🧲 Vet Guide: Can Acupuncture Help Laminitic Horses? | 2025 Insight into Pain Relief Options 🐴

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

Laminitis remains one of the most painful and complex conditions affecting horses. It often leads to extreme discomfort, lengthy rehab, or even euthanasia when pain becomes unmanageable. In 2025, we’re seeing growing interest in **integrative approaches like acupuncture** to help manage this difficult disease. 🧠🦶

But does acupuncture actually help horses with laminitis? Let’s take a look at the latest data, real-world evidence, and how acupuncture fits into a multi-modal treatment plan. 🧲

🔍 What Is Laminitis?

Laminitis is inflammation of the sensitive laminae within the hoof, leading to detachment of the coffin bone from the hoof wall. This causes **excruciating pain**, instability, and sometimes irreversible damage. 🔥🦴

Common causes include:

• 🥕 Equine metabolic syndrome
• 🐴 Cushing’s disease (PPID)
• 💊 Systemic infections or toxin exposure
• ⚖️ Overweight/obesity or supporting limb laminitis

Laminitis is difficult to treat because multiple systems are involved—and horses often require a combination of medications, hoof support, dietary changes, and pain management. 💊👣🥗

🧲 Acupuncture: A Complementary Tool in Laminitis Care

Acupuncture, a branch of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), involves inserting thin needles into specific points to stimulate nerves, release endorphins, and support immune or vascular function. It’s already used to treat equine back pain, arthritis, nerve dysfunction, and behavioral issues. 🧘‍♂️

Could it help reduce the pain of laminitis? One veterinarian set out to find out. 🔍

📊 A Study from California: Acupuncture for Laminitis

Dr. Kevin May, a veterinarian in California, evaluated 23 horses with active laminitis that were receiving **conventional therapies**—including anti-inflammatories, cryotherapy, hoof support, and more.

In addition to standard treatment, he performed:

• 🔬 Diagnostic palpation of acupuncture points
• 🧲 Dry needling (classic acupuncture)
• 💉 Acu-injection with vitamin B12
• 🩸 Bleeding at key points for vascular stimulation

Horses were treated **twice, one week apart**, and evaluated for lameness by two independent veterinarians and an **electronic lameness locator** system. 📉

✨ Results:

• 🐎 All horses showed **reduced lameness** after the second treatment
• 💥 No adverse effects were reported
• 🧠 Improved comfort allowed better participation in rehab

While these results are promising, **the study lacked a control group** and horses received multiple other therapies—so it’s hard to isolate acupuncture as the sole source of improvement. 📎

🧪 What We Can—and Can’t—Conclude

✅ Acupuncture may help:

• 🧠 Modulate pain by stimulating endorphins
• 🩸 Improve circulation to the foot
• 🧘 Enhance relaxation and stress reduction
• 📉 Allow reduction in drug dosages

❌ But it’s not a magic bullet:

• 💊 Should be part of a **multi-modal plan**, not used alone
• ⚠️ Should only be performed by a trained veterinary acupuncturist
• 🧪 More research is still needed to confirm long-term benefits

📲 Using Ask A Vet to Track Laminitis Progress

The Ask A Vet app helps you and your vet monitor complex cases like laminitis step-by-step:

• 📋 Log pain scores and hoof response day by day
• 📸 Upload hoof photos and video for progress reviews
• 💬 Ask about integrative treatments like acupuncture
• 🧠 Get alerts on symptoms that require emergency response

✅ Laminitis & Acupuncture in 2025: Takeaways

• 🧠 Laminitis remains one of the most painful equine conditions
• 🧲 Acupuncture is a **low-risk, potentially effective** complementary option
• 📉 Some studies show **reduced pain and improved movement**
• 📋 Use as part of a multi-modal plan (not instead of hoof care or drugs)
• 📱 Track your horse’s comfort and response in the Ask A Vet app

📲 Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston

There’s no silver bullet for laminitis—but tools like acupuncture give us new ways to **ease pain, extend comfort, and improve healing outcomes**. If your horse hasn’t responded to conventional therapies, acupuncture may be worth considering. 🧠💙

Download the Ask A Vet app to discuss holistic therapies, monitor pain, and track healing from every angle in 2025. 🐎📱