Acupuncture saves cat after spin
ACUPUNCTURE treatment has helped save the life of a 10-week-old kitten who was trapped for a full wash and spin cycle in a washing machine.
When tiny Louie was brought into Tewantin Veterinary Surgery last week she was close to death.
Her gums, tongue and paws were very pale, blood was coming from her nostrils and the back of her throat, her eyes were haemorrhaging, her eardrums were ruptured and her lungs had taken in a lot of water and detergent.
To make matters worse, the owners were so distraught that Dr Kaori Kim could not find out the full story at first, but she knew the kitten was at death's door.
"I was not sure I would be able to save it," she said.
"I did all the conventional treatments, but with such a little animal (she was only 1kg) there is limited medication to use.
"Then I thought I could use acupuncture to increase her energy.
"Her heart rate was low at 120 and I put a tiny needle just under her nose.
"Five minutes later her body system started to wake up."
For the next two hours Dr Kim did acupuncture for pain along the face and eyes, extremities and back.
"Obviously this kitten wanted to survive," she said.
Since qualifying early this year as a certified veterinary Chinese herbalist, Dr Kim has offered herbal medicine and acupuncture as optional alternatives for animals suffering from the effects of many diverse conditions.
