Integrative Treatment Method in Veterinary Medicine: Hirudotherapy

Traditional and complementary medicine methods have a long history in veterinary medicine. Medicinal leech therapy (hirudotherapy) is one of these methods. Medicinal leeches are sanguivorous invertebrates. While sucking blood to feed, they secrete saliva into the host's body. They contain over 100 bioactive molecules with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet, anticoagulant, and antimicrobial extracellular matrix degeneration effects. Consequently, the leeches treat the host by exhibiting a phlebotomic effect, a range of pharmacological effects due to bioactive molecules, and a reflex stimulation effect at the bite site. Recently, leeches have been used successfully in veterinary medicine to treat many diseases of animals, especially dogs, cats, and horses. The most common indications for the use of leeches are venous congestion, acute and chronic arthritis, laminitis in horses, diseases associated with inflammation of tendons, ligaments and fascia, vertebral diseases, and treatment of scars. Despite its frequent application in different countries, there needs to be more scientific literature on the veterinary use of leeches. This article aims to encourage further scientific investigation to expand the veterinary use of leech therapy, which is a cost-effective and relatively safe alternative to other methods, and to elucidate the potential effects of leech secretions.