I've got an 8yo FS border collie/cattle dog cross I see for acupuncture for treatment of muscle pain and tension and B cell lymphoma (currently in remission for the past 3 years!). She is a very active dog, but struggles with extremely tight soft tissue after activity. She's a wood/water type dog and she barks at dogs, people, and cars from her home. She's been apprehensive around people who try to touch her head/neck recently. she eats and drinks normally, sleeps well, prefers soft surfaces (no preference for cool or warm). She has a history of a mildly elevated BUN, but normal creatinine and USG.
On exam, she's anxious and better away from the owner. She has extremely tense peri-spinal and hindlimb musculature with some trigger points, though no pain on direct palpation of spine. She takes short strides in front and back and is slow to rise from laying down. She has a faint heart murmur that has been present for years without change. Her TCVM exam reveals the following:
Tongue: Pink with slightly lavender center
Pulses: Full, somewhat forceful (relaxed and softened nicely during treatment)
Shen: Good, typical for Nacho
Meridians: Heat over BL 18-20, sensitive at BL 20, BL 23, BL 54, BL 60, ST 40, LV 3
Temperature: normal to slightly warm
I treated her with: GV 20, An Shen, GV 14, LI 11, BL 18, BL 20, BL 23, Bai Hui, BL 54, GB 34, ST 36, and used laser to treat LV 3, BL 60, KI 3, SP 6 and any trigger points.
I diagnosed her with Wandering Bi, qi stagnation throughout the muscle channels over, neck, back, and hindlimbs, a shen disturbance (liver invading heart), and a history of phlegm and qi deficiency, which now are better managed
She currently takes Wei qi booster, XCHT, Cervical Formula, a back support formula (Contains Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Shu Di Huang, Chuan Xiong, Di Long, Yan Hu Suo, Hong Hua and Tao Ren), occasional muscle relaxers (which help significantly for a short time), galliprant PRN, and uses an assisi loop regularly. Acupuncture helps temporarily and chiro has been helpful in the past. She eats a home cooked, balanced diet.
Any advice in herbal therapy or other options would be helpful! Thanks so much!