Bayer Animal Health looks at dog electro-acupuncture study

Bayer Animal Health has looked at a study that suggests postoperative pain in canines could be relieved with adjunct electro-acupuncture.

As part of a clinical trial by researchers from the University of Berne, 15 dogs undergoing surgery for acute thoracolumbar disk disease were assigned to either a treatment or control group.

The severity of pain in the animals was compared one, three and 12 hours after the operation. It was then scored every 12 hours after that for a 72-hour period.

In the control group, the pain score was lower than in the treatment group 36 hours after surgery. All other times, there was no noticeable difference.

Dr Annina Laim led the team and commented: “[The] results provided equivocal evidence that adjunct EAP might provide some mild benefit in regard to severity of postoperative pain in dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy.”

Earlier this month, Bayer Animal Health discussed research examining prognostic indicators for nonambulatory cattle treated by use of a flotation tank.