Services

Holistic and conventional examination and evaluation

Using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) combined with a Western medicine outlook allows for a thorough and integrative approach to helping your pet’s needs. Several aspects of lifestyle including diet, behavior, breed and any underlying conditions will be taken into consideration to provide a complete assessment of your pet.

 

Acupuncture

Veterinary acupuncture is the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to produce a healing response. Each acupuncture point has specific actions when stimulated. This technique has been used in China for thousands of years to treat many ailments. Acupuncture will not cure every condition, but it can work very well when it is indicated. In general, acupuncture can be effectively combined with most conventional and complementary therapies. Certified Veterinary Acupuncturists have the comprehensive training, knowledge and skill to understand the interactions between different forms of treatment and to interpret the patient’s response to therapy.

Types of acupuncture offered:

• Dry needle acupuncture – traditional insertion of acupuncture needles
• Laser acupuncture – use of a medical laser to stimulate acupuncture points. This is especially useful for pets who will not tolerate needles or in cases where pets are too small to safely insert needles.
• Moxibustion – application of indirect heat using Moxa to acupuncture needles to warm and stimulate acupuncture points
• Electroacupuncture – electrical stimulation of acupuncture points.  This type of acupuncture is used in cases of muscle spasm, paralysis or other neurological conditions.
• Aquapuncture – the injection of a drug or liquid (usually vitamin B12) at an acupuncture point

 

Laser therapy

Laser Therapy is a treatment modality that reduces inflammation and that results in pain reduction. Laser Therapy is effective in treating acute pain, chronic conditions, and post-operative pain and can be used in conjunction with other treatments to provide a multimodal approach to pain management.

Laser therapy treatment is safe, painless and fast, utilizing the body’s own healing powers by stimulating cellular activity.  We use a Companion Therapy Laser. Typically, initial treatments are done alone or alongside an acupuncture treatment with Katie.  Further treatments are arranged independently and are usually performed by a qualified veterinary nurse.

 

Pain management plans

There are many options regarding the treatment and management of pain in dogs and cats, including conventional Western medications – NSAIDs, opioids, and joint injections, as well as complementary treatments – acupuncture, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, laser therapy, supplements, and herbal preparations.  Each animal is an individual and will respond in their own unique way to a pain management plan. Tailoring an individual plan for your pet will ensure optimal health and quality of life.

 

Nutritional counseling

Finding an appropriate diet specific for your pet’s needs is at the foundation of achieving optimal health. Katie will help you tailor your pet’s diet based on need as well as adjusting or altering the current diet if indicated. Food is a very important part of holistic medical care and numerous chronic diseases can be managed and commonly even eliminated with a well balanced individual oriented diet.

 

Herbal and conventional medication prescription

When used appropriately, herbal medications and supplements for your pet can be very helpful by improving organ function, strengthening the immune system and supporting overall body wellness. Katie is able to consult with Dr. Emiel Van den Bosch, one of the founding fathers of Veterinary Acupuncture in Europe, veterinary herbalist and owner of Natural Care, a company that supplies veterinary herbal formulations, to make appropriate herbal medication recommendations as needed.

If conventional medications are indicated, you will need to be referred back to your regular veterinarian as Katie does not stock or prescribe conventional medications.

 

Some of the conditions Acupuncture and Holistic Care can help manage:

Musculoskeletal:

• Arthritis and degenerative joint disease
• Hip/elbow dysplasia

Neurologic:

• Intervertebral Disc Disease
• Epilepsy

Gastrointestinal:

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Feline gingivitis/stomatitis
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Poor appetite

Respiratory:

• Asthma
• Chronic cough
• Chronic sneezing

Urinary:

• Chronic renal failure/kidney disease
• Incontinence
• Cystitis

Other:

• Allergic/dermatologic conditions
• Liver disease
• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Behavioural problems – anxiety, senility