Tierarzt-dr-rohdewald.ch

I.V.A.S. Acupuncture Case Report

2002 – 2003 Course Belgium

Acupuncture treatment for chronic diarrhoea in a Great Schnauzer



Dr. med. vet.
Martin P. Rohdewald

Leimatt 10
6317 Oberwil
Switzerland
Ph 0041 41 712 10 00
Fax 0041 41 710 84 64
Email rohde @datacomm.ch
A Great Schnauzer was successfully treated with acupuncture. Initially the Great
Schnauzer was presented with a history of chronic lymphoplasmacellular colitis. After
thorough investigation of the previous history there was an old traumatic injury at the
proximal metacarpal bones II + III that led to the chronic colitis. The connection was
two implanted screws that fixed the bone. In Chinese medicine tradition there was a
qi stagnation in the hand yang ming.
A two-year old male Great Schnauzer was presented to my practice with a history of
chronic diarrhoea lasting for more than half a year. The canine was been treated for
six months with Prednisolone and Metronidazol. Also the owner has cooked a diet for
the dog consisting of horse meat and rice. The patient did not improve with the
conventional treatment, it even got worse. The dog has had severe ileus like attacks
and the owner came to the point to think about euthanizing the suffering canine.
Three month before the first symptoms there was a traumatic injury to the right front foot leading to a fracture of the proximal metacarpal bones II + III. It was surgical fixed with two implanted metal screws. The canine was ony 30 kilograms with heavy weight loss of 7 kilogramms at the time
he was presented to me. For more than six months he was suffering of chronic
diarrhoea which was diagnosed as chronic lymphoplasmacellular colitis via
colonoscopy and biopsy. The canine was been treated with Prednisolone 50mg/per
day and twice a day 750 mg Metronidazol. Special strict diet with horse meat and rice
was fed.
Clinical signs and symptoms were bloody stools with mucus and frequent and urgent
bowel movement. He was lethargic, in pain and had often a bad temper. On
palpation of the abdomen he was retracting and aggressive.
TCM findings
On physical examination there was light swollen and a purple coloured tongue.
Sometimes reddish eyes and a red belly was seen. The owner has reported that the
bark of the dog has weakened during the last months. The owner has mentioned that
the canine was more aggressive with other dogs. Dry skin and scales with loss of
body hair was reported. There was sensitivity of the Mu-alarm point of Hand Yang-
Ming STOMACH 251(tian shu) and Shu-association point BLADDER 252.
The stool was bloody, loose and with a lot of mucus. The colour of the stool was
brown red and the odour was smelly.
Pulse diagnosis was not done.
TCM-Diagnosis
Based on the previous history and the signs and symptoms there was a qi-stagnation
in the Hand Yang-Ming and heat in the Fu-organ Large Intestine.
The Stagnation was caused by the external trauma with metal screw implants. The
Stagnation further caused the heat in the Fu-organ Large Intestine3.
TCM-Treatment
Seirin needles (red 0.16 x 30 mm) were used with even needle technique at all
points, they were bilateral needled.
LI 4 ( Hegu) between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the
middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side4
Source point (Yuan-Qi), 12 heavenly star points of Ma Dan Yang5, Master
point of face and mouth. Stops pain, removes obstractions from the channels,
releases the exterior. LI 4 has a powerful calming and antispasmodic action,
so that it can be used in many painful conditions, with pain originating from the
intestines or uterus6
LI11 (Quchi) in the depression cranial to the elbow is flexed, in the transverse
cubital crease, 1 cun cranial to the humeral condylar crest7
Sea point (He), earth point, tonification point, 12 heavenly star point of Ma Dan
Yang8
Clears heat, resolves dampness, regulates nutritive qi and blood. It can be
used in invasions of exterior damp-heat causing fever, feeling of heaviness,
loose stools, abdominal distention, and so on9.
BL 25 (dachangshu) 1.5 cun lateral to the caudal border of the spinous
process of the 5th lumbar vertebra10
Back transporting point for the Large Intestine
Promotes the functions of the Large Intestine, strengthens the lower back,
removes obstructions from the channels, relieves fullness and swelling11.

After the first acupuncture treatment, the owner has called in the afternoon of the
same day, six hours after acupuncture, being happy that the dog has had normal
stool the first time in six months. The effect of the acupuncture has lasted for ten
days each time after acupuncture. Always on the 11th day following acupunture loose
stools would have reappeared. After the 7th treatment I have decided that it would be
best to remove the implanted screws. This was been done surgically under general
anesthesia. Prior to surgery fullscreen x-rays were done LL and DV to make sure that
the fracture has had healed completely. Ever since surgery, this is now four years
ago, the canine has had no problems anymore. No loose stools were reported, no
drugs were neccessary and no aggressions were shown up. The dog does not need
any special diet any longer
This example concludes that there are wonders with acupuncture as John B.
Limehouse stated in the IVAS course Belgium 2002 – 2003.
References:
1Deng Liangyue et. al., Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 1987 Forgein Languages Press, page 142 2Deng Liangyue et. al., Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 1987 Forgein Languages Press, page 171 3C. Focks et. al., Leitfaden Traditionelle Chinesische Medizin, 2001 Urban + Fischer page 580 4IVAS course notes, Belgium 2002 – 2003 page 3.1.1 5C. Focks et. al., Leitfaden Traditionelle Chinesische Medizin, 2001 Urban + Fischer page 163 6Giovanni Maciocia, the foundations fo Chinese Medicine, 1989 Churchill Livingstone page 376 7IVAS course notes, Belgium 2002 – 2003 Page 3.1.1 8C. Focks et. al., Leitfaden Traditionelle Chinesische Medizin, 2001 Urban + Fischer page 165 9Giovanni Maciocia, the foundations fo Chinese Medicine, 1989 Churchill Livingstone page 378 10IVAS course notes, Belgium 2002 – 2003 Page 3.1.3 11Giovanni Maciocia, the foundations fo Chinese Medicine, 1989 Churchill Livingstone page 417

Source: http://www.tierarzt-dr-rohdewald.ch/pdf/nilo_acupuncture.pdf