More turning to acupuncture in China to treat their pets’ aches, pains

Strapped in tight, the prone poodle nervously eyes the vet as he gently sticks fine needles into its back and paws, summoning the ancient art of acupuncture to treat the pet’s aches and pains.

BEIJING

Duniu is just one of a growing number of animals being signed up for traditional medicine in China – care that their masters say is less invasive and comes with fewer side effects than conventional treatments.

In one Beijing practice, pets of all shapes and sizes come for treatments.

“The advantage of traditional Chinese medicine is that there is no surgery,” Mr Zhai Chunyu, 38, told Agence France-Presse, accompanied by Duniu, his poodle. “So the animal’s suffering is reduced.”

At just three years old, Duniu suffers from Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, which affects the animal’s thigh bone and can lead to painful osteoarthritis.

“He was in so much pain that he could no longer put his paw on the ground... (and) had no appetite,” said Mr Zhai, who works in finance.