sparing effect on functional health problems such as hormone deficiency, without suppressing the body’s natural production.  This is in contrast to the use of high doses of purified hormones are administered pharmacologically, and are believed to inhibit further hormone production by the body itself. Oral administration of tissue extracts from healthy sources may have the potential to slow the progression of degenerative disease or to promote healing of damaged tissues. 

On which species of animals is glandular therapy or whole tissue supplementation practiced regularly?

Modern theories about the activity of glandular products are based on research in laboratory animal species.  Glandular therapy has been demonstrated to be effective in treating problems with immune-mediated diseases and specific organ dysfunctions in the laboratory animals.  Species variation in the molecular composition is apparently not a limiting factor in most instances – in other words, there is no indication that tissues derived from one animal species are ineffective in a patient of other species.    

The use of pancreatic enzyme supplementation from pancreatic tissue extracts is a common form of veterinary therapy for a condition known as Exocrine Pancreatic Deficiency in dogs.  Although the enzyme activity was thought to be limited to the lumen of the intestinal tract, there is now evidence that the enzymes are reabsorbed and re-circulated in the body (a process called enteropancreatic circulation). Once absorbed into the circulation, absorbed enzymes can sometimes contribute to other reactions in other organs. 

For the past several decades, a number of holistic veterinary practitioners have used glandular therapies for the treatment of companion animals, primarily dogs and cats.   Most of these therapies use oral freeze-dried concentrates of selected tissues to treat degenerative conditions.  Clinical trials demonstrating efficacy have not yet been performed.   

How successful is glandular therapy or whole tissue supplementation?

Research suggests that glandular therapy and whole tissue supplementation have the potential to be successful forms of therapy for immune-mediated diseases or degenerative conditions.  Anecdotal evidence of success has been reported, but success rates have not been documented. 

How safe is whole tissue supplementation or glandular therapy?

There are no apparent side effects of this form of supplementation.  Theoretically, patients sensitive to meat from certain species may exhibit allergic reactions to glandular extracts from the same species.  Because of this potential, a small test dose should always be administered prior to administering full dose regimes.  Glandular therapy or whole tissue supplementation may be contraindicated in severe kidney disease, liver failure and acute infections.  Its effect on pregnancy is unknown.  

There may be safety risks associated with the transfer of viruses from one species to another, especially when fresh tissues are fed. (Mad cow disease or bovine spongoencephalopathy virus can be transmitted in this manner).  Using tissues only from non-intensively reared or certified sources may reduce this risk.  It appears that freeze-drying may minimize or eliminate some of these risks by controlling or assuring sterility while preserving the cellular contents.  

What is the cost of whole food supplementation or glandular therapy?

The cost of this supplementation will depend upon the form of supplement that is used.  Whole fresh tissues may be readily obtained and relatively inexpensive but may be less safe.  Freeze-dried concentrates or extracts are safer and may have more predictable consistency of contents, but are more costly.  

Can whole food supplementation or glandular therapy be combined with other types of veterinary medicine?

There are no known concerns about combining this form of supplementation with other treatments.  However, when multiple forms of therapy are used simultaneously, it can be difficult to know which treatment is producing which effect on the patient.

White willow bark (salix alba) is the source from which aspirin is extracted. It is often used as a natural substitute for aspirin in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain and inflammation, and in the prevention of blood clots. 

Why recommend administration of white willow bark to my pet?

White willow bark might be recommended as a pain-reliever and anti-inflammatory agent for pets with various disorders, especially arthritis. 

How much experience is there with the use of white willow bark in pets?

Herbalists have successfully used white willow bark for many years to relieve arthritic pain and inflammation in pets. 

What species of animals are being treated regularly with white willow bark?

Mainly dogs are treated. The herb can be toxic to cats due to its significant content of salicylates. As with aspirin, white willow bark should be used in cats only in small amounts. Aspirin and white willow bark may be used in cats at risk for thromboemboli (clots) secondary to cardiac disease. 

How much research has been conducted on this supplement?

