Westside Veterinary Clinic

What conditions does it treat?

This is my story about becoming an integrative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.  After seventeen years of many types of routine practice which included domestic pets, exotics, horses, farm animals and shelter medicine, I was still missing something in my professional life.  I missed the quality one on one time with my patients, especially after busy vaccine clinics at the shelter.  Having an interest in the mind-body connection for myself, I wondered how that could be applied to my veterinary patients.  This analysis led me to pursue certification in veterinary acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society or IVAS and a return to a practice environment that allows longer appoint times with more time spent with my patients and clients.

            As an integrative practitioner, every day balances traditional veterinary care which includes surgery and medications with a variety of alternative modalities.  My main focus is acupuncture which is surprising in the profound response seen to treat pain.

            In January 2009, I saw a case of thoracolumbar disk extrusion in a dachshund that was seen by four other veterinarians.  She was prescribed medications but had continued to deteriorate where the owner was expressing the bladder and considering purchasing a cart to assist her ambulation.  This patient lacked deep pain which always carries a guarded prognosis and she had been like this for over 48 hours.  My expectations were low that acupuncture could help but the owner wanted to attempt it as referral to a neurologist was not economically feasible.  After the first electrical stimulation treatment, there was a return of pain sensation.  Her gait continued to improve.  She is not normal as she still exhibits paresis, but she is ambulatory and functional.

            A second interesting patient also suffered from spinal nerve pain.  This dog had spinal surgery with a neurologist over a year ago and she could not afford another surgery.  When her dog relapsed, we discussed acupuncture but she was hesitant as the owner had never personally used it.  After her dog’s pain became so severe she was contemplating euthanasia, then she considered acupuncture.  Her dog is improved and stable and comes in for routine treatments.

            While these two cases are very rewarding, it is an equally important tool for treating chronic arthritic pain.  Many patients have chronic osteoarthritis which can be managed by adding acupuncture.  Acupuncture can treat the DJD and also benefits the chronic pain they develop from abnormal ambulation and can treat trigger points that develop in muscles.

            Another modality I rely on is Chinese Herbs.  Herbs have been used for centuries to treat a variety of problems.  While they have a variety of indications from epilepsy to allergies, I have found them very useful for renal disease.  Renal disease is a very frustrating disease for veterinarians since dialysis is rarely an option for our patients due to the expense.  I had another canine patient that probably ingested some toxin in Rocky Point, Mexico and he was in acute renal failure.  We followed the standard treatment of fluids but I added a Chinese Herb known to benefit the kidneys.  I was surprised and excited when this patient survived this crisis.  A year later we rechecked the lab work and our reference lab was surprised this patient was still alive.

            Now the skeptics (including myself) will always say this one case probably would have had the same outcome without the herbs.  After treating and subsequently euthanizing many cases of acute renal failure in my veterinary career, it is still enough to make you pause and reflect.