Traditional herbs and acupuncture offer aging pets a dignified twilight
Demand grows as dogs and cats live longer
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Growing numbers of pet owners in China are turning to traditional Chinese medicine to treat chronic conditions in aging animals — or to spare them the trauma of euthanasia — the South China Morning Post reported Monday (local time).
Interest in traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, for pets has surged on social media, with posts tagged "#petTCM" racking up more than 5 million views across various platforms.
One Beijing dog owner, identified only as A, first took her seven-year-old Border Collie-Golden Retriever mix, Ironman, to a conventional veterinary clinic after the dog developed severe gastrointestinal problems. The vet diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease and prescribed medication, but Ironman's condition did not improve. Searching for alternatives, A decided to give TCM a try.
The TCM practitioner checked Ironman's pulse through his legs and examined his tongue, eyes and mental state before asking detailed questions about his medical history, diet and activity levels. The doctor then prescribed traditional herbal remedies and a dietary regimen.
A said she was astonished when Ironman's chronic watery diarrhea stopped and his condition improved within just three days of starting TCM treatment.
Another dog owner, identified as B, shared a similar account after her 17-year-old native Chinese breed began losing energy and overall physical function with age. She ground Chinese herbal medicines into powder and mixed them into the dog's favorite meat. After a month of the supplemental regimen, she said the dog's energy and stamina had improved noticeably.
B likened the approach to "yangsheng," a traditional Chinese holistic health practice, saying, "We can't make our pets young again, but we can definitely improve their quality of life."
The report also highlighted the case of a 17-year-old poodle in Guangzhou diagnosed with cancer whose owner chose acupuncture to avoid placing undue physical strain on the elderly dog. The attending veterinarian administered acupuncture, which is believed to help relieve pain and reduce swelling.
Among TCM therapies, massage, moxibustion and acupuncture are particularly popular for treating pets.
Efforts to industrialize and professionalize TCM veterinary medicine are also gaining momentum.
The Chinese Veterinary Medical Association this year published its first guidelines on acupuncture for dogs and cats and laid out an action plan to promote TCM veterinary practices over the next three years.
Six universities and some vocational colleges in China now offer undergraduate programs in TCM veterinary medicine.
The spread of TCM veterinary treatments coincides with a rise in pet ownership and an aging pet population.
Statistics released at Pet Fair Asia in Shanghai this year show that about 20 million dogs and cats in China are seven years old or older. Given that urban areas recorded about 126 million pet dogs and cats last year, roughly one in six is a senior animal, the South China Morning Post said.
A Beijing veterinarian who treats animals with traditional Chinese medicine compared his clinic to a "nursing home." "We can't guarantee a full recovery," he said, "but we can give them a peaceful and dignified old age."
jshan@heraldcorp.com