Most of the experience in dogs is based on clinical experience rather than well-conducted research. Two studies in 2000 confirmed a clinical benefit of willow bark in the relief of pain in small animals. 

How safe is white willow bark? 

It is safe in dogs when used as directed but poses potential toxicity when used in cats. It should only be used under veterinary supervision in pets as it could conceivably aggravate the side effects of related medications, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin. 

Where do I obtain white willow bark and do I need a prescription?

Your veterinarian may have preferred supplements that he or she will recommend. Pet owners are cautioned against buying supplements without knowledge of the manufacturer, as supplements are not highly regulated and some supplements may not contain the labelled amount of ingredients. A prescription is not needed for white willow bark.

Chitosan

Chitosan is a dietary supplement derived from the chitin shells of crustaceans. Chitin is of interest as a weight loss supplement because it chemically bonds to fat, ostensibly reducing its absorption from the gut into the body. While such an effect is plausible, it has proved difficult to demonstrate. In two studies, the amount of fat that chitosan caused to be excreted in the stool was too small to result in significant weight loss. In one study, no increase in stool fat excretion was observed at all. Chitosan failed to produce significant weight loss when used by itself to treat obesity in placebo-controlled studies. When used in tandem with other methods such as dietary restriction and education, however, chitosan significantly increased weight loss compared to placebo controls. 

Another inconsistently demonstrated effect of chitosan is a reduction of serum cholesterol. Reductions in insulin resistance, serum triglycerides and blood glucose were observed in laboratory animals when a low molecular weight chitosan extract (chitosan lactate) was used. 

Conjugated Linoleic Acid          

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) supplements are a blend of linoleic acid isomers that appear to promote increased lipid oxidation or fat breakdown through as yet unknown mechanisms. Whereas chitosan is generally considered by researchers to be ineffective, results with linoleic acid supplementation are considered much more promising. Several studies have shown a reduction in abdominal fat mass following use of CLA, although in some randomized studies, the overall body mass index (an indicator of obesity) was not significantly changed. Japanese studies have demonstrated that CLA may increase overall metabolic rate, with the burning of fat occurring to simply generate body heat. One placebo controlled study of CLA in people showed that weight gains after dieting tended to be in lean body mass rather than fat. CLA also appears to have immune stimulating and anti-cancer effects. Products high in cis-9, trans-11 linoleic acid tend to be safer and have a better effect. 

Pyruvate

Pyruvate, like CLA, is considered to have promising effects in promoting weight loss through as yet unknown mechanisms. Pyruvate is believed to increase the metabolic rate, particularly when administered in high doses. (Generation of ATP via catabolism of blood sugar and fat in the Kreb’s cycle appears to be increased when pyruvate is present in high levels.) 

Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA)

Hydroxycitric Acid, also called HCA, is a product extracted from the rind of the Tamarind, which is the fruit of the Garcinia camborgia tree. It suppresses hunger and helps prevent the body from turning carbohydrates into fat by inhibiting the ATP-citrate lysase enzyme. Placebo-controlled clinical studies of HCA in humans have shown a mild benefit in some cases and no benefit in others. HCA appears to be of more consistent effect when administered to animals. 

How much experience is there with the use of weight loss supplements in pets?

Virtually no research has been conducted on the effects of these supplements in dogs and cats. It is reasonable to expect, however, that they would be similar to effects observed in humans and laboratory animals. Even clinical experience with these supplements is lacking, although chitosan has been used by some veterinary internists to chelate fat with the apparent benefit of reducing tendencies to pancreatitis. Clinical experience with pyruvate and CLA in obese dogs and cats is still lacking. 

How safe are weight loss supplements?

Chitosan appears to be very safe for use in dogs and cats. Adverse effects in some humans receiving chitosan include mild nausea and constipation that resolves when the supplement is discontinued. Certainly chitosan should be avoided in all animals known to be allergic to shellfish. The small effect of chitosan on excretion of fat in the feces makes it extremely unlikely that it will contribute to malnutrition from loss of the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E). 

