Acupuncture Prevents Relapses of Recurrent Otitis in Dogs: A 1-Year Follow-Up of a Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background Recurrent infections within a particular, well-localised body location are often seen in veterinary and medical practice. This condition could represent a localised or segmental immune defi ciency. Recurrent canine otitis seems to be one example of this problem. It has been reported that acupuncture increased the effi cacy of conventional treatment for canine otitis by >50%. Objective To assess whether the relapse rate of recurrent canine otitis over 1 year can be modifi ed by acupuncture in adult dogs. Methods One-year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial. 31 dogs with a history of recurring otitis were randomised into two groups. In addition to conventional treatment, each group received four sessions of either real acupuncture, group A (n=16), or sham acupuncture, group B (n=15). The main outcome for the follow-up was the rate of acute otitis episodes in each group over 1 year, with blinded evaluation. A χ 2 test was used for statistical analysis. Results There was one dropout in each group. Fourteen (93%) dogs in group A: were free of otitis relapses, compared with 7 (50%) in group B (p<0.01). Conclusion Acupuncture seems effective for preventing relapses in cases of recurrent canine otitis. This result suggests that acupuncture could be tested as a treatment of other recurrent localised infections. Given the ability of acupuncture to modulate neurotransmitters and opioid peptides, which can in turn modulate the immune system, the immune response to acupuncture also seems worth exploring.

An open-label prospective study of the use of l-theanine (Anxitane) in storm-sensitive client-owned dogs

“…Across veterinary disciplines, there is interest in the use of alternative treatment modalities, including acupuncture (Jianzhu et al, 2007;Sanchez-Araujo and Puchi, 2011;Kidd, 2012), homeopathy (Chapman, 2011;Neumann et al, 2011;Kidd, 2012), and nutraceuticals (Gingerich and Strobel, 2003) for the treatment of common medical and behavioral disorders (Wells, 2006;Araujo et al, 2008;Araujo et al, 2012;Kato et al, 2012). Owners often perceive that these options are safer with fewer side effects, but comparison studies have not been done to verify that assertion.…”

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“…Over the subsequent year, majority of the dogs in the acupuncture group were otitis-free. 11 The same authors reported that acupuncture may enhance the effect of antibiotic treatment for otitis in dogs. 12 However, since the reported type of otitis is unclear, and given that otitis externa usually affects canines, these conclusions may not be attributable to humans.…”