Aquapuncture using vitamin B complex on intraocular pressure in two dogs with cataracts and low intraocular pressure

Abstract

Two mixed breed dogs, aged 13 years old and 12 years old, with low intraocular pressure are described. These dogs presented with low intraocular pressure (IOP) and cataract. Cataracts were treated for one year by VT Phak®. For the IOP, it was 6 mmHg in both eyes of dog A and 8 mmHg in both eyes of dog B. According to our evaluation and based on owner's consent, the dogs should be treated with aquaupuncture using vitamin B complex every two weeks. Thereafter, the intraocular pressure of these two dogs was evaluated every two months. The local acupoints were BL-1 (Jing Ming), BL-2 (Cuan Zhu), TH-23 (Si Zhu-kong), ST-1(Cheng Qi), ST-2 (Si Bai), BL-18 (Gan Shu) and LIV-3 (Tai Chong). After 10 months of treatment, the IOP of the left and right eye in dog A were 14 mmHg and 11 mmHg, respectively and those in dog B were 20 mmHg and 23 mmHg, respectively. Thus, it is suggested that aquapuncture using vitamin B complex might be an alternative therapy to improve the intraocular pressure in dogs with low intraocular pressure.