Bino,8, an Albino Humpback Alligator Receives Acupuncture For Bad Back [VIDEO]

An 8-year-old albino alligator is being given acupuncture treatment for back and leg problems at the Sao Paulo Aquarium.

Veterinary acupuncture has become increasingly popular in the past few years. Vets have used acupuncture on animals to reduce the effects of arthritis as well as allergies. This treatment is also used to cure kidney problems in animals.

Recently, Bino, an 8-year-old male albino alligator at Sao Paulo Aquarium, Brazil, was treated with pins and needles for problems caused by a humpback and scoliosis.

In early 2011, the aquarium veterinarians decided to treat the hapless Bino with acupuncture, a common trend around the world to treat horses, cat and dogs.

Bino receives the treatment once a week where several needles are inserted into his back and the vets are noticing a positive change as a result of this treatment. Now Bino is able to move his back legs and tail slightly. The vets plan to continue the treatment as of now as it is yielding positive results.

Before starting the treatment vet Daniela Cervaletti tapes Bino's jaws and after calming the alligator she inserts the needles into his spine and around his humpback, reports Express.co.uk.

'The acupuncture will alleviate his pain and keep all his vital functions going,' Rafael Gutierrez, a biologist at the aquarium of Sao Paulo, said to Daily Mail.

In the last few years, the number of vets holding membership in the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture has increased by 50 percent. Currently 900 doctors hold this membership, reports the  Associated Press.

"There are many zoo veterinarians who use acupuncture, a number of equine practitioners who treat race horses with acupuncture, it's proven to be a useful treatment," Simon Flynn, the executive director of the academy told the Daily Mail. "It's common with dogs and it's becoming increasingly common with cats. More veterinarians are seeing the worth of the treatment."