Supplementary Material for: Four Patterns of Canine Wei Syndrome Treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Atrophy and weakness of the limbs is a common condition in animals, especially dogs. It typically presents with flaccidity and weakness of the limbs, especially the hind legs, muscle atrophy, and the inability to walk. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), this is known as wei syndrome (WS). According to TCM, the etiology of WS can be (1) lung heat and fluid consumption; (2) insufficiency of the liver and kidneys; (3) dampness-heat invasion; (4) damage to the spleen and stomach, which are also the patterns of WS. This report aims to provide an alternative option for the treatment of canine paralysis. Four dogs with different WS patterns were treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, and Chinese herbs based on the guidelines of the TCM literature. Three patients recovered normal functioning. The fourth patient could walk normally after 2 weeks of treatment, but his hind limbs became weak again 3 months later. Weekly acupuncture treatment was resumed until his death 18 months later. TCM application of acupuncture, moxibustion, and Chinese herbs can be an effective treatment for canine WS. It is hoped that this case report will broaden the treatment options of other veterinarians when patients present with this condition.

肢体萎缩与无力是动物常见病症，尤以犬类高发。其典型表现为肢体（尤以后肢为主）弛缓无力、肌肉萎缩，乃至无法行走。在传统中医学（Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM）与传统中兽医学（Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, TCVM）中，该病症被称为痿证（wei syndrome, WS）。根据中医学理论，痿证的病因病机可分为四类：(1) 肺热津伤；(2) 肝肾亏虚；(3) 湿热浸淫；(4) 脾胃受损，此四类亦为痿证的常见证型。本病例报告旨在为犬类瘫痪的治疗提供备选方案。研究选取4只证型各异的痿证患犬，依据中医学文献的诊疗规范，采用针灸、艾灸与中药联合疗法进行治疗。其中3只患犬恢复了正常肢体功能。第4只患犬在接受2周治疗后可正常行走，但3个月后其后肢无力症状再次复发。遂恢复每周一次的针灸治疗，直至18个月后该犬离世。针灸、艾灸与中药联合的中医疗法，可作为犬类痿证的有效治疗手段。期望本病例报告能为其他兽医在诊治此类病症时拓展治疗思路。