The American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) House of Delegates recently adopted a revised policy on Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Veterinary Medicine (IVM), reflecting a growing clinical and academic interest in complementary therapies. IVM is defined as "a comprehensive approach to animal health care that combines conventional veterinary practices with complementary and alternative therapies, such as acupuncture and chiropractic care." While the utilization of IVM is increasing, a critical knowledge gap remains regarding its evidence-based integration into mainstream veterinary practice. This article provides an overview of the purpose, scope, and potential clinical contribution of commonly used modalities, including acupuncture, physical rehabilitation, manual and massage therapies, herbal medicine, and integrative nutrition. Each modality is briefly examined in terms of proposed mechanisms, therapeutic indications, and current research support. The goal is to clarify the role of IVM within veterinary clinical decision-making and promote a balanced, science-informed framework for its application. Acupuncture, a core IVM modality, uses fine needles to stimulate the body's natural healing mechanisms. Physical rehabilitation targets neurological and musculoskeletal conditions, providing multidimensional care. Manual therapies apply hands-on techniques to soft tissues, joints, and nerves to promote relaxation, pain relief, and mobility. Integrative nutrition emphasizes personalized dietary plans that support overall health. Botanical medicine leverages the therapeutic properties of plants and their derivatives as part of a holistic treatment strategy. The takeaway emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring safety, and ethical practice in offering integrative veterinary care.

After 6 years of veterinary education at Lebanese University (LU), the first group of 17 veterinary students graduated in September 2012.By May 2023, 190 veterinarians have graduated from LU. Veterinary education at LU is essentially free, with students paying fees of only US$250 per year.The veterinary courses are taught by 20 non-veterinarian PhD instructors and by 11 part-time private veterinary practitioners.The veterinary education on LU's campus consists of lectures and limited hands-on experience.The clinical experience, though required, is sought out by students at private veterinary practices.The Lebanese Veterinary Association (LVA), started in 1995, has 432 registered veterinarians graduated from 27 countries.Out of these registered veterinarians, 384 are active, with the remaining retired or not working as veterinarians.One hundred and fifty ( 150) and 200 identify themselves as small and large animal veterinarians, respectively.Fifty (50) veterinarians work for the Ministry of Agriculture and 22 in slaughterhouses.Veterinary graduates from any country may register with the LVA, and currently, there is no examination or a test to qualify to practice veterinary medicine in Lebanon.However, LVA is working on implementing a new rule that requires veterinarians to pass an examination to practice in Lebanon.The current financial crisis has forced many veterinarians to migrate searching for better opportunities outside Lebanon.

A survey approved by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges was sent to the academic deans of all 49 accredited veterinary colleges to obtain information on educational programs offered in integrative veterinary medicine (IVM). Results were compared to a previous survey with a similar design performed 7 years earlier. Survey responses were received from 43 of 49 institutions (87.8%). Thirteen respondents (30.2%) reported offering a formal course in IVM, 33 (76.7%) offered some level of instruction in the curriculum, and 32 (74.4%) provided clinical services in IVM. The most common IVM topics covered in the curriculum were rehabilitation and acupuncture. Dedicated courses in IVM had decreased since the previous survey, although faculty trained in at least one aspect of IVM increased. Clinical services incorporating IVM were present in the majority of veterinary teaching hospitals. Further investigation is required to determine the effectiveness of current IVM training in preparing veterinary graduates to discuss or utilize IVM in practice.

Acupuncture and the administration of herbal supplements are increasingly used in veterinary practice, but no retrospective studies have examined patient characteristics and treatment interventions in a population of dogs and cats presenting exclusively for such therapies. This two-year retrospective analysis of 161 referrals to an integrative medicine service at an academic teaching hospital found that dogs were more frequently treated than cats (91.9% vs. 8.1%, respectively) and that small animal patients most frequently were presented for musculoskeletal (26.7%), neurologic (16.8%), oncologic (14.9%), and dermatologic (10.6%) conditions. Cats were older than treated dogs (12.7 ± 3.7 vs. 9.5 ± 4.3 years) and more likely to be treated for oncologic complaints (odds ratio = 5.6). Patients received acupuncture (95.4%), herbal supplements (76.4%), acupuncture with percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (electroacupuncture, 26.1%), and/or cyanocobalamin injections in acupuncture points (pharmacopuncture, 23.6%). Some differences were detected between treatment groups. This retrospective analysis provides a foundation for designing future prospective studies using acupuncture and herbs in dogs and cats.

