The TCM veterinarian carefully places a gray dog — a schnauzer — on a bed, disinfects fissures on three paws and begins an acupuncture procedure.

Niuniu, the dog, is 10 years old and has been hospitalized for 10 days for inflammation of the left hip, which causes pain and influences walking.

“This is when traditional Chinese medicine can play a role, ” said Guo Yang, a vet at Shennong-Wellhope Animal Hospital, who is also an animal husbandry and veterinary lecturer from Shenyang Agricultural University.

Guo has been doing this sort of work for 15 years and has helped more than 200 dogs and cats troubled by nerve damage that brought pain, paralysis, inflammation and walking difficulty.

To date, China has a TCM veterinary history of more than 1,000 years to help horses, pigs, sheep and other animals, including dogs.