Bobby Zablan's dog, Kiko, a gorgeous English Staffordshire Terrier, turned 7 in May. About the same time, Kiko started to drag his hind legs. X-rays showed narrowing of the vertebrae in his back, possibly causing a pinched nerve. There were several treatment possibilities, which included steroids and less traditional methods.

Zablan said, "Steroids have more side effects. I chose to save that as the last resort."

Zablan decided on acupuncture and turned to Dr. Leianne Lee Loy at VCA University Animal Hospital. Kiko has had three weekly treatments and will have another treatment in a month. For some animals, results are seen immediately. Others, like Kiko, may take longer.

Zablan believes the treatments are working. Kiko still drags his feet but then he starts to walk normally after "warming up."

Said Lee Loy: "Chinese medicine deals with patterns. So instead of treating a Western disease, I'm feeling his pulse, looking at his tongue and touching him to look at the points that are most sensitive. We are not just treating the symptoms, we are treating the individual."

Acupuncture for pets is the same as in humans. "It's the same philosophy. We are trying to move the chi, move the stagnation that is happening in the body and circulating the chi as well the blood," said Lee Loy.

There are fewer than 10 veterinary acupuncturists in Hawai'i because the training is specialized.

Lee Loy began the session with a Q&A on how Kiko's been doing, while she feels for tender spots.

Twelve needles were inserted in the head, neck, spine and feet. In a soothing voice, she said: "You're doing well, Kiko. You're OK, you're OK."

When she got to the most tender spots on his feet, Lee Loy gave Kiko a warning, "Kiko, good breath, sweetie. Breathe, breathe," while the needle went in. Kiko flinched slightly but relaxed immediately after Zablan reassured him in a calm voice, "Good boy."

Kiko was then moved to the floor to wait for 20 minutes while the needles were in place. Lee Loy observed him carefully, making sure none of the needles fell out and most importantly, Kiko didn't swallow any of them!

Kiko's also been on a regimen of Chinese herbs prescribed by Lee Loy.

How does Lee Loy decide which method is best to treat a pet?

"It depends how open the clients are to it," she said. "There are some individuals that just want Western medicine. There are some individuals who want to incorporate both."

Lee Loy has had much success using Chinese medicine. "You can see results with arthritis, with internal medicine problems. You can use it on cancer patients. It's open as far as the diseases and patterns that we're treating."

Animal lover Leslie Kawamoto has been with the Advertiser for 19 years, or 133 in dog years. Check out her blog at www.HonoluluAdvertiser.com/Blogs.