Linoleic acid also appears to be safe for use in animals, with a reversible increase in fat metabolite deposition in the liver occurring only at very high doses. Certain isomers (trans-10, cis-12) of conjugated linoleic acid in CLA supplements may actually promote insulin resistance and the risk of diabetes, although the reasons for this are not yet clear. Fortunately, these isomers are present in much lower levels in CLA compared to the isomers with favorable effects. 

Pyruvate and HCA appear to be non-toxic when used according to manufacturer’s directions. It is important to note that no long-term studies on the adverse effects of chitosan, pyruvate and linoleic acid have been conducted. 

Where do I obtain weight loss supplements and do I need a prescription?

Your veterinarian may have preferred supplements that he or she will recommend. Pet owners are cautioned against buying supplements without knowledge of the manufacturer, as supplements are not highly regulated and some supplements may not contain the labeled amount of ingredients. CLA supplements that are certified to be free of trans-10, cis-12 isomers are desirable, as are low molecular weight chitosan supplements. A prescription is not needed for chitosan, CLA, HCA or pyruvate. 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete system of medicine developed to prevent and treat disease.  Its roots are in writings and practices which were developed over millennia. TCM uses acupuncture, herbs and other natural substances, acupressure, food therapy, meditation and exercise to treat disease and maintain health.  

The Chinese medical view is that each living creature is a small part of the infinite universe, and is subject to the same laws that govern the rest of the cosmos.  Therefore, an understanding of health requires an understanding of the laws of nature. The practitioner views health as a state of harmony existing between the internal environment of the body and the external environment it lives in.  Unfavorable climactic conditions, emotional upset, physical trauma, infectious organisms, poor nutrition, inappropriate lifestyle, heredity, and other pathogenic factors are capable of disrupting this state of harmony.    

TCM developed a metaphoric or schematic model for how the internal body operates that incorporated the same principles of balance and harmony that govern the ecology of the natural world. Health and disease are viewed simply as two different self-perpetuating cycles, both of which are resistant to change. Organ interactions are the stepping stones in each cycle. When they are mutually supportive, the spinning of the cycle allows the organism to throw off illness. When they are mutually antagonistic, the spinning of the cycle makes the organism resistant to all but therapies which directly address the stepping stones in the cycle of disease. From the TCM perspective, chronic disease is not chaos, but a highly stable state, which explains why it is so difficult to resolve. 

Most medical systems in the world except modern medicine lacked definitive knowledge about the inner workings of the body due largely to cultural taboos. In order to address illness in the absence of detailed medical knowledge, most cultures developed schematic or metaphoric models for how the body worked. Almost all of these systems believed that individuals have inherent strengths and weaknesses. Since we are born with these weaknesses, they are viewed to pervade our systems and to have somehow contributed to most of our health problems, even if they appear to result in unrelated diagnoses from a conventional perspective. These weaknesses are echoed in everything, including our behaviors, our appetites, our childhood illnesses, and even how our tongue looks or our pulse feels. Chinese medical diagnosticians take a comprehensive history and perform a detailed physical examination to disclose as many of these manifestations as possible. The goal is to understand what metaphoric mechanism can best explain all that has happened or is currently going on with a patient. This dynamic is then treated, usually using acupuncture, herbs, or diet. 

Preventive measures, such as appropriate diets, improved relationships, and healthier lifestyles, are then introduced to compensate for these specific weaknesses and reduce disease susceptibility in the future. 

What is the history of Traditional Chinese Medicine in veterinary medicine?

TCM has been used in Eastern cultures to treat humans for thousands of years, and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) has used the same concepts and methods of diagnosis and treatment to treat animals for a similar period of time.  In China, practitioners of veterinary medicine undergo an exhaustive training program in TCVM, which parallels the training programs for practitioners of TCM.  

In the Western world, veterinary practitioners of TCM have generally taken auxiliary training in the theories and practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine after receiving their veterinary degrees.  Although complete mastery of TCM demands years of study under expert teachers, the basics of TCM can be learned in condensed courses and applied to clinical cases with good results.    

On which species of animals is Traditional Chinese Medicine practiced regularly?

TCM is regularly practiced on all species of domesticated animals.  

