Veterinarians Treat with Technology Eastern & Medicine

By Melissa Maynarich, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- With roots in eastern countries, acupuncture has been used for thousands of years, and in Oklahoma, some veterinarians are using it to treat dogs.

Instead of poking the pets with needles, they're pointing a red light at the skin.
Figaro, a 9 year old Cardigan Corgi, suffered a stroke which left the back half of his body paralyzed.

"He just seemed like his legs were asleep," John Eads said. "Like his back end was asleep or something, and he never got up."

Figaro is now undergoing red light therapy. Veterinarian Terry Wood applies a super bright LED light to specific points on the body. He said the therapy is a marriage of ancient Chinese medicine and modern day technology.

"We do a set up points just for his general welfare and then I do a set of points for his nervous system, bladder and bowels, so we can get control there," Dr. Wood said.

The light therapy is not painful, but it is interacting with the collagen in the skin. An electrical charge is stored, and transmitted to the brain. There, chemicals are released into the blood, which flows back to the pressure points.

The Eads family said, after only a week, they're seeing results too.

The vet said the therapy can be used on a variety of animals, and will treat things like torn ACL's. It calms them, controls bleeding, pain or swelling. Along with the light therapy, pets are given mineral supplements.