South Jacksonville Holistic Pet Healing Options
Veterinary Acupuncture
Acupuncture, the stimulation of specific points on the body using needles, has long been one of the most common types of holistic medicine for pets and humans alike. Used for millennia, the treatment is thought to alter various biochemical and physiological conditions and help the body heal itself.
Acupuncture points contain nerve bundles, clusters of blood vessels, and a concentration of mast cells that release histamine and other chemicals when stimulated – including endorphins and enkephalins, the body's natural painkillers.
Conditions That Can Be Treated With Acupuncture:
- pain and stiffness due to arthritis, disc problems, hip dysplasia or joint injuries and muscle pain or spasms
- respiratory problems such as sinus infections, bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma
- chronic urinary tract infections or kidney disease.
- intestinal diseases, such as constipation, diarrhea, vomiting and inflammatory bowel disease.
- neurologic conditions, such as seizures, