Atendimentos de acupuntura no setor de pequenos animais do hospital veterinário da UFPB entre 2018 e 2023

Abstract

Traditional Chinese medicine emerged at a time when there was no modern technology approximately 4,500 years ago and continues to be used to treat various types of pathologies. The purpose of this study was to collect information about dogs and cats that received acupuncture treatment at the Veterinary Hospital of the Agricultural Sciences Center of the Federal University of Paraíba in the period between April 2018 and October 2023, as well as evaluating the impacts of treatment instituted, the profile of individuals treated, duration of treatment, clinical progress and acupoint stimulation techniques used in treatment protocols. Information such as: species, age group, sex, address, diagnosed condition, techniques used in treatment, number of acupuncture sessions performed, and clinical progress were collected, and a descriptive analysis was carried out with percentage of occurrence for each segment evaluated. Canines had the highest number (89%). Most patients treated were females (53%); the most common age range among animals that received treatment in the veterinary acupuncture sector was 1 to 5 years (32%). Among the causes that resulted in referral for acupuncture treatment, nervous system disorders had the highest occurrence (55%). Of the 56 patients treated, 12 (21%) were discharged and 43% had treatment interrupted. Most individuals treated associated needling with other needle stimulation techniques (88%), mainly with the use of electroacupuncture in cases of neuropathies. Most animals showed a good response to treatment. The use of Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques presents itself as a possible alternative, especially in cases where the use of allopathic medicines is not possible or effective, especially in disorders of neurological origin resulting from Distemper.