Services

At Integrative Holistic Veterinary Care, I offer a range of therapies designed to improve the health and well-being of your pets.

I work closely with pet owners and their primary care veterinarians and/or veterinary specialists to develop individualized treatment plans that address the specific needs of their pets. My mobile veterinary service bring the care your pet needs right to the comfort of your own home, reducing stress for both pets and pet owners.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a technique that is part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been used for over thousands of years to treat pain and disease. It has been proven effective by modern medicine. It is based on the concept of energy, or Qi (pronounced Chi). Qi circulates through the body along defined pathways called meridians, much as blood circulates through blood vessels. Acupuncture is used to re-establish energy flow and to restore the body to a balanced state points. Disruption or blockage of this energy flow can cause pain or disease. On these meridians there are points on the skin surface referred to as acupuncture points. It is via the acupuncture points that the energy flowing within the meridian can be reached and therefore, where the energy can be manipulated.

Acupuncture involves placing thin, sterile needles into acupuncture points, to encourage healing. Electroacupuncture (generating a very small current between two acupuncture points), and aqua-acupuncture (the injection of liquid – usually vitamin B12 – into an acupuncture point), are additional techniques that can greatly increase the effectiveness of treatment. Acupuncture is not painful and most pets tolerate it very well and will lie down, relax, or fall asleep during their sessions.

Acupuncture may be used in conjunction with conventional medicine and surgical techniques to enhance the effectiveness of treatment. It may be used as the sole modality when conventional treatment is not possible due to the age and physical condition of the animal or the nature of the disease.

Acupuncture can be useful in treatment of:

  • Pain management
  • Arthritis and musculoskeletal injury
  • Allergies
  • Cancer and chemotherapy side effects
  • Kidney and urinary tract disease
  • Respiratory disease (i.e asthma)
  • Inappetance/anorexia
  • Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
  • Nerve injury
  • Lick granulomas (hot spots)
  • Diarrhea
  • Incontinence
  • Endocrine disease (i.e. diabetes)
  • Conditions that have not responded to Western medicine
  • …and more!

Acupuncture sessions last about 45 minutes. Most pets accept acupuncture very well, and many will lie down and relax during their sessions

Medical Manipulation (Chiropractic)

Veterinary Medical Manipulation (VMM) or Spinal Manipulation is an area of animal health care that focuses on the health of the nervous system and spine, and their effect on whole body health and disease. It is a manual therapy that uses motion palpation to detect joint restrictions and alleviates them using quick and controlled joint adjustments. Correcting these joint restrictions restores normal range of motion, which improves circulation, neurologic function, and immune system performance.

This sounds a lot like chiropractic… why isn’t it called that?

VMM is essentially chiropractic care for your pets. The reason it cannot be called as such is because a veterinarian, rather than a chiropractor, is the one performing the adjustment.

VMM is commonly used for treatment of:

  • Joint pain and stiffness
  • Muscle injury or spasm
  • Hind end weakness
  • Some neurologic deficits
  • Neck or back pain
  • Sway or arched back
  • Post-operative care
  • Improved athletic performance
  • Senior comfort and maintenance
  • Urinary or fecal incontinence
  • Congenital/structural abnormalities
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing
  • Seizures
  • Anxiety
  • Obsessive licking of limbs or joints
  • Prevention of musculoskeletal injury
  • AND general wellness

Initial VMM sessions and sessions for new issues take about 40 minutes and include a physical examination, orthopedic and neurologic examination, gait analysis, and adjustment. Routine VMM sessions take about 20-30 minutes.

Physical Rehabilitation & Sport Performance

Physical Rehabilitation (physical therapy) offers numerous benefits for canines and felines of all ages and conditions. This specialized form of therapy is designed to improve functionality, relieve pain, and enhance the overall quality of life. Whether your pet has had surgery, is healing from an injury, having mobility issues, a competitive athlete, overweight, or needing geriatric support to help prevent muscle atrophy physical rehabilitation therapy can be a helpful modality.

After a complete physical assessment, orthopedic and neurologic evaluation, and gait analysis a plan is developed specifically for the patient. Manual therapies, therapeutic exercises, and physical modalities such as acupuncture, laser therapy, and PEMF are prescribed depending on tailored therapy plan.

