According to a Daily Mail report, a lion at the Paignton Zoo in Devon has become the first lion in the UK to receive acupuncture. He needed the treatment after he had a tumour removed from his foot earlier this year.
The treatment is said to help with pain and the vets argued that he will make a full recovery.
Lucifer is an 11 year old lion and was given a mild sedative before vet Nicki Grint placed close to 30 needles into his right hind-foot.
The needles stayed on for 15 minutes and this unconventional treatment is being used to treat pain and help blood flow.
According veterinary associate Jo Reynard, the acupuncture is being used in conjunction with normal pain killers.
A Cape Town vet in Kenilworth has been known to use alternative homeopathic remedies.
According to Candice Bloom from the Cape Animal Medical Centre they have a house vet, Dr Barry Hindmarch, who specialises in alternative therapies.
The clinic offers acupuncture, laser therapy, herbal medicine and homoeopathy.
Bloom said that they have seen cases where the use of alternative treatment has been incredibly successful.
According to the clinic alternative therapy aims to promote the self-healing processes in order to restore the harmonious working of the physical and biochemical elements of an animal’s body and mind.