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Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia In A Dog

by henry - September 6, 2025 View Case Report

In early July Cooper, a 9 year old Labradoodle, presented at an Integrative Practice where I work very part time (I'm not very good at retiring). He was scheduled to see the practice owner for acupuncture on an emergency basis. He had just come from the Iowas State University Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center where he had been treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The oncologist there said that there was no more they could do and that he probably wouldn't survive the 45 minute drive back to Des Moines. My colleague asked for an herb recommendation from me and I entered the exam room to do a tongue and pulse exam.

Cooper was lying there completely non-responsive and after a tongue and pulse exam I suggested XCHT. My colleague asked if I would do acupuncture and I proceeded to treat primarily Shao Yang and Blood Tonifying points. The patient was completely immobile and non-responsive.

I asked them to let me know if anything good happened, but didn't really expect anything. Two weeks later I walked into an exam room to see a new patient and there was Cooper, sitting up and begging for treats. He had started to improve after the acupuncture treatment.

Since then, I have continued to treat him with acupuncture weekly and he remains on XCHT. His behavior is completely normal.The practice owner has kept him on prednisone which is starting to show some side effects but that is her area, not mine. His CBC has slowly improved and is now normal.

I have experienced some dramatic recoveries in the 20 plus years I have been doing acupuncture but never anything like this. I have renamed Cooper "Lazarus."

I wanted to share this case but also to ask: how did this happen? From a TCM point of view, I am thinking that Yin and Yang were separating and the Shao Yang points helped to reverse this. But I am interested in your much more experience input and also to see if you have any further suggestions. Thank you for stressing the importance of Shao Yang points

Thank you, Deirdre Farr

by naturevet

September 8, 2025

Wow, what an amazing story! Nicely done!! Yes, I agree with your explanation. Most tumors of the lymphatic system are Shao Yang disharmonies, which if left unchecked, allow Yang and Yin to separate, leading to a cessation of the production of Source Qi. It's a pretty quick ride to the end, the more severe the cessation.

The second half of summer is when this is especially a problem, as Yang is already on the exterior, and Yin is moving inwards. If Yin deficiency (and Blood deficiency) are present as well, then the problem and risk of death is aggravated. So, the second half of this equation is your working to nourish Blood and Yin. Again, nicely done.

Continued good luck with Cooper, Deirdre! I hope word gets back to the specialist center how well Cooper is doing, so they maybe start to think of integrative medicine as an option for their patients.

Steve

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