IVAS replies to cruelty allegations at 1985 World Small Animal Veterinary Association Conference

Authors: Jaggar DH
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 34, Issue 7, pp 118-119, Jul 1986
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: General
Subject Terms: Animal welfare
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: The International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (I.V.A.S.), following its own independent enquiry, wishes to comment on allegations of cruelty to, and the infliction of unnecessary suffering on, dogs at a demonstration of acupuncture analgesia at the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Conference in Japan in November, 198.5, as follows: I.V.A.S. considers the provision of adequate welfare to animals as primary and overrides any interest there may be to promote or demonstrate acupuncture techniques as a valid veterinary modality. I.V.A.S. does not condone the use of animals in acupuncture demonstrations if unnecessary pain or suffering are caused thereby. In particular, adequate analgesia must be confirmed before any surgical intervention is attempted. I.V.A.S. accepts that acupuncture hypoalgesia (commonly referred to as acupuncture analgesia) is not always successful, particularly in relatively healthy animals. In fact acupuncture hypoalgesia is an infrequent procedure in clinical practice for a variety of reasons. It is frequently insufficient for painless surgery and the situation appears to be similar to that in humans, where some individuals are more responsive subjects than others…

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