In a study published in the American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Alexandra Kintz Konegger investigated an integrative approach to managing canine stress in clinical settings. The research aimed to determine whether aqua-acupuncture (Aqua-AP) could offer an effective, non-pharmaceutical alternative to trazodone for mitigating fear, anxiety, and stress in dogs during veterinary visits.
The study involved 55 dogs with histories of veterinary-related stress. Participants were assigned to four groups: two received Aqua-AP at acupoints An-shen and GB-21, one served as an untreated control, and one received trazodone premedication. Measurements of heart rate, respiratory rate, behavior scores, and salivary cortisol were collected before and after treatment to evaluate physiological and behavioral responses.
Results demonstrated significant decreases in heart rate and behavioral stress indicators among dogs treated with Aqua-AP at both An-shen and GB-21, with p-values ranging from 0.0002 to 0.008. Additionally, the An-shen group showed a marked reduction in panting, a key indicator of acute anxiety. Interestingly, the improvements observed in the Aqua-AP groups were statistically comparable to those of the trazodone-treated dogs, indicating noninferiority of the acupuncture-based intervention.
While cortisol concentration changes were not significant, Aqua-AP groups maintained cortisol levels similar to the pharmaceutical group, reinforcing its stress-mitigating potential. The study suggests that acupuncture techniques targeting relaxation and emotional balance can be viable for reducing FAS in clinical environments, offering veterinarians and guardians an alternative to medication for sensitive dogs.
Konegger’s findings highlight the value of integrating Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine with modern clinical practice, especially in cases where dogs exhibit heightened anxiety or reactivity during examinations. Aqua-acupuncture may serve as a gentle, effective, and safe method to enhance animal welfare and improve the veterinary experience for both dogs and handlers.
Source: Konegger, A. K. (2022). Comparison between Aqua-acupuncture and Trazodone on Mitigation of Fear, Anxiety and Stress in Healthy Dogs during Routine Veterinary Examination. American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. Published February 1, 2022.
