After reading about a study in which electroacupuncture reduced dogs’ need for general anesthetics for some surgical procedures, a research team wondered if the same might be true for horses.

“Inhalant anesthetics are commonly used to maintain general anesthesia in horses,” explained Laura Romanò, DVM, a private practitioner from Italy, during the 2011 American Association of Equine Practitioners annual convention held Nov. 18-22 in San Antonio, Texas.

However, compared with other species, horses have a higher risk of cardiac (heart) problems and myopathy (muscle problems) associated with general anesthesia. Thus, reducing the amount of anesthetic required in horses could minimize these undesirable side effects