Can western veterinary science and veterinary acupuncture by combined?
Yes. Most veterinary practitioners who perform acupuncture combine what is useful from each source. Veterinary acupuncture is often helpful in treating conditions sometimes unresponsive to western drug oriented treatments, such as striated or smooth muscle spasm, or certain stages of thoracolumbar disc disease. In some instances, certain medications will interfere with the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment by decreasing the sensitivity and responsiveness of the body. However, some conditions, most notably infections and conditions with structural changes (e.g. fractures or tumors) normally respond more rapidly to western techniques. Frequently, however, the two approaches can be combined to the patient’s benefit. For example, in the treatment of bovine ketosis, acupuncture treatments can be combined with glucose infusions.
