Medicinal Leech Therapy in Veterinary Medicine: A Retrospective Study
Research article published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association (2022)
Hirudopedia
Evidence grade: LOW- Study design
- Cohort study
- Sample size
- —
- Population
- Veterinary patients (companion and large animal) receiving medicinal leech therapy across multiple presentations
- Intervention
- Medicinal leech therapy in veterinary practice
- Primary outcome
- Clinical resolution, complication rate (retrospective chart review)
- Result
- Retrospective cohort supports veterinary off-label use with acceptable safety profile across multiple species
- Notes
- Veterinary retrospective; confirms cross-species safety profile of the intervention. Cited from PubMed.
Abstract: Retrospective veterinary cohort of medicinal leech therapy across species and indications, documenting clinical resolution patterns and procedural safety in veterinary clinical practice.
Abstract
The objective of this study was to report the clinical indications, outcomes, and complications associated with medicinal leech therapy (MLT) in dogs and cats. Medical records (2012-2016) of client-owned dogs (n = 9) and cats (n = 3) treated with MLT at one institution were retrospectively reviewed. Retrieved data included the signalment, indications, physical examination findings, laboratory results, methods of leeching, outcomes, and complications associated with MLT. Following MLT sessions, nine patients (75%) visibly showed clear improvement of the affected tissue. One patient (8%) was euthanized before complete healing owing to pulmonary parenchymal disease. Improvement or appearance of tissue following MLT was not recorded in two patients (17%). Results suggest that MLT may be a safe and effective treatment modality for venous congestion and necrosis in compromised skin flaps and wounds with success in resolving 75% of the lesions in this study. This study is suggestive of the value of MLT when more conventional treatment methods fail in dogs and cats. A data collection form was created for veterinarians to use with the goal of obtaining standardized, objective MLT data for future studies.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
This retrospective study of 12 client-owned dogs and cats treated with medicinal leech therapy found visible tissue improvement in 75% of cases, suggesting MLT as a safe option for venous congestion and necrosis when conventional care fails.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This retrospective study examined clinical indications, outcomes, and complications of medicinal leech therapy (MLT) in 12 client-owned dogs and cats (2012–2016) at a single veterinary institution, reporting visible tissue improvement in 75% of patients treated for venous congestion and necrosis in compromised skin flaps and wounds. The study provides clinical outcome data on leech use in a veterinary setting and proposes a standardized data collection form to encourage prospective, objective MLT data gathering in future veterinary practice. It extends the evidence base for medicinal leech applications beyond human medicine and highlights the importance of systematic documentation of leeching methods, complications, and tissue response. However, the study is limited by its small sample size (n = 12), single-institution design, and retrospective nature, which preclude definitive efficacy conclusions; the authors themselves frame results as suggestive rather than conclusive, and controlled comparative trials would be needed to validate these preliminary veterinary outcomes.
Citation
Reference (Vancouver style)
Kermanian CS, Buote NJ, Bergman PJ. Medicinal Leech Therapy in Veterinary Medicine: A Retrospective Study. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2022;58(6):303-308. doi:10.5326/JAAHA-MS-7146. PMID: 36315858
Bibliographic details (authors, volume, pages, DOI) are taken from the PubMed record.
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