London, July 27 (ANI): 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 arthritis, inoperable tumours, chronic pain and neurological problems, reports the Telegraph.

Almost 1,000 vets in the U.S., where the pet industry is worth 30 billion pounds a year, have turned to acupuncture.

Acupuncture, which has gradually gained acceptance within the vet world, is now being recognised as a valid treatment by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA).

A representative for AMVA said that there was “some anecdotal evidence to support the efficacy” of alternative veterinary medicine, including acupuncture.

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.

Jordan Kocen, from the South Paws vet surgery in Fairfax, Virginia, said he used homeopathy, Chinese herbs and acupuncture as alternative to conventional medicine.

The treatment is similar to the human variant, using the same type of needles inserted in the same places.

Kocen said it had shown improvement in 80 per cent of cases. (ANI)