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HIRUDOTHERAPY

It is a natural therapeutic method that has been known for centuries MEDICINAL SUBSTANCES contained in the saliva of medicinal leeches.

 

In the 19th century, due to the development of antiseptics and microbiology, the importance of hirudotherapy lost some of its significance. For several decades, thanks to scientific research, she has returned to the therapy of humans and animals, especially where the possibility of traditional treatment and pharmacology gives insufficient effects or they are too slow. 

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The common understanding of the action of leeches is based on associating it with bloodletting that purifies the blood. However, scientific research has shown that the basis of the effectiveness of hirudotherapy is mainly the healing power 547 bioactive substances introduced into the patient's bloodstream. 

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Because ofPROVEN CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESSIn human medicine, hirudotherapy has been included in the International List of Medical Procedures ICD-9. In Europe, it has the status of a "medical product".

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In veterinary medicine, it is successfully used in clinics around the world, as evidenced by numerous scientific studies.

WHEN WE USE Leeches:

  • degenerative diseases of joints and spine 

  • discopathies

  • spondylosis

  • dysplasias

  • OCD

  • swelling after injuries and operations

  • local and general inflammation

  • pain and itching of various origins

  • neurological diseases 

  • horse tail syndrome 

  • diseases of the eyes (including cataracts, keratoconjunctivitis), ears and teeth 

  • skin diseases, including burns, frostbite, deep non-healing wounds

  • acceleration of convalescence after orthopedic surgeries of the limbs and spine

  • rheumatoid arthritis

  • nerve damage and neuralgia

  • strokes and ischemic neurological diseases 

  • gastrointestinal diseases (gallstones, pancreatitis, enteritis, obesity, cholecystitis, liver diseases).

  • urological and gynecological diseases (urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections, kidney diseases, infertility in dogs and cats)

pijawki lekarskie, hirudoterapia

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE?

The tested substances in leech saliva cause that the therapy consists in removing inflammation, antithrombotic effect, tissue regeneration, acceleration of bone union, strong analgesic, antipruritic and anti-swelling effect. Researchers and practitioners also prove immunostimulating, stimulating regeneration of nerve cells, antimicrobial, antiallergic, lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and as a supplement to antidiabetic therapy.

CAN I COMBINE HIRUDOTHERAPY WITH MEDICINES FROM A VETERINARY?

Hirudotherapy can be used as an independent method of treatment in various diseases. However, there are no contraindications to combining it with veterinary medicine treatments and applied pharmacology. In the case of animals, therapy with medical leeches replaces often high-risk and expensive surgical procedures (eg spinal cord compression - decompression) or internal medicine (antibiotic-resistant treatment of wounds infected with staph strains).

HOW DOES THE TREATMENT LOOK LIKE?

Medical leeches come only from certified biofarms, and the treatments are carried out by certified hirudotherapists who conduct a health interview, analyze blood results and determine whether there are any contraindications to the procedure. during the procedure, resembling a mosquito bite. The leech quickly releases anesthetics and sedatives, thanks to which the pet relaxes and even falls asleep. In the first phase of work, the leech releases medicinal substances into the patient's body, in the second it takes a small amount of blood. The procedure lasts from a few to several dozen minutes, depending on the patient's condition and indications for therapy. After disconnecting the leech, the bite site bleeds slightly for several hours, the therapist puts a protective dressing on it.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE TREATMENT?

Immediately after the procedure, the animal returns to normal functioning. The dressing is removed by the guardian at home after 24 hours. 

Sometimes one meeting is enough to eliminate the problem. If it is necessary to use a treatment cycle - it includes several therapeutic sessions with an interval of 5-7 days.  During the visit, several leeches are applied at a time. 

WHAT ARE THE CONTRAINDICATIONS?

Absolute contraindications are pregnancy, haemophilia, malignant tumors (the exception is palliative analgesic treatment

and sedative) and severe anemia. Caution should be exercised when using hirudotherapy during lactation, heat, bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, erosion of the gastric mucosa. In such cases, the therapist adjusts the therapy

to comorbidities.

If you have any doubts whether your pet can undergo the procedure, the hirudotherapist will explain all doubts.

EXAMPLES OF OUR TREATMENTS:

pijawki lekarskie, hirudoterapia

Toro's patient: increased blood supply and tissue nutrition after trauma with associated risk of ischemic necrosis, progressive infection despite proper surgical intervention). 5 treatments with leeches (photo Centrum ProAnimal)

pijawki lekarskie, hirudoterapia

Patient Baster: faster healing of wounds infected with 7 strains of bacteria (including Staphylococcus aureus)

after many months of unsuccessful pharmacological treatment. 4 hirudotherapy treatments (photo Centrum ProAnimal)

pijawki lekarskie, hirudoterapia

Patient Olaf: anti-oedematous, anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory effect as well as accelerating bone union

after surgical correction of the front paw bone. 2 treatments with medical leeches (photo by Centrum ProAnimal)

pijawki lekarskie, hirudoterapia

Patient Tiberius: embolism, limb ischemia and tissue necrosis. Recommendation drug. vet. limb amputation. After 2 hirudotherapy treatments, circulation was restored, subsequent sessions allowed for automatic closure of the wound after removal of the necrotic tissue (photo by Centrum ProAnimal)

pijawki lekarskie, hirudoterapia

Patient Nana: anti-inflammatory, anti-pruritic and sedative effects in compulsive paw licking

on the nervous background with secondary bacterial and fungal infection. (photo by Centrum ProAnimal)

pijawki lekarskie, hirudoterapia

Patient Rico: therapy decompressing the spinal cord in a dog with paresis of the pelvic limbs in the course of discopathy. After 2 hirudotherapy treatments, the patient regained the ability to move independently.

(photo by Centrum ProAnimal)

We recommend our article on the use of medicinal leeches

in the treatment of diseases of dogs and cats published on the portalnose.pl

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