Physical rehabilitation has been proven to:

  • Decrease reliance on pain medication
  • Reduce or eliminate pain
  • Strengthen muscles and endurance
  • Improve function and mobility
  • Promote balance and spatial awareness 
  • Facilitate weight loss 
  • Encourage normal weight-bearing and gait after surgery 
  • Prevent muscle contractions and atrophy

Integrative Oncology – Mistletoe Therapy

Viscum album (Mistletoe) has been used in complementary cancer care for more than 100 years. Effective and safe, Viscum album, also called Mistletoe, is a semi-parasitic plant that was originally introduced for the treatment of cancer in humans in the 1920’s. Clinically, mistletoe has been found to work equally well for the animals. It has significant beneficial effects on quality of life, tolerance to conventional treatments, the immune function, and overall survival. It can be used at any stage of the cancer journey, from post-surgical to palliative care.

The primary goal of Viscum album therapy for cancer diseases is to improve and maintain the quality of life. Many animals, can show a rapid improvement in their general condition during the therapy. Cancer-related pain and the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment can be reduced. At the same time the immune system can be strengthened. In some animals, a retardation of tumor growth has been observed up to growth stagnation. If a cure for cancer is no longer possible, Viscum therapy can be used as palliative care to alleviate disease symptoms.

I work closely with Dr. Gisela Novaes, a holistic veterinarian and worldwide expert in injectable Mistletoe therapy, to develop individualized protocols for cancer patients.

Herbal Therapy

Herbal medicine has been used for thousands of years to treat and cure disease. Herbal medicines are prescriptions that require the skill of a specially-trained veterinarian. The use of plants as medicine is the basis of pharmacology today. Instead of isolating an active ingredient as is done in pharmacology, an entire plant or a basic part such as a stem, leaf, root or flower is used to treat an illness in herbal medicine. There are also herbs made from minerals, shells, and a few from insects or animal parts like the hoof. For instance, ground oyster shell, called mu li, is an herb. Mu li has the effect of “settling the spirit” or causing relaxation. In traditional Chinese medicine, individual herbs may be mixed in recipes that are called formulas. Herbs affect mind, body and spirit and are typically given in a pet’s food.

While most often in a capsule form, herbal medications can also be made in powder or tea-pill forms. Topical herbal medications also come as salves/creams, oils, tinctures and powders. Herbal medications can be used alone or with Western/modern pharmaceuticals.

Herbal medicine can be used to:

  • Eliminate pain
  • Reduce anxiety
  • Support the immune system
  • Reduce inflammation
  • Improve blood flow
  • Reduce the rate of tumor growth or shrink tumor size
  • Treat skin conditions, internal disease, and endocrine diseases

Essential Oil Therapy

Essential oil therapy involves the use of the oils of plants that have a history of healing abilities. Only therapeutic grade essential oils are used by our practice. Unlike oils intended for the food or perfume industry, therapeutic grade oils are of the highest quality. From planting to harvesting, distilling to testing, care is taken to ensure the healing integrity of every drop. In Europe, the medical profession has embraced essential oil therapy using the oils for fighting infections, building the immune system, balancing the nervous system and even assisting with cancer therapy. Many of the same results are achieved when therapeutic grade oils are applied to pets with the added benefit of the guardian’s enjoyment of the oil too!

Food Therapy

The healing power of food as food therapy is one of the four major branches of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). There is truth to the old saying: “food is the medicine you take every day.” Like the other TCVM modalities, the ultimate goal of food therapy is to restore and maintain balance in the body. Diet plans are tailored to individual patients based on their unique tendencies, age, species, geographical location, personality, and current disharmony or disease process. Food ingredients are chosen based on their energetic properties, which include both thermal energetic property and taste. Although the effects are slower compared to other modalities, there are virtually no side effects when food ingredients are chosen correctly. Food therapy is also very popular amongst owners as it empowers them to take part in their animal’s TCVM therapy and can be used safely throughout the pet’s lifetime. A recipe with added supplements is created using nutritional software to ensure a balanced diet.

The benefits of feeding a fresh food diet that is made to meet your pets nutritional needs and help treat their medical conditions can be very rewarding.

Please note that a food therapy consult is NOT the same as a consult with a veterinary nutritionist. If you are seeking a consult with a nutritionist, I can provide you with veterinary nutritionists in your area.

Schedule your in-home appointment today.

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