Evaluation of pain and quality of life in dogs and cats undergoing to Acupuncture

Abstract

AbstractPain in animals has been underestimated and undertreated. The measurement of pain and quality of life using validated questionnaires are essential for early diagnosis and successful treatment. Pain should be ideally approached using multidimensional scales and multimodal treatment. Acupuncture (AP) is an effective analgesic therapy to control pain and may be employed alone or as a component of a multimodal pain treatment. In the Acupuncture Clinic from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, (São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil) the majority of animals treated with AP have neurological and musculoskeletal problems, when they show pain and deterioration of quality of life. This prospective survey presents the hypothesis that the AP will improve the quality of life and reduce chronic pain in these animals. The objective of the study is to assess pain and quality of life in dogs and cats undergoing AP by using various techniques, based on the responses of their owners to three questionnaires: 1) Canine Chronic Pain Index developed at the University of Helsinki; 2) Health-related quality-of-life scale for dogs with signs of pain secondary to cancer; 3) Visual Analogic Scale for pain and locomotion. During treatment, several techniques may be associated with AP: electroacupuncture, farmacopuncture, aquapuncture, laser, ozone, gold implant, moxibustion, magnetic field therapy, autohemotherapy, chinese herbal medicine and homeopathy. At first, all animals will be included in the study with a minimum number of approximately 300 animals, which may increase according to the casuistic. Parametric data will be evaluated by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and in cases of significant differences the Tukey pots test will be used. The non-parametric data will be submitted to the Friedman test, followed by Dunn's test. The level of significance will be 5%.