Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Canine Orthopedic Medicine

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2022 Jul;52(4):925-938. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2022.02.003. Epub 2022 May 11.

Abstract

The use of complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) continues to become more widespread, especially for the management of chronic pain conditions such as canine osteoarthritis. Many patients have comorbidities that preclude traditional medical options, have not adequately responded to conventional therapies, or have owners interested in pursuing a complementary approach. Evidence-based CAVM can serve as a safe and effective adjunct to manage chronic pain conditions. There is growing evidence in the veterinary literature for the use of acupuncture and some herbal supplements in the multimodal management of canine osteoarthritis. The majority of evidence supporting chiropractic is limited to equine and human literature.

Keywords: Acupuncture; Canine; Chiropractic; Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine; Herbal; Manual therapy; Orthopedic; Traditional Chinese veterinary medicine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acupuncture Therapy / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Chronic Pain / therapy
  • Chronic Pain / veterinary
  • Complementary Therapies / veterinary*
  • Dog Diseases / therapy*
  • Dogs
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Humans
  • Orthopedics / methods
  • Orthopedics / veterinary*
  • Osteoarthritis / complications
  • Osteoarthritis / therapy
  • Osteoarthritis / veterinary*
  • Veterinary Medicine / methods*