5 minute read
New Craze in Veterinary Medicine
There Is a New Craze in Veterinary Medicine . . . and We’re Loving It!
It seems like integrative medicine is becoming more popular than ever, with more veterinarians recommending it every day! Integrative medicine involves the fusion of conventional and alternative medicine. Conventional medicine will involve what you typically experience going to the veterinarian: diagnostics including imaging and bloodwork, procedures such as surgery, and prescription medications like NSAIDs and chemotherapy. Alternative medicine is a broad term used for a few modalities. Traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM) is an ancient modality that includes acupuncture, food therapy, herbal therapy, and Tui-na (massage). Rehabilitation and spinal medical manipulation (animal form of chiropractic), LASER therapy, homeopathy are also commonly considered alternative therapies.
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Integration of both styles of medicine provides many benefits for the long-term quality-of-life of your pet. Conventional medicine has made great strides in preventing bacterial and viral infections, repair of injuries, earlier disease recognition with diagnostics, and much more. Routine and regular veterinary visits are paramount to gaining the benefit of these advances in modern medicine. On the other hand, alternative medicine compliments conventional medicine where it falls short. For example, an older arthritic dog may benefit from NSAIDs for pain management and may improve significantly but still have hind-end weakness. This is where alternative options shine; acupuncture and herbal therapy can break down energy blockages in the body, bringing more energy to the hind-end. Rehabilitation can help to strengthen the hind limbs and medical manipulation can help prevent front limb compensatory issues. Conventional medicine shows its strengths with sudden or acute issues, whereas, alternative therapies are strongest with chronic issues.
Acupuncture Needle
Is integrative medicine right for you?
This is a great discussion to begin with both your primary care and integrative veterinarian. Further advances in conventional medicine may be offered for pets that have battled chronic disease, but sometimes their progress can plateau. Reaching out to alternative therapies may be a great option. These therapies are considered successful in the treatment of arthritis, weakness, chronic skin/ ears and allergy issues, chronic gastrointestinal issues, and neurological deficits. Another consideration are those that have been diagnosed with cancer that are not undergoing invasive surgeries or chemotherapy. There are no limits to allowing integrative medicine to complement conventional therapies.
Some of the common services integrative veterinarians provide are:
Acupuncture: Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through the skin at strategic points along pathways called meridians. This stimulates nerve bundles under the skin to achieve a reaction across the body.
Medical Manipulation: Pet
chiropractic care identifies any dysfunction in the vertebrae and joints and works to clear these issues to minimize stress within the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.
Rehabilitation: Pet physical rehabilitation is the management and improvement of patients with painful or functionally limiting conditions. This often includes exercises, LASER light, shockwave, and ultrasound therapy. Often recommended after surgery or injuries.
Food Therapy: Food Therapy is the use of diet to treat and prevent imbalance within the body. It utilizes knowledge of the energetics of food ingredients to tailor diets for individual animals. Ensuring a complete and balanced diet is imperative and should be done under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Tui-na: A form of massage that stimulates acupuncture points and meridians to promote the circulation of Qi and correct imbalances within the body. Many techniques can be taught for owners to continue on their own.
Chinese Herbal Medicine:
Traditional Chinese veterinary medicine uses mixtures of compounds from plants and other substances found in nature to treat and prevent imbalances in the body.
Finding doctors that practice both is helpful, but can be challenging and often it means finding two doctors who can partner in your pet’s care. Integrative veterinarians, like the author Dr. Cubelo, may work as a referral service specializing specifically in the alternative therapies, and work in tandem with your primary care veterinarian. Similar to going to the cardiologist for your heart and primary care doctor for vaccines. If utilizing both styles of medicine interests you, ask your primary care veterinarian for their local recommendation.
In the Hampton Roads region of Virginia, Dr. Sharon Cubelo practices as a mobile integrative veterinarian with her practice Copper’s Integrative Veterinary Care, LLC. She attended veterinary school at Ross university, and followed up her studies at the university of Tennessee for her Canine Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) certification, Chi university for her acupuncture (CVA), food therapy (CVFT) and Tui-na (CVTP) certifications, and Integrative Veterinary Medicine Institute for certification in medical manipulation (CVMMP). She continues at Chi university pursuing her Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, and expects to complete this degree in 2025.
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