Winston is a gentle and affectionate dog who presented two years ago with hind limb weakness and urinary incontinence following spinal surgery for a spinal arachnoid diverticulum. His recovery has been partial, with persistent right hind limb weakness, occasional collapses, and intermittent urinary and faecal incontinence.
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From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, Winston is diagnosed with Kidney Qi and Yin Deficiency—common in his Water element constitution. The kidney’s connection to the bladder and bones explains his ongoing symptoms.
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Treatment includes biweekly electroacupuncture sessions, Chinese herbal therapy for hindquarter weakness, and regular hydrotherapy.
Electroacupuncture helps manage incontinence and supports mobility. Acupuncture points typically used are BL60/KID3, BL54, BL40, BL23, with occasional use of CV1 and GV1; laser therapy is applied along the Spleen channel. Sessions last 20–25 minutes, with 15 minutes of electroacupuncture.
Winston responds well to treatments—excited at first, then relaxed during therapy, often reluctant for sessions to end. He shows no signs of pain on examination, and while progress is slow, it remains steady. Daily walks are encouraged to maintain muscle tone.
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