Equine acupuncture and herbal medicine are increasingly popular and have been anecdotally used in the treatment of a number of conditions. There is, however, a lack of data on the most commonly treated conditions in horses. The medical records of 164 horses presented exclusively for acupuncture and herbal therapy over a three-year period from October 2012 to October 2015 were evaluated from a mixed animal integrative medicine service at a veterinary academic teaching hospital. Horses were presented primarily for musculoskeletal conditions (62.0%), gastrointestinal disorders (9.5%), and anhydrosis (6.1%). Nearly half of all treated horses were geldings, and the mean age of treatment was 10.7 ± 6.5 years. The most common breeds were Warmbloods (28.2%), Quarter horses (20.2%), Thoroughbreds (17.8%), and Arabians (8.0%). Treatments included acupuncture (90.2%), herbal supplements (79.8%), electroacupuncture (69.9%), B12 injections (pharmacoacupuncture, 29.4%), or administration of autologous blood at acupuncture points (hemoacupuncture, 8.0%). Thirty-eight (38) different herbal formulas were recommended during the study period. Horses that were not provided herbal recommendations were more likely to present with gastrointestinal complaints (odds ratio = 11.2). Sex, breed, and presenting complaint had no or minimal impact on the types of treatments performed during the visit. However, data regarding patient characteristics and presenting complaints provide novel information which can be used to design prospective clinical trials.

Background: Since the last decade, the therapeutic potentials of natural phenolic antioxidants in human diseases associated with oxidative damage have received great attention. Within the last few years, a rapidly growing number of natural compounds with neuro-protective effects have been described. Many efforts have been made to explore the mechanisms for the neuro-protective properties of natural compounds. This review focuses on the beneficial effects of natural products in treating traumatic brain injury (TBI). Numerous epidemiological studies have shown consistent health benefits through the consumption of fruits, vegetables and nuts. In this review, we have summarized the protective effects of natural compounds [apocynin, (-)-epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), baicalein, caffeic acid, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, hydroxysaffloryellow A, osthole, oxy-resveratrol, pycnogenol, resveratrol, salvianolicacid B, triptolide and wogonin], and omega-3 fatty acid, particularly docosahexaenoic acid and its metabolites, may be used as personalized medicine against TBI and we have also discussed some of the barricades in translating these biofunctional compounds into relevant therapeutics for TBI. Conclusion: The benefits of natural products for traumatic brain injury show high inter-individual variability in their therapeutic effects and thus, this article addresses the intersection between novel therapeutics for traumatic brain injury and personalized medicine that will allow a broader range of interventions including the evidence-based natural products. Keywords: EGCG, natural products, oxidative stress, phytochemicals, resveratrol, traumatic brain injury.

Integrative veterinary medicine (IVM) describes the combination of complementary and alternative therapies with conventional care and is guided by the best available evidence. Veterinarians frequently encounter questions about complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) in practice, and the general public has demonstrated increased interest in these areas for both human and animal health. Consequently, veterinary students should receive adequate exposure to the principles, theories, and current knowledge supporting or refuting such techniques. A proposed curriculum guideline would broadly introduce students to the objective evaluation of new veterinary treatments while increasing their preparation for responding to questions about IVM in clinical practice. Such a course should be evidence-based, unbiased, and unaffiliated with any particular CAVM advocacy or training group. All IVM courses require routine updating as new information becomes available. Controversies regarding IVM and CAVM must be addressed within the course and throughout the entire curriculum. Instructional honesty regarding the uncertainties in this emerging field is critical. Increased training of future veterinary professionals in IVM may produce an openness to new ideas that characterizes the scientific method and a willingness to pursue and incorporate evidence-based medicine in clinical practice with all therapies, including those presently regarded as integrative, complementary, or alternative.

Integrative veterinary medicine, the combination of complementary and alternative therapies with conventional care, is increasingly prevalent in veterinary practice and a focus of clinical instruction in many academic teaching institutions. However, the presenting complaints, therapeutic modalities, and patient population in an integrative medicine service have not been described. A retrospective analysis of 5,195 integrative patient treatment sessions in a veterinary academic teaching hospital demonstrated that patients most commonly received a combination of therapeutic modalities (39% of all treatment sessions). The 274 patients receiving multiple modalities were most frequently treated for neurologic and orthopedic disease (50.7% versus 49.6% of all presenting complaints, resp.). Older neutered or spayed dogs (mean age = 9.0 years) and Dachshunds were treated more often than expected based on general population statistics. Acupuncture, laser therapy, electroacupuncture, and hydrotherapy were frequently administered (>50% patients). Neurologic patients were more likely to receive acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and therapeutic exercises but less likely than orthopedic patients to receive laser, hydrotherapy, or therapeutic ultrasound treatments (P < 0.05). The results suggest that the application of these specific modalities to orthopedic and neurologic diseases should be subjected to increased evidence-based investigations. A review of current knowledge in core areas is presented.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an acquired brain trauma that occurs when any sudden trauma/injury causes damage to the brain. TBI is characterized by tissue damage and imbalance in the cerebral blood flow and metabolism. It has been established through laboratory experiments that the dietary supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) could reduce the oxidative stress developed in brain due to TBI. The inclusion of omega-3 FA in diet could normalize the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and thus, it could restore the survival of neuronal cells. BDNF improves the synaptic transmission by regulating synapsin 1 and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein. The brain tissue analysis of TBI models supplemented with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) showed significantly reduced lipid peroxidation, nucleic acid and protein oxidation, thereby promoting neuronal and glial cell survival. Thus, omega-3 FA intake could be considered as a therapeutic option to reduce the secondary neuronal damages initiated by TBI.

