Services

INTEGRATIVE  VETERINARY MEDICINE

Integrative veterinary medicine is a comprehensive medical approach to pet care that combines the best of conventional medicine and complementary and alternative therapies. This type of veterinary practice focuses on treating the whole animal, partnership between the client and the veterinarian, and use of all appropriate therapeutic options to achieve optimal wellness for your pet.

The emphasis is on using all reasonable therapies or systems of medicine that work together to provide an increased capacity to prevent and treat disease that would not be possible using one system of medicine alone.

This integrative approach to veterinary medicine is designed to minimize adverse effects, maximize successful treatment outcomes and improve the quality of life. Any veterinarian who uses therapies outside of conventional medicine and combines them with conventional medicine is an integrative veterinarian. The future of veterinary medicine lies in integration; ONE medicine, the one that works.

Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) therapies that may be included in an integrative medicine approach include acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, tuina, chiropractic, therapeutic nutrition, nutritional supplements and Reiki.

All of these therapies treat the whole body and as such can be referred to by the generic term “holistic,” meaning that they view the body as an integrated whole and take the body, mind and spirit into account when formulating a treatment plan. CAVM therapies are designed to stimulate adaptive homeostatic mechanisms in the body and or to provide the body substances by which the body can heal itself.

COMMON MODALITIES

Acupuncture

• Balancing Qi of animal for smooth flow and
  elimination of excess / blockage as well as invigorating areas of deficiencies
• Toning organs

Physical Therapy

• Joint range of motion (ROM) exercises
• Sit-to-stands, Wheelbarrow, Dancing, Balance Boards
• Walking on uneven surface
• Water therapy
• Ice / heat therapy
• Props (life-vest, weights, booties, slings, harnesses etc.)

Herbal Medicine

• Uses chinese or western herbs to balance Qi
• Can be toxic to kidneys and liver if not used properly
• Quality control of herbal formulas a concern

Chiropractic

• Manipulation of the spine in order to restore properenergy flow via neurologic paths
• Goal to prevent muscle spasm and encourage healthy
  plasticity
• Gentle non-force directional technique

Massage / PT