USE OF ACUPUNCTURE TO TREAT PSYCHODERMATOSIS IN THE DOG

Acupuncture was used to treat a presumptive psychogenic dermatosis in a 3-year-old spayed female Greyhound. Clinical signs of the dermatolog ic disease included alopecia, epidermal ulceration, skin thickening an d salivary staining of integument on the lateral right flank aggravate d by incessant licking and chewing. Suspected causes of the dermatitis included constant kenneling or other psychological stress from racetr ack performance, prior trauma to the area, and continued hyperesthesia secondary to repetitive oral aggravation. Dry needling and gold magra in implant acupuncture resulted in cessation of the licking behavior a nd subsequent resolution of the dermatosis. Several theories exist on the physiologic effects of acupuncture and its role in analgesia and t issue healing. Pertinent aspects of these theories are discussed in th is article.