Complementary and alternative therapies including acupuncture, chiropractic, and herbal medicine are increasingly used in veterinary practice, with important welfare and evidence questions.
Complementary veterinary medicine occupies a contested space where animal welfare interests can cut in multiple directions. On the positive side, some evidence-supported modalities like acupuncture may reduce reliance on opioid analgesics with their side effects. On the negative side, unproven treatments may delay effective conventional care, and poorly regulated practitioners may cause direct harm. The welfare priority is ensuring that animals receive timely evidence-based pain diagnosis and treatment, with complementary modalities considered as adjuncts where evidence supports them rather than as alternatives to conventional care.