Who practices veterinary Traditional Chinese Medicine and do I need a referral?

Because of differences between animals and humans in their anatomy and physiology, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association both consider the practice of herbal therapy and acupuncture to be the practice of veterinary medicine.  As a type of veterinary medicine, it can only be practiced by a licensed veterinarian, or under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, according to the regulations in the specific jurisdiction.  

Practitioners of veterinary TCM should possess the necessary training and experience in this form of medicine.  In North America, as veterinary TCM becomes more accepted, there are an increasing number of veterinarians in private practice who possess the necessary training and experience.  In many cases, referral is not necessary.  

What conditions are most often treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine?

TCM can be used to treat almost any disorder except those which absolutely require surgery.  Acupuncture can be useful to achieve sedation or anesthesia in patients, thus reducing the need for anesthetic agents in some surgical procedures.  Typical conditions that can be successfully treated with TCM include inflammatory bowel disease, hormonal disorders, epilepsy, allergies, cancer, kidney and liver failure, behavioral problems, and chronic lameness, just to name a few. 

How can my pet benefit from Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Ironically the value of TCM in the treatment of disease in a modern world lies in its use of somewhat arcane concepts and its general metaphoric approach to medicine. Whereas a response to a particular drug may not imply the appropriateness of any preventive measures, a response to an herbal formula or acupuncture treatment frequently suggests that a particular diet might be helpful. Lifestyle measures that have the same metaphoric impact can be introduced, resulting in continued improvements and stability after acupuncture, herbs, and even drugs are withdrawn. When herbs and other treatments are found effective, their mechanisms of action can be researched. Frequently, new mechanisms of disease are discovered that can be applied to the development of new conventional treatments. TCM should thus not be viewed as a competitor of conventional medicine, but a source of inspiration. 

How successful is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

TCM is very successful in the hands of the appropriately trained practitioner.  The success of the treatment of chronic conditions will vary according to the age of the patient, prior treatment history, degree of pathology and commitment to incorporating all facets of TCM into the patient’s lifestyle.    

How safe is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

When used by properly trained practitioners, TCM is safe and adverse reactions are uncommon.  If administered incorrectly, therapies can worsen conditions rather than improving them.  Caution should be used if the patient is pregnant or has serious illness. 

What is the cost of Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Comprehensive TCM treatment involves a thorough history taking and physical examination, followed by a patient assessment and formulation of a treatment plan.  It rarely involves a single visit, and costs will vary according to the specific condition being treated, the need for acupuncture or traditional medicines and the response of the patient.  The fees associated with diagnosis and treatments are set by the individual practitioner, and will often reflect the skill, experience and training of the practitioner.  In some cases, use of TCM in the treatment of chronic disease may result in considerable savings compared to the costs of conventional treatments. 

Can Traditional Chinese Medicine be combined with other types of veterinary medicine?

While it is possible and even common practice to combine TCM with other treatment modalities, inappropriate combinations with some types of medicine may cause side effects.  Combinations of treatment can make if difficult to determine what is working well, or whether the different treatments are interfering with each other.  

As a complete and well-developed system of medicine, TCM is highly effective as the sole form of treatment for most conditions except those requiring surgery, and is used that way by skilled practitioners.  TCM practitioners have the knowledge and skill to understand the interactions between different forms of treatment and to interpret the patient’s response to therapy.  If your pet is receiving treatment from a practitioner other than your regular veterinarian, it is imperative that both individuals are kept updated about the ongoing treatment in order to provide coordinated care of your pet, to allow proper evaluation of treatment and to minimize avoidable interactions.   

How can I find out more information about veterinary Traditional Chinese Medicine?

The most efficient way to find current reference materials, links, and referral lists is to consult the Alternative Veterinary Medicine website at www.altvetmed.com.

Physiotherapy, also known as physical therapy, involves the use of specific non-invasive treatments (massage, exercise, light, heat, cold, electricity, ultrasound, laser, magnetic therapy, hydrotherapy, etc.) to rehabilitate injured patients.  The goal of physiotherapy is to return the patient to normal function as quickly as possible, and to restore the full range of movement and strength to injured body parts.  The underlying principle of physiotherapy is that the least effective treatment for injury is excessive rest, and that stimulation of circulation through areas recovering from injury promotes an optimal rate and degree of healing.   

