Influência da acupuntura na redução de sinais de stresse em cães alojados num centro de recolha oficial
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2017
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São indubitáveis as aplicações da acupuntura em medicina veterinária e, estando já estudados e identificados alguns acupontos com influência no controlo de respostas
comportamentais, estes poderão ser utilizados para promover uma boa relação com os tratadores/veterinários, tal como as relações com os outros animais. Este estudo tem como finalidade avaliar o efeito da acupuntura na diminuição de comportamentos de stresse,
presentes em contextos de medo e ansiedade, em cães alojados num Centro de Recolha Oficial (CRO). Na busca de uma nova ferramenta para a promoção do bem-estar animal, sem
recurso a modificação comportamental, recorreu-se à aquapuntura. Esta técnica é uma vertente da acupuntura que respeita os mesmos princípios e beneficia dos mesmos efeitos.
Apresenta a vantagem de poupar tempo, uma vez que não há necessidade de conter o animal
durante os 15-20 minutos necessários numa sessão de acupuntura, o que poderia ser mais
complicado em determinados animais alojados num CRO. Neste estudo foram usados 45 animais, sendo que 20 serviram de controlo e 11 foram
incluídos num grupo placebo. O grupo de controlo não foi manipulado nem retirado do ambiente e o grupo placebo foi sujeito ao mesmo maneio que o grupo de estudo, sem ser
sujeito a aquapuntura. Sendo um estudo cego, o observador não sabia quais os animais que pertenciam a cada grupo. Os resultados encontrados sugerem que não foram detetados resultados significativos passíveis de aprovarem a hipótese de que a acupuntura é eficaz, como única terapêutica instituída, na redução de sinais de stresse em cães de canil. Será então interessante serem conduzidos novos estudos que utilizem a acupuntura como parte de um protocolo de tratamento, de forma a potenciar os efeitos desta técnica tradicional chinesa.
There are no questions about the use of acupuncture on the veterinary clinical practice, and there are a few influent points on behavior control that might be used to promote a good relationship between caregivers/veterinarians and kenneled animals, and between kenneled animals itself. The purpose of this study is to control/diminish fear, stress and anxiety behaviors on kenneled dogs, in order to improve animal welfare, without the use of behavioral modification. To do so, dogs will benefit from the use of traditional medicine, more exactly aquapuncture, which is an acupuncture variant based on the same principles and effects; it has the advantage of time sparing, because there is no need to restrain the animal during 15-20 minutes, usually necessary for an acupuncture session and very difficult on kenneled animals. There were assessed 45 dogs, from which 20 were on a control group and 11 on a placebo group. Those from the control group were not manipulated nor removed from their kennels, and those from the placebo group were put through the same procedures as the study group, but without aquapuncture. As it was a blind study, the observer didn’t know which dog belonged to each group. The data analysis suggested that there were not found significant results capable to approve the theoretical hypothesis that the acupuncture is effective, as the only treatment, on reduction of stress signs on kenneled dogs. So, it is of mutual interest that some more studies could be developed with the use of acupuncture as part of a therapeutical approach, in order to potenciate its effects.
There are no questions about the use of acupuncture on the veterinary clinical practice, and there are a few influent points on behavior control that might be used to promote a good relationship between caregivers/veterinarians and kenneled animals, and between kenneled animals itself. The purpose of this study is to control/diminish fear, stress and anxiety behaviors on kenneled dogs, in order to improve animal welfare, without the use of behavioral modification. To do so, dogs will benefit from the use of traditional medicine, more exactly aquapuncture, which is an acupuncture variant based on the same principles and effects; it has the advantage of time sparing, because there is no need to restrain the animal during 15-20 minutes, usually necessary for an acupuncture session and very difficult on kenneled animals. There were assessed 45 dogs, from which 20 were on a control group and 11 on a placebo group. Those from the control group were not manipulated nor removed from their kennels, and those from the placebo group were put through the same procedures as the study group, but without aquapuncture. As it was a blind study, the observer didn’t know which dog belonged to each group. The data analysis suggested that there were not found significant results capable to approve the theoretical hypothesis that the acupuncture is effective, as the only treatment, on reduction of stress signs on kenneled dogs. So, it is of mutual interest that some more studies could be developed with the use of acupuncture as part of a therapeutical approach, in order to potenciate its effects.
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Orientação : Raquel Matos
Palavras-chave
MESTRADO INTEGRADO EM MEDICINA VETERINÁRIA, MEDICINA VETERINÁRIA, VETERINÁRIA, CÃES, ACUPUNCTURA, STRESS, ANSIEDADE ANIMAL, BEM-ESTAR ANIMAL, VETERINARY MEDICINE, DOGS, ACUPUNCTURE, STRESS, ANIMAL ANXIETY, ANIMAL WELFARE, CANÍDEOS, CANIDS