Gold Bead Implants for Dogs

Acupuncture and herbal medicines are not just for humans anymore. Animals are treated with nontraditional medical procedures for ailments like arthritis and hip dysplasia. The centuries-old practice of acupuncture -- inserting needles into specific pressure points on the body to relieve pain and restore balance to the body -- is still used today. A permanent form of acupuncture for dogs involves implanting gold beads.

  1. Gold beads

    • Tiny beads the size of pinheads are implanted under the skin at acupuncture points along the neck and back. Typically, three to five beads are inserted at each location. The dog is sedated during the procedure and the beads are left in place unless infection or other complications occur. Gold is nonreactive in the body, meaning it will not react with oxygen and will not tarnish or corrode. It also conducts electricity.

    Complications

    • Implanting gold beads can cause infection and the beads sometimes move from their original placement points. Gold also emits a weak positive charge that scientists warn may encourage the growth of tumors, cancer or bone infections. If any of these conditions occur, the beads should be removed.

    Treated Conditions

    • Allergies, arthritis, asthma, back injuries, seizures and incontinence are some of the aliments treated with gold bead implants. But not all dogs show improvement after implanting the beads. The procedure is usually only used when traditional medicine does not work or improve the quality of the dog's life. The theory behind the treatment is that gold emits a slightly positive charge and illnesses are caused by negative energy, so the beads overcome the negative charges and cure the ailment.

    Healing Powers

    • Acupuncture appears to increase circulation by stimulating specific points on the body through a small puncture with a needle. The identified areas correspond to central nervous system endings and the pricks affect endocrine and musculoskeletal systems.

      The Chinese believe disease is an imbalance of energy in the body and acupuncture therapy rebalances that energy and heals the patient.