What is the history of physiotherapy in veterinary medicine?

Although various forms of physical therapy have undoubtedly been used for centuries on animals, the foundation for its use as an applied science is very recent.  The American Association of Equine Practitioners established a set of guidelines for the practice of physical therapy on horses in 1993.  

On which species of animals is physiotherapy practiced regularly?

Physiotherapy is practiced regularly on horses, especially equine athletes.  As a form of treatment, it is beginning to be used in dogs, and could easily be applied to other animal species.  

Who practices veterinary physiotherapy and do I need a referral?

Physiotherapists can only treat animals under the direct supervision of a veterinarian, following a veterinary diagnosis and in accordance with state or provincial veterinary regulations.   Currently, there are no established courses of instruction for physical therapy in animals, and therefore there is no certification process to ensure competency.  

If a veterinarian is performing the treatments, referral may or may not be necessary.  If a non-veterinarian will be the therapist, the patient must be referred by a veterinarian, who will then assume responsibility for assessing and coordinating the patient’s care.  

What conditions are most often treated with physiotherapy?

Acute and chronic injuries are amenable to treatment.  Electrical stimulation has been shown to relieve pain, minimize muscle atrophy (degeneration) secondary to disuse due to pain or immobilization, treat laminitis (a condition of the horse’s hoof), reduce tissue swelling, and speed healing of both open and closed wounds.  Iontophoresis, which uses electricity to push therapeutic ionic substances into injured tissue, has shown promise in the treatment of various inflammatory conditions of the musculoskeletal system.  Therapeutic ultrasound can be used to stimulate tissue repair and minimize the formation of scar tissue and adhesions.  External application of ice and compression wraps is effective not only as a first aid treatment but also to break the pain-muscle spasm-pain cycle common to many musculoskeletal injuries.  

How can my pet benefit from physiotherapy?

The appropriate application of physiotherapy will speed healing, relieve pain, and improve the patient’s likelihood of a full recovery.  

How successful is physiotherapy?

As a technique to reduce pain and speed healing, the various forms of physiotherapy can be very effective.  

How safe is physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy has the potential for doing significant harm in the hands of individuals with inappropriate education and training.  

What is the cost of physiotherapy?

Comprehensive physical therapy requires an initial veterinary assessment and formulation of a treatment plan, which usually consists of a series of treatments.  The cost of treatment will reflect both the equipment being used and the skill and experience of the practitioner and therapist.  The actual fees are set by the individual practitioner.  

Can physiotherapy be combined with traditional veterinary medicine?

Physiotherapy is most appropriately used in combination with either traditional or alternative forms of veterinary medicine.  A licensed veterinarian should formulate the overall treatment plan, following the appropriate diagnostic examination and assessment of the patient.  Follow-up evaluations are necessary to determine the individual’s response to treatment and adjust the therapy accordingly.  If your animal companion is receiving physiotherapy from an individual other than your regular veterinarian, that person must report directly to your veterinarian in order to provide coordinated care of your companion, to allow proper evaluation of treatment and to minimize any avoidable interactions or interferences.   

How can I find out more information about veterinary physiotherapy?

Currently, there is little specific information available about veterinary physiotherapy. As the field develops, information should become more accessible.  Your veterinarian should be able to assist you in evaluating the suitability of specific therapy for your companion animal.  

As a form of physiotherapy, massage therapy is the application of specific hand movements on a patient or recipient to improve muscle and joint function by relieving tension, spasm, or other restrictions to proper motion.  It may be used for warm-up purposes, for relaxing or stimulating muscles in order to prevent injury, or for rehabilitation of a patient after an injury has occurred. Massage is also used to compensate for impaired circulation by augmenting the normal flow of blood and lymphatic fluid. Finally, massage is used to stimulate the function of various internal organs through reflexively linked and externally located portals of access, often termed acupressure points and trigger points. 