Recent clinical research has demonstrated that berry fruits can prevent age-related neurodegenerative diseases and improve motor and cognitive functions. The berry fruits are also capable of modulating signaling pathways involved in inflammation, cell survival, neurotransmission and enhancing neuroplasticity. The neuroprotective effects of berry fruits on neurodegenerative diseases are related to phytochemicals such as anthocyanin, caffeic acid, catechin, quercetin, kaempferol and tannin. In this review, we made an attempt to clearly describe the beneficial effects of various types of berries as promising neuroprotective agents.

Mangiferin, a polyphenol compound of C-glucoside, is well-known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic and cognitive enhancement properties. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of mangiferin against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is most popular and widely used to evaluate therapeutic implications of new protective agents. Male C57BL/6 mice were orally treated with mangiferin (10, 20 and 40mg/kg body wt.) for 14days and from 10th day onwards MPTP (30mg/kg, i.p.) was injected for last 5days. MPTP treatment leads to enhanced oxidative stress, induction of apoptosis (upregulates the expression of Bax, proapoptotic protein and downregulates the expression of anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2), and loss of dopominergic neurons which results in motor impairments. Results of our study confirmed that mangiferin prevented MPTP-induced behavioral deficits, oxidative stress, apoptosis, dopaminergic neuronal degeneration and dopamine depletion. Taken together, we conclude that mangiferin attenuates the dopaminergic neurodegeneration mainly through its potent antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties.

Family farming is still the heart of rural China, supporting millions of families, with the typical family farm raising animals and growing crops suitable to the local climatic conditions and fulfilling the needs of local markets. But over the next 10 years, China is expected to experience the greatest degree of urbanization in world history. According to the McKinsey Global Health Institute, 1 the population of China will grow by approximately 350 million by 2025, with a billion people living in cities and 221 cities having a population of a million people or more. This trend toward urbanization is expected to be accompanied by a rapid increase in the size of the middle class, with an attendant tremendous increase in the demand for highquality protein. To meet increasing consumer demands, more Chinese veterinarians will be needed to assist with food animal production. In addition, although most Chinese veterinarians currently work in the areas of food safety, research, government, and agriculture, the increase in the number of middle-income and upper-income families will also result in an increase in the number of pets and an increase in the demand for small animal veterinarians. Given these trends, there is great potential for collaborative efforts of mutual interest and benefit to the US and Chinese veterinary professions. In this article, we explore some of those areas of potential collaboration.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of addition of egg yolk (EY) or soy lecithin (SL) based extenders on dog sperm parameters during 10 days storage at 5 °C. Four ejaculates of pooled semen from three Mongrel dogs were divided into three aliquots and extended to a final concentration of 200 million sperm/mL using following non-commercial extenders: egg yolk extender (EYE) group – semen + 20% Tris-EYE; soy lecithin (SL) group 1 – semen + SL extender with 0.04% SL; SL group 2 – semen + SL extender 0.4% SL. The extended semen samples were stored at 5 °C and were evaluated for sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), plasma membrane integrity (%PMI) and computer assisted sperm analyzer (CASA) sperm motility parameters on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10. The extender, days of storage and extender × days of storage affected the MMP, %PMI and CASA sperm motility parameters (P < 0.05). The addition of 0.4% SL extender reduced the speed of deterioration of sperm parameters evaluated in this study compared to EY and 0.04% SL extenders (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of 0.4% SL extender enhanced sperm preservation based on the variables evaluated in the present study compared to EYE and 0.04% SL extenders and plausibly preserves sperm quality longer.

Objective-To obtain information on educational programs offered in complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) among AVMA Council on Education (COE)-accredited colleges and schools of veterinary medicine.Design-Survey.Sample-41 COE-accredited colleges and schools of veterinary medicine.Procedure-A questionnaire was e-mailed to academic deans at all COE-accredited colleges and schools of veterinary medicine.Results-Responses were received from 34 of 41 schools: 26 in the United States, 2 in Canada, 3 in Australia and New Zealand, and 3 in Europe. Sixteen schools indicated that they offered a CAVM course. Nutritional therapy, acupuncture, and rehabilitation or physical therapy were topics most commonly included in the curriculum. One school required a course in CAVM; all other courses were elective, most of which were 1 to 2 credit hours. Courses were usually a combination of lecture and laboratory; 2 were lecture only, and 1 was laboratory only. Of the 18 schools that reported no courses in CAVM, many addressed some CAVM topics in other courses and 4 indicated plans to offer some type of CAVM course within the next 5 years.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The consensus among survey respondents was that CAVM is an important topic that should be addressed in veterinary medical education, but opinions varied as to the appropriate framework. The most common comment reflected strong opinions that inclusion of CAVM in veterinary medical curricula must be evidence-based. Respondents indicated that students should be aware of CAVM modalities because of strong public interest in CAVM and because practitioners should be able to address client questions from a position of knowledge. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2011;239:619-623)