Traditional Chinese herbs and acupuncture needles are being used successfully by a Singapore veterinarian to treat horses, giraffes and even a stressed Indonesian Komodo dragon.

Oh Soon Hock, who is also a medical practitioner, said he had became disappointed with the effect of modern medicine on animals at the Singapore Zoological Gardens, and in frustration turned to traditional Chinese methods.

"I've used the powdered herbs to treat chest wounds in giraffes and cornea infections in horses. It has proven to be very effective," Oh said.

"Using Chinese herbs actually saves the zoo a lot of money," said Oh, who said despite its 3,000-year history, Chinese medicine was often viewed with scepticism.
"When I first started using the herbs no one believed in it. I had to fight to use it on animals... Now I've got to prove that it works."

Oh, who has been working with animals for 13 years, has also been using another form of traditional Chinese treatment + acupuncture.

Since early August, Tirto, a sun-loving giant lizard from the Indonesian island of Komodo, has had thin acupuncture needles placed in his back, legs and mouth twice a week to help cure a neurological disorder.

"Before the treatment, he had trouble eating and swallowing and was very depressed," said Oh. "The treatment is working really well."

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