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Therapeutic Options
Not long ago, veterinarians generally considered most forms of alternative medicine to be a "smoke and mirrors" approach to treating horses. Today, many veterinarians are embracing at least two forms of alternative medicine--acupuncture and chiropractic. A 2002 survey of American Association of Equine Practitioners members showed a growing interest in alternative therapies or, as the AAEP refers to them, therapeutic options. In 1998, for example, only 16.6% of respondents used acupuncture in their practices. Four years later that percentage had doubled to 33.1%. In 1998, 8.1% of respondents indicated they employed chiropractic in their practices. By 2002, that percentage had doubled to 17.2%. The numbers involved with homeopathy, herbology/naturopathy, and massage were in the 6-7% or higher range in the early survey, and the increases in their usage have been modest. Another part of the survey asked about referrals to others who practiced therapeutic options. In 1998, some 40.6% referred cases to chiropractors. By 2002, this percentage was 63.1%. Acupuncture referrals rose from 37% to 56.4%. Massage referrals went from 19.8% to 29.4%, and physical therapy referrals went from 12.5% to 18.5%. GROWTH OF VETERINARY INTEREST The big change in the veterinary world began in the mid-1990s, said Dr. Joyce Harman, owner of Harmany Equine Clinic in Flint Hill, Va. Harman is a 1984 graduate of Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, she studied equine physiology and sports medicine in England. She returned to the United States, and after a stint with another practice opened Harmany Equine Clinic in 1990. Today, she concentrates solely on alternative medicine, including acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, and herbs--the entire holistic approach (treating the entire body rather than just focusing on individual parts). Her services are in high demand, and she is booked months in advance. Continue Reading [*PDF file, 1.54 MB download] *Adobe Reader is required to view PDF files. |
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