What is the history of massage therapy in veterinary medicine?

While the desire to touch animals is probably one of the first things we are aware of from the time we are newborn, massage therapy itself has been relatively recently adopted as a therapeutic modality by veterinary medicine, and borrows heavily from techniques used in human massage therapy.  A few of the more common techniques include trigger-point massage, craniosacral therapy, acupressure, friction massage, and passive range of motion therapy.  

On which species of animals is massage therapy practiced regularly?

Sports massage (massage directed at athletes to prevent injury) is used widely to prevent injury in horses before competitions.  Passive range of motion (flexing and extending a limb for example) is prescribed as a form of physiotherapy following certain injuries and orthopedic procedures in small animals, especially in dogs. Veterinarians use acupressure on most mammals and even some reptiles. 

Who practices veterinary massage therapy and do I need a referral?

Most veterinarians possess the expertise to instruct clients on how to maintain mobility through passive limb movements in convalescing patients. Other massage techniques and applications are much more specialized, and require additional training. Acupressure will often require some formal training in Chinese medical theory. Specific courses in veterinary massage therapy are available to help veterinarians learn trigger point therapy, sports massage and friction massage. Massage on animals can also be performed by a licensed veterinarian after a diagnosis has been reached, and in accordance with state or provincial veterinary acts.  If a non-veterinarian will be performing the treatment, the patient must be referred by a veterinarian, who will then assume responsibility for assessing and coordinating the patient’s care.    

What conditions are most often treated with massage therapy?

Both acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries may respond to massage therapy, especially as a complement to other forms of specific treatment. Acupressure can be used as an adjunct therapy for any condition. When used for rehabilitation, the patient’s treatment must have been preceded by a veterinary examination and complete diagnosis, including assessment of any other health concerns. 

How can my companion animal benefit from massage therapy?

When performed as part of a comprehensive treatment package, massage therapy may minimize injuries and enhance the patient’s recovery speed.  Animals with decreased mobility from chronic injuries may benefit from massage therapy with improved range of motion and/or decreased pain.  Massage increases circulation and nerve stimulation both where it is applied and also internally in any reflexively associated internal organs.

How successful is massage therapy?

The success of massage therapy, especially as it relates to sports massage, is difficult to measure or validate except when evaluated through controlled clinical trials. Such research is currently lacking in veterinary medicine. The current acceptance of massage therapy as promoting faster recovery from injuries is largely based on clinical experience. 

How safe is massage therapy?

When performed by a trained professional, massage therapy is extremely safe. If it is done incorrectly, massage can cause intensify pain or muscle spasms, resulting in worsening of the original condition or in secondary injuries. 

Massage therapy must never be performed on open or infected wounds, on torn muscles, on joints affected with inflammatory arthritis, or if the patient has a fever. 

What is the cost of massage therapy?

Comprehensive massage therapy rarely involves a single visit, and costs will vary according to the specific condition being treated and the response of the patient.  Before massage therapy is prescribed, a veterinary practitioner must diagnose the condition being treated.  The fees associated with massage therapy are set by the individual practitioner, and often reflect the experience, skill, and training of the therapist.  Once the veterinary practitioner assesses the response to treatment, the client may be shown how to administer selected massage treatments to the patient between therapy sessions. 

Can massage therapy be combined with other types of veterinary medicine?

Massage therapy integrates well into a treatment plan that utilizes either traditional or alternative forms of veterinary medicine.  If a non-veterinary massage therapist is used, the veterinarian and massage therapist must communicate to combine their knowledge and skill to develop an appropriate treatment plan.  If your companion animal is receiving massage therapy from a practitioner other than your regular veterinarian, it is imperative that both individuals are kept updated about the ongoing treatment in order to provide coordinated care of your pet, to allow proper evaluation of treatment and to minimize any avoidable interactions or interferences.   

How can I find out more information about veterinary massage therapy?

Currently, there is little specific information available about veterinary massage therapy.  Your veterinarian should be able to assist you in evaluating the suitability of specific massage therapy for your companion animal.