Vets in the U.S. are using acupuncture to treat pets for a wide range of medical problems. Some of the complaints that are being treated in dogs and cats by the ancient Asian science of the deftly applied needle are chronic back pain, inoperable tumours, neurological troubles, arthritis.
美國獸醫正以針灸治療寵物五花八門的醫療問題。接受這門古老的亞洲醫術熟練靈巧的埋針治療的貓犬，常見的病痛包括長期背痛、無法開刀的腫瘤、神經痛和關節炎。
For instance, Jordan Kocen's veterinary clinic has a solution, offering acupuncture as an alternative to his many patients.
例如，柯森寵物獸醫診所就有辦法治這些毛病，對很多上門的病患，他提供另類療法：針灸。
"I use homeopathy, Chinese herbs and acupuncture," said the 50-year-old veterinarian, who practices at "South Paws" in Fairfax, Virginia just outside the US capital Washington. "It's the same type of needle as for people. The basic acupuncture channels are the same. Acupuncture pathways mirror the nervous system and stimulate it the same way."
「我使用順勢療法，中藥和針灸，」這位50歲的獸醫在美國首府華盛頓市郊維吉尼亞州費爾法克斯的「South Paws診所」行醫。「寵物和人針灸時所使用的針相同，基本的針灸穴道也一樣。針灸路徑沿著神經系統，也以同樣方式刺激它。」
Kocen had just riddled with needles a 13-year-old cat, Alexa, whose mysterious symptoms -- constantly staggering and nodding her head -- have improved in the four weeks since the sessions began, owner Joan Ferguson said.
柯森剛剛為一隻13歲的貓艾莉沙全身插滿了針，她得了一種怪病，走路常常搖搖晃晃又不斷點頭，貓主人瓊安‧佛古森說，開始接受針灸四周後，情況已經改善。
"I had her do two MRIs (radiological body scans), a spinal tap and some blood work. (It cost) a lot of money. The neurologist just didn't know what to suggest," she said.
她說：「我幫她做了兩次全身核磁共振攝影，一次整脊和幾次血液檢查。花了不少錢，連神經科醫師也束手無策。」
Desperate, Ferguson turned to an acupuncturist and Alexa has not batted an eyelid at the treatment, rather finding relief in the forest of needles lined down her spine.
情急之下，佛古森轉而求助針灸，艾莉沙在整個針灸過程中泰然自若，眼睛眨都不眨一下，反而在沿著她背脊林立的針中紓解痛苦、得到慰藉。
More and more vets are turning to this alternative therapy in the United States where the market for pet products, never lacking in imagination, is constantly growing.
美國越來越多獸醫轉而行使這種替代療法，美國寵物產品不斷推陳出新，市場也不斷成長。
Out of 86,000 veterinaries worldwide, between 900 and 2,000 practice acupuncture, according to professional groups, whose numbers are also rising.
據專業團體指出，在全球8萬6千位獸醫中，有900到2000位對寵物針灸，而且數字還不斷增加。
"More and more pet owners are looking at holistic modality. It's growing. Three hundred veterinarians each year take a post-doctoral course in acupuncture. It's been like this since 2002," said International Veterinary Acupuncture Society executive director Vikki Weber.
「越來越多寵物主人注意到整體醫學療法，而且有增無減，每年有300位獸醫念博士後時修針灸課程。事實上，2002年之後一直如此，」國際獸醫針灸協會執行長維琪‧韋伯說。
Weber, whose group counts 900 members in the United States, said acupuncture has been recognized as a valid treatment by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA).
這個協會在美國有900位會員，韋伯表示，針灸已經被美國獸醫師協會認可為有效的療法。
The number of acupuncturists is "certainly on the rise" and there is "some anecdotal evidence to support the efficacy" of alternative veterinary medicine, including acupuncture, recognized Michael San Filippo, spokesman for the association, which focuses on conventional medicine.
針灸醫生的數字「的確不斷增加」，而且「有些案例足以證明替代獸醫學的療效」，包括針灸在內，美國獸醫師協會發言人菲利波坦承，該協會側重傳統醫學療法。
Kocen, who has been a veterinarian since 1986 and practiced acupuncture since 1995, said that "80 percent of the cases show improvement."
柯森1986年就當上獸醫，1995年開始學針灸，他表示「80%患者病情有起色。」
He now has some 1,500 clients, with between eight and 15 appointments per day shared between himself and his assistant. Each consultation costs 95 dollars.
目前他有1500位病患，每天預約門診有8到15位，由他自己和助理醫生一起看診，每次診療費用95美元。
Acupuncture is "more accepted", Kocen said as he leaned over one of his regular customers, Lexus, an 11-year-old Saint Bernard dog, who has suffered weekly epileptic fits since the age of two.
柯森指出，針灸「接受度提高」，他彎身看他的老病患、11歲的聖伯納犬萊克斯，牠從兩歲開始每周癲癇發作。
Owner Sally Rabb has brought Lexus in for a monthly acupuncture session for the past four years. He also receives five doses of anti-epileptic medication per day. "We can see a change in him after he had his treatment," Rabb said. "He can't get out of the car fast enough, he likes to come here."
狗主人莎莉‧拉布過去四年來，每個月帶萊克斯來接受針灸治療，此外，每天還要服用五劑抗癲癇藥物。拉布說：「我們可以看出牠接受治療後病情顯著改善，牠老是迫不急待搶著下車，要到這裡來。」
As with a clinic for humans, the vet goes from room to room to place or check the needles during the 20-minute sessions.
一如為人看病的診所，獸醫在20分鐘的療程中，輪流到各病房為患者埋針或檢查。
"It was an opportunity to expand what I do and it kept me busy," said Kocen, before turning to Trixy, a handicapped dog rescued by Washington Post photographer Carol Guzy after deadly Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in Louisiana.
「這給我擴大行醫的機會，也使我比較忙碌，」柯森說。他隨即轉頭照護一隻殘障犬崔西，牠是在造成慘重傷亡的颶風卡翠娜重創路易斯安那州紐奧良之後，被華盛頓郵報攝影記者卡洛‧古智救回家的。
Dr Patti Schaefer, a Washington state vet, said that the success of the treatment had even encouraged some of the pets' owners to get treated with it themselves.
華盛頓州獸醫派蒂‧薛佛醫生說，針灸療法成功甚至鼓勵一些寵物的主人也接受這種療法。
Photo shows Holistic Medicine Veterinarian Jordan Kocen inserting several acupuncture needles into the back of Boston Terrier Jake, 14, who has back problems, July 22 at South Paws Vet in Fairfax, Virginia.
照片（法新社）顯示整體醫學獸醫柯森7月22日正在維吉尼亞州費爾法克斯的South Paws診所為14歲的波士頓梗犬傑克在背脊上埋針，傑克有背痛的毛病。