Megacolon en gatos: tratamiento con acupuntura

Abstract

Clinical experience in veterinary medicine shows that acupuncture is useful in megacolon, including idiopathic megacolon in felines. This disease is very similar to Hirschsprung's disease or congenital aganglionic megacolon in humans. Objective Traditionally, resolution of this chronic disease has required the use of enemas or laxatives through-out the cat's life, colectomy, which involves complicated postoperative care, and, in some cases, euthanasia. Acupuncture can constitute a non-aggressive and satisfactory treatment both for cats and their owners. Method We studied megacolon from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine and present two practical examples. Results In all cases, treatment response was positive. Because routine treatment could not be applied in some aggressive animals, homeosiniatry (injection of homeopathic or homotoxicologic remedies in acupuncture points) was used. Conclusions The satisfactory results in cats, even when acupuncture was not feasible, indicate that acupuncture and homeosiniatry can be considered as a good alternative to treat megacolon, as well as other similar diseases in other types of animal and in humans.