Counseling my clients in pet loss and bereavement has slowly become a large part of my practice. It is something I truly enjoy as its importance is huge. For many of us, pets have become our family members, and their loss or impending loss can be devastating. We have all experienced loss; whether family, friends, […]
Q&A: Alternative Therapies – How Much is Too Much?
When your animal friends are suffering, it’s tempting to throw all the alternative therapies you can think of in the mix in order to make them better, but is that really the best idea? I will confess that I am guilty of doing this, both with myself and with my late dog Sadie. I start […]
Food as Medicine
It’s difficult to keep track of what foods are considered healthy these days, isn’t it? It seems like one thing everyone can agree on is that whole foods just have to be good. Unadulterated, nutritious whole foods; foods that look like food, that come from where we live, that are raised without chemical and hormonal […]
Q&A: How To Get Referrals from Veterinarians
Q: How can practitioners of alternative therapies get referrals from veterinarians? What can someone just starting out do to develop a relationship with a veterinarian (that will hopefully lead to referrals)? Building relationships and collaboration are important parts of any successful business, and when your business is complementary animal health, building those relationships with veterinarians […]
Seizures in Dogs – What to Do, Causes and Treatment
A friend recently asked me if I knew of anything that could help her 12-year old Shih Tzu who recently started having seizures. Her vet said they are age related and not connected to any other health issue. Our Sadie had a couple of seizures too the year before she passed away, it was just […]
Assessing Pain In Animals
Assessing pain in animals can be tricky business. Animals have evolved to hide pain well in order to survive in the wild. While our pets need not fear losing their place in their pack these days, they still mask pain. First we should observe our pets at home, have them evaluated by a veterinary professional, […]
Q&A: Treatment Options For A Dog With Pinched Nerve In Back
Q: Our dog has a pinched nerve in his back creating back leg weakness. We’re looking for treatment options. Lola Michelin, Northwest School of Animal Massage: Pinched nerves are serious business indeed and once your veterinarian has had the opportunity to diagnose the degree of trauma and the location, there are many therapies that will […]
Veterinary Nutrition: How To Choose The Right Food For Your Pet
We all know that eating right is extremely important, and consistently subsiding on a diet full of processed foods and saturated fat leads to a number of disorders and diseases. And it is just as important for our pets as it is for us, but with all the conflicting information out there, how do you […]
Acupuncture Treatment for Dog With Arthritis – A Video Demonstration
People frequently ask me how pets respond to the actual acupuncture treatment itself, so here I’ve made a video of a typical treatment on a dog with arthritis. Most dogs and cats respond very well to the needles, as evidenced here. The examination is much like the one your primary care veterinarian performs, and placing […]
Veterinary Acupuncture – History, How Does It Work and What Can It Help?
As alternative medicine and treatments become more widely available in human medicine, our clients are seeking the same options for their pets. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, chiropractics and homeopathy are all becoming more widely available to our patients. Acupuncture is the technique of piercing the skin with very thin needles at precise, […]