Hip Dysplasia, an all too common joint disorder that causes pain and discomfort for many dogs. Surgery is a viable option for many but the costs are steep, upwards of $10,000 for bilateral hip replacement. Because of the steep costs associated with surgical intervention many mild to moderate cases of hip dysplasia are treated by managing the symptoms through a variety of different medications and supplements.
One of these treatments was first introduced in the 1970’s by a veterinarian and acupuncturist. This controversial method involved implanting small grains of 24K gold into and around the painful joints of dysplastic dogs. The original theory was that the pure gold grains would stimulate the joints long-term by creating an inflammatory response and therefore provide some level of pain relief. This “gold method” has been used since that time without any real scientific documentation to back up the supposed pain relieving effects.
A graduate student at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Medicine recently completed and published the results of a double blind study that examined the actual medical effects of this “gold” treatment. The study revealed that dogs receiving the gold grain treatment experienced less pain and loss of function. After two years 80% of the gold grain treated dogs still exhibited the positive effects of the treatment.
No costs were mentioned in the article but it seems like with gold being nearly $1,000 an ounce this gold grain treatment might not be a viable option for those who cannot afford surgery. Although compared to $10,000 hip replacement surgery just about anything may seem affordable. The other downside to this treatment is there are probably not many veterinarians who provide the service. You would probably have to visit a holistic care type veterinarian who also specializes in acupuncture.
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