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Keller P, Hudders L, Decloedt A. Flemish equine veterinarians' perceptions on the use of and client communication about complementary and alternative veterinary medicine. Equine Vet J 2024; 56:535-543. [PMID: 37658704 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) is increasingly popular in horses. As CAVM usage could have risks, client-veterinarian communication about CAVM is crucial. OBJECTIVES Evaluating equine veterinarians' attitude towards CAVM, their CAVM usage and veterinarian-client communication about CAVM. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHOD A telephone survey was conducted among equine veterinarians providing ambulatory care on a daily or weekly basis. The first section of the survey included questions about the veterinarians' attitude towards CAVM and their CAVM usage. The second section focused on veterinary-client communication about CAVM. RESULTS When herbs are included as CAVM modality, 83% of the participants applied CAVM. Nighty-eight percent had already communicated with horse owners about CAVM and 81% agreed to be open to talk about CAVM. However, 95% agreed that sometimes CAVM usage takes place without disclosure to the veterinarian. The majority of participants communicated about CAVM on a weekly (40%) or daily (22%) basis, most often in person during consultations (99%) or via phone (32%). The median percentage of conversations about CAVM initiated by the owner was 50% (range 50%-80%). When the veterinarian initiated the conversation, this was usually by mentioning it as a treatment option, mostly in addition to conventional treatments. Some participants directly asked about CAVM use in the information-gathering phase. MAIN LIMITATIONS A convenience sample was used due to lack of data on the number of equine veterinarians in Flanders. Potential favourability bias with higher participation of veterinarians interested in CAVM. CONCLUSION Equine veterinarians generally had a positive attitude towards CAVM use, although this depended on the specific modality. Veterinarian-client communication about CAVM occurs frequently in ambulatory care. An open dialogue with horse owners about CAVM is important to provide information about CAVM and thus enable them to make informed decisions concerning CAVM usage, together with their veterinarian.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Keller
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Liselot Hudders
- Centre for Persuasive Communication, Department of Communication Sciences, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annelies Decloedt
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Domingues K, Franco NH, Rodrigues I, Stilwell G, Magalhães-Sant’Ana M. Bibliometric trend analysis of non-conventional (alternative) therapies in veterinary research. Vet Q 2022; 42:192-198. [DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2022.2142318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Domingues
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Henrique Franco
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Isilda Rodrigues
- Departamento de Educação e Psicologia, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação e Intervenção Educativas, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - George Stilwell
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado para Ciência Animal e Veterinária, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Manuel Magalhães-Sant’Ana
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado para Ciência Animal e Veterinária, Lisbon, Portugal
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Boström A, Asplund K, Bergh A, Hyytiäinen H. Systematic Review of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine in Sport and Companion Animals: Therapeutic Ultrasound. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12223144. [PMID: 36428372 PMCID: PMC9686477 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To explore the scientific evidence for therapeutic ultrasound (TU), we conducted a systematic review of the literature on TU in dogs, horses, donkeys, and cats. METHODS In three major databases, relevant articles published in 1980-2020 were identified. The risk of bias in each article was evaluated. RESULTS Twenty-four relevant articles on the effects of TU in dogs, nine in horses, two in donkeys, and one in cats were identified. TU usually involved 2-6 treatments weekly for up to 4 weeks. Articles on tendon, ligament, and bone healing, acute aseptic arthritis, osteoarthritis, paraparesis, hindquarter weakness, and back muscle pain were identified. In experimental bone lesions in dogs, there is moderate scientific evidence for enhanced healing. For the treatment of other musculoskeletal conditions, the scientific evidence is insufficient due to the high risk of bias. There is substantial evidence that continuous TU increases tissue temperature in muscles and tendons by up to 5 °C in healthy animals. For disorders in tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints in sport and companion animals, there is insufficient evidence for the clinical effects of TU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Boström
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kjell Asplund
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, SE 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anna Bergh
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
- Correspondence:
| | - Heli Hyytiäinen
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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Boström A, Bergh A, Hyytiäinen H, Asplund K. Systematic Review of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine in Sport and Companion Animals: Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12223124. [PMID: 36428352 PMCID: PMC9686741 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ECSWT) is increasingly used to treat different types of musculoskeletal conditions in sport and companion animals. To explore the scientific basis for the treatment, we conducted a systematic review of the literature on ECSWT used in horses, dogs, and cats. METHODS Relevant articles published in 1980-2020 were identified from three major databases. Each article was assessed for risk of bias. RESULTS The review identified 27 relevant articles on the effects of ECSWT in horses, nine in dogs, but none in cats. Typically, ECSWT involved one to three treatment sessions at 1- to 3-week intervals. We identified studies on bone mass and bone healing, wound healing, navicular disease, ligament injury, desmitis, sesamoiditis, tendon injury, osteoarthritis, and short-term analgesic effects. Common to all indications was that the scientific evidence was very limited. For each separate indication, there were relatively few studies, many of which had methodological flaws. Where favorable results were reported, they were usually not replicated in independent studies. A few encouraging results were found. CONCLUSIONS In sport and companion animals, the scientific evidence for clinical effects of ECSWT in horses, dogs, and cats is limited. For some applications, notably short-term pain relief, ligament ailments, and osteoarthritis, the results seem promising and warrant further exploration in high-quality studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Boström
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Bergh
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
- Correspondence:
| | - Heli Hyytiäinen
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kjell Asplund
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, SE 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
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Evidence-Based Human Homeopathy and Veterinary Homeopathy. Comment on Bergh et al. A Systematic Review of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine: “Miscellaneous Therapies”. Animals 2021, 11, 3356. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12162097. [PMID: 36009687 PMCID: PMC9404715 DOI: 10.3390/ani12162097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary According to the simile principle (Similia similibus curentur, or ‘Let like be cured by like’), classical (=individualized) homeopathic therapy is based on the individual and not on the indication. Based on the following three facts, the discussion of the evidence in human and veterinary homeopathy lays the foundations for a comprehensive presentation of the evidence on homeopathy: (a) homeopathic medicinal products without indication are 100% identical with regard to production, quality, safety, and principles of application, regardless of whether they are used in animals or humans; (b) if the simile principle is adhered to that classical (=individualized) homeopathic therapy is based on the individual and not on the indication; and (c) if the proof of effectiveness of individualized homeopathy in one or more indications is available, the logical consequence seems to be that it can be concluded that it is effective in other indications. When criteria for evidence-based medicine for design, conduction, documentation, and rating of studies in homeopathy are considered, effects on all quality levels according to Cochrane criteria are recognizable, especially for individualized homeopathy, even in methodologically high-quality studies. In view of One Health and of the demands of the European Green Deal (Farm2Fork Strategy) and the EU Organic Regulation 2018/848, the application of homeopathy in the sense of integrative veterinary medicine (a combination of patient-oriented conventional and complementary veterinary medicine) and the integration of complementary medicine including homeopathy at the universities seems a necessary consequence and requirement in the interests of the patient. Abstract (1) Background: Classical (=individualized) homeopathic therapy is based on the individual and not on the indication. (2) Methods: The prerequisite for conducting methodologically high-quality studies on indvidualized homeopathy is that the principles of homeopathy are considered, since the selection of the simile (the individually appropriate homeopathic medicinal product) is decisive for the effectiveness of the homeopathic treatment, because only an application lege artis can be effective for the respective patient. Apart from this, criteria for evidence-based medicine must be considered for design, conduction, documentation, and rating of studies in homeopathy. (3) Results: When criteria for evidence-based medicine for design, conduction, documentation, and rating of studies in homeopathy are considered, effects on all quality levels according to Cochrane criteria are recognizable, especially for individualized homeopathy, even in the methodologically high-quality studies. (4) Conclusions: Based on the following three facts, the discussion of the evidence in human and veterinary homeopathy lays the foundations for a comprehensive presentation of the evidence on homeopathy: (a) homeopathic medicinal products without indication are 100% identical with regard to production, quality, safety, and principles of application, regardless of whether they are used in animals or humans; (b) if the simile principle (Similia similibus curentur, or ‘Let like be cured by like’) is adhered to that classical (=individualized) homeopathic therapy is based on the individual and not on the indication; and (c) if the proof of effectiveness of individualized homeopathy in one or more indications is available, the logical consequence seems to be that it can be concluded that it is effective in other indications. In view of One Health and of the demands of the European Green Deal (Farm2Fork Strategy) and the EU Organic Regulation 2018/848, the application of homeopathy in the sense of integrative veterinary medicine and the integration of complementary medicine including homeopathy at universities seems a necessary consequence and requirement in the interests of the patient, which is already expressed in the American consensus guidelines for an integrative veterinary medicine curriculum and is legally anchored in Switzerland by the Medical Professions Act for university teaching and research.
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Bergh A, Lund I, Boström A, Hyytiäinen H, Asplund K. Reply to Weiermayer et al. Evidence-Based Human Homeopathy and Veterinary Homeopathy. Comment on "Bergh et al. A Systematic Review of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine: "Miscellaneous Therapies". Animals 2021, 11, 3356". Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:2098. [PMID: 36009688 PMCID: PMC9404884 DOI: 10.3390/ani12162098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
We appreciate the interest in our article A Systematic Review of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine: "Miscellaneous Therapies" published in Animals, Volume 11 [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bergh
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Iréne Lund
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacolgy, Karolinska Institutet, SE 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Boström
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heli Hyytiäinen
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kjell Asplund
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, SE 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
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A Systematic Review of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine in Sport and Companion Animals: Soft Tissue Mobilization. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12111440. [PMID: 35681903 PMCID: PMC9179335 DOI: 10.3390/ani12111440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Soft tissue mobilization involves different massage and stretching techniques that are commonly used in animals. Despite the frequent use, there is limited knowledge of how the methods affect the animal. Therefore, this study reviews the scientific literature on massage and stretching in cats, dogs, and horses. Three core bibliographic sources were used. Relevant articles were assessed for scientific quality, and information was extracted on study characteristics, species, type of treatment, indication, and treatment effects. Of 1189 unique publications screened, 11 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review, nine on massage and two on stretching. The risk of bias was assessed as high in eight of the studies and moderate in three of the studies. There were large differences in reported treatment effects; two studies assessed as having a moderate risk of bias indicated a decreased heart rate after massage. According to the results, the scientific documentation of massage and stretching is not of sufficient quality to draw clear conclusions about their clinical effect in horses, dogs, and cats. Abstract Soft tissue mobilization is frequently used in the treatment of sport and companion animals. There is, however, uncertainty regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of these methods. Therefore, the aim of this systematic literature review was to assess the evidence for clinical effects of massage and stretching in cats, dogs, and horses. A bibliographic search, restricted to studies in cats, dogs, and horses, was performed on Web of Science Core Collection, CABI, and PubMed. Relevant articles were assessed for scientific quality, and information was extracted on study characteristics, species, type of treatment, indication, and treatment effects. Of 1189 unique publications screened, 11 were eligible for inclusion. The risk of bias was assessed as high in eight of the studies and moderate in three of the studies, two of the latter indicating a decreased heart rate after massage. There was considerable heterogeneity in reported treatment effects. Therefore, the scientific evidence is not strong enough to define the clinical efficacy and effectiveness of massage and stretching in sport and companion animals.
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