Evaluation of acupuncture for the treatment of pain associated with naturally-occurring osteoarthritis in dogs: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded clinical trial

Table 2 Acupuncture points used in the present study based on the affected joint(s)

Affected Joint	Acupuncture points in all dogs (placed bilaterally if paired)	Points for all pelvic/thoracic limb OA (placed bilaterally)	Electro-acupuncture over the primarily affected joint (unilateral EA)	Additional points used for each primarily affected joint (bilaterally placed)
Hip	GV-20^a BL-11—BL-23 GV-14^a—Bai hui^a	BL-40, ST-36, BL-54, BL-60, KID-3, LIV-3	GB-29—GB-30	Jian jiao, GB-41
Stifle			SP-10—GB-34	SP-9, GB-33, KID-3
Tarsus			BL-60—LIV-3	ST-41, ST-44, SP-6
Shoulder		BL-13, GB-21, LI-4, SI-9, BL-10	TH-14—LU-1	LI-15, SI-3, TH-3
Elbow			LI-11—LU-5	LI-10, TH-10, SI-8
Carpus			PC-6—LI-4	TH-5, LU-7, SI-3

All dogs were treated first with GV-20. The remaining points were not placed in any specific order; electro-acupuncture leads were connected between the two points (indicated by “—”) after all of the needles had been placed. Based on myofascial palpation of individual patients, 0–3 additional points not included in this table were allowed to be placed
— electro-acupuncture lead connections between these points, ^anon-paired points
Alpha-numeric acupuncture point abbreviations [33]: GV Governing Vessel, BL Bladder, ST Stomach, KID Kidney, LIV Liver, GB Gall Bladder, LI Large Intestine, SI Small Intestine, SP Spleen, TH Triple Heater, LU Lung, PC Pericardium, # is the location on the meridian/channel

ISSN: 1746-6148