Treating Arthritis With Leeches Warning: Photos

[robinw]

I have a friend in Germany who is treating her galgo's arthritis with live leeches. Thy live in the cupboard in between treatments. She says that it has been very helpful and has even cured ear infections for her mom's cat. I've read about using leeches for treatment, but am a bit skeptical about using them for ear infections.

 

Has anybody tried this? If so, did it work? Any comments?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

The bleeding is supposed to be good.

 

Edited January 28, 2015 by robinw

[NeedlenoseJake]

I am not at all squeamish... but I have to admit that last photo made me cringe. I'm not judging her, but that is a lot of blood!

[DesiRayMom]

How is that supposed to "help" arthritis? Not gonna happen here.......never, ever, ever, ever.....never.

[Feisty49]

I am open to unusual idea, but this is beyond my open mind for arthritis.

 

I saw something on PBS a while ago about leeches being used in modern medicine. Unfortunately I can't remember the specifics but one thing I remember is that it was something about circulation disorders because the saliva of a leech causes blood flow to increase and prevents clotting. No wonder the Greyhound in the picture is dripping blood. Leeches have also been used to help blood flow to places on the body where the skin is dying.

 

Nonetheless, for an ear infection or arthritis, I'm not buying it.

[silverfish]

Well, a small study has been done to evaluate leeches for use to relieve the pain and inflammation of arthritis in people and they came out quite well, but it was only a very small study. They used to be used for various reasons in times gone by and it's thought that the 'yuck' factor helped to cause their fall from favour.

Here's a small article I found about their use in dogs: Click

[Guest FordRacingRon]

NO thank you at all.............acupuncture is as far as I would go if I had to make a choice of non-traditional stuff

[Remolacha]

I know leaches (and maggots) are making a small comeback in medicine, but, yuck. In theory, I can see it, leeches used to treat places where there has been a build up of blood/fluids, maggots to get rid of dead tissue, but still, yuck!

[Charla]

They have been used medically in the hospital where I worked, but usually for circulation ... tip of finger or in my favorite patient her dog bit part of her nose off. You can re attach but there is no little to no circulation back from the attached part and it eventually dies. With leeches, they drain off excess fluid and keep the swelling down so whatever circulation there is is easier. They are sterile, kept in special vials and refrigerated, single patient items. We use sterile maggots in wound care too, they're usually encased in a gauzy dressing to keep down the yuck factor

Edited January 29, 2015 by Charla

[HeidisMum]

They have been used medically in the hospital where I worked, but usually for circulation ... tip of finger or in my favorite patient her dog bit part of her nose off. You can re attach but there is no little to no circulation back from the attached part and it eventually dies. With leeches, they drain off excess fluid and keep the swelling down so whatever circulation there is is easier. They are sterile, kept in special vials and refrigerated, single patient items. We use sterile maggots in wound care too, they're usually encased in a gauzy dressing to keep down the yuck factor

This is fascinating to me. I don't want to watch it and hope I never experience it personally, but I don't at all reject the idea. Getting past the yuck factor would be quite hard, but I like these ideas more than the idea of putting man made chemicals in the human body when nature has created something that can work as well without all the possible side effects.

[Riverhound]

Huh. I think it's cool. I'd rather a leech than a bunch of drugs.

[Remolacha]

I could probably handle it if I didn't have to watch

[robinw]

Huh. I think it's cool. I'd rather a leech than a bunch of drugs.

I think it's pretty cool, also. Doesn't seem to bother the dog at all. She also sent a picture of her mom's cat with a leech, and the cat is just hanging out. I'd heard of leeches for scarring, etc, but never for arthritis or infections.

 

She sent me this link, also.

 

http://www.blutegel.de

Edited January 29, 2015 by robinw

[Batmom]

I think a couple arthritis studies have been done. Don't know if folks are still studying or not. Leeches are interesting critters.

[a_daerr]

Fascinating! The amount of blood is a bit alarming.

I wonder if those... for lack of better words... "leech holes" are susceptible to infection?

[galgrey]

This is fascinating to me. I don't want to watch it and hope I never experience it personally, but I don't at all reject the idea. Getting past the yuck factor would be quite hard, but I like these ideas more than the idea of putting man made chemicals in the human body when nature has created something that can work as well without all the possible side effects.

I admit it is hard to get past the yuck factor, but I too find it very interesting. I'm wide open to alternatives to toxic drugs.

[silverfish]

Fascinating! The amount of blood is a bit alarming.

I wonder if those... for lack of better words... "leech holes" are susceptible to infection?

 

I think not, if you take a little care. The leeches' saliva is supposed to be antimicrobial. But all I've read about medical use of leeches in humans suggests that the wound should be bandaged after the leech detaches. I don't know why that would be different for dogs?

[Guest normaandburrell]

I'd have trouble with the yuck factor and the cleanup. I also wonder what would happen with a grey who had a bleeding disorder.

[racindog]

I have heard nothing but positive reports on leeches and maggot use. If it helped my dog I would definitely use either. Heck if I needed their help I'd use them on myself too

[AnneGTS]

I've never used it for my dogs, but I've seen videos and I've heard of people who use leeches for their Greyhounds and Whippets.

[TINMANPDX]

I didn't think I was squeamish, but that last pic was ick. I know they use leaches and even maggots to treat certain conditions - I wonder how the leaching helps relieve arthritis?