mariamorris: April 26, 2019, 2:45pm
Has anyone used Saam acupuncture on dogs? my dog is in critical condition after being hit by a truck with having
swelling on the brain/ concussion. I’m thinking to treat small intestine tonification treatment. Any other
suggestions? Even other suggestions outside Saam or for helping her besides acupuncture? I am giving her
homeopathic arnica. The vet is open to me giving her needles here. Hard to check internet as I’m holding her as
much as I can so if you have ideas could you please text me at 208-721-7240. Much gratitude for any help.
nealjsivula: April 22, 2019, 10:00pm
I texted Maria. I’m a Veterinarian on this list and hopefully gave Maria some useable advice.
michaelmax: April 23, 2019, 1:34am
Hey @nealjsivula, I’d love to hear about your thoughts. Using this method for trauma regardless of what type of
animal we happen to be, would be useful information. After all, people get hit by cars all the time too.
nealjsivula: April 23, 2019, 2:36pm
No problem. There was concern that Maria’s dog either had brain swelling and/or intracranial bleeding. We
discussed things and she opted for a Small Intestine tonification (Tonify SI 3 and GB 41, drain SI 2 and BL 66).
She had a nice reference text to help find the points (Four paws, Five directions). They also started her on Yunnan
Baio for the potential bleeding. She was also getting medication for pain and corticosteroids for the swelling
The treatment seemed to calm her (she is a nervous, excitable dog) but a bit afterwards she started to vocalize and
got worked up. Her cranial nerve function improved after the treatment.
I suggested that she just cookbook some points for calming at that point- GV 14, GV 20, HT 7, PC 6.
Waiting now for more information on how the overnight went.
mariamorris: April 23, 2019, 8:25pm
26/01/2024, 12:28Dog with concussion/brain swelling – Sa’am Clinical Questions – Qiological Community
https://forum.qiological.com/t/dog-with-concussion-brain-swelling/138/print2/4
Hi Neil and Kristin,
Thank you both for texting me with your suggestions and support for my dog, Dakota.
I think the SI tonification treatment did change something in that she was in some audible discomfort before the
treatment and the things that were previously calming her (my touch, valium, pain killer) were no longer making a
difference.
In the initial 5 – 10 minutes of SI treatment she calmed down but would have moments of crying still too. She had
received some IV fluids about 10 minutes after the needles went in. Then after a little while she lifted up her head
and started howling loudly non-stop.
There was a clear change after SI treatment that she could blink her eyes, even though her pupils still remained
completely contracted from the time she was first checked at the vet (I think probably from the time she was hit,
but can’t be sure as I didn’t check them) and that didn’t change. I don’t think the IV fluids would have helped her
with blinking her eyes, so I attribute that to the SI treatment.
She is a difficult case to analyze/judge the results of treatment, as 1) there were many other things being
administered as she was in critical condition at the vet’s office 2) she is a very vocal anxious dog, and so it was
unclear if her howling was due to increased pain or due to increase in consciousness with anxiety.
We thought she was going to make it through, even though others were concerned of her howling being a bad sign
of increased pain. My husband and I very strongly felt it was due to increased consciousness and anxiety. Because
of many factors mainly to do with timing, and since we had decided to take her home for the night, I decided to
wait to give her the GV 14, GV 20, HT 7, PC 6 at home.
Before sending us home, the vet decided to give her diazepam and more pain killer. We didn’t know he was going
to give diazepam. She immediately calmed down with it, and then she was given food by tube into her stomach
mixed with pain killer.
After this vet checked her pupils and they were completely dilated. This was such an extreme as up til then they
had been completely contracted from the time she arrived at the vet. Her whole body had gone limp. Her eyelids
would no longer shut even though her pupils were completely dilated.
She had been gaining strength up until then and we really thought she would make it, but after the last meds she
immediately clearly lost all her strength and will.
We took her home for the overnight, as we wanted her to be with us and not strangers and the vet agreed. She died
4 hours later.
The one thing this made me realize is that as an acupuncturist for humans, I don’t see critical life/death cases and
so there is hesitation with treating. It concerns me if I am in a situation with a family member in critical condition
who is not responding to Western, or not able to get to Western hospital, whether I would feel confident in what to
do.
For example, because in the beginning there was concern that there may be intracranial bleeding, I didn’t feel
comfortable to give her the SI treatment right away, with the thought that it would not allow clotting to occur. This
however is a very Western way of thinking and I don’t know if it was correct. It was only after being at the
vets for about 6 hours and having him say that a clot should have formed by now, that I felt comfortable to treat her
with SI treatment. Perhaps I could have treated her sooner, but I was scared to cause her condition to worsen.26/01/2024, 12:28Dog with concussion/brain swelling – Sa’am Clinical Questions – Qiological Community
https://forum.qiological.com/t/dog-with-concussion-brain-swelling/138/print3/4
nealjsivula: April 23, 2019, 8:46pm
Maria,
I’m so very sorry for your loss of Dakota. These type of cases with increased intracranial pressure can improve and
decline at the drop of a hat. I know that you used your best judgement and gave her the best treatment that you
could. At least in veterinary medicine, our intent is as important as our technique. I’m sure that Dakota knew that
you were trying to help her.
My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
KristinWisgirda: April 23, 2019, 10:47pm
Maria, I am so sorry for your loss of Dakota and the very difficult circumstances of her last hours. There is only so
much than any medicine can do in these extreme emergency situations. It sounds like you and the team of vets just
poured your love into helping her hold on. From my distant point of view, that was a beautiful thing to watch.
Given the origins of Sa’am practice, I’m sure that Toby can provide some insight and strategies for dealing with
emergencies such as these. We can add it to the list of questions for him.
Warm thoughts for you and your family.
Donley: April 24, 2019, 1:54am
Maria,
I’m sorry to hear Dakota didn’t make it. I’ll be thinking of you, your family and her.
mariamorris: April 24, 2019, 4:44am
Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts.
I feel very fortunate and grateful to be a part of this community with you all.
michaelmax: April 25, 2019, 3:17am
@mariamorris so sorry to hear of Dakota’s passing and thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Indeed, most of us are not confronted in our work with such emergent situations. I think in many situations our
medicine is probably of service, but we don’t have training or experience, and so naturally we hesitate.26/01/2024, 12:28Dog with concussion/brain swelling – Sa’am Clinical Questions – Qiological Community
https://forum.qiological.com/t/dog-with-concussion-brain-swelling/138/print4/4
This really does bring up for me the question of who we use our medicine and ourselves in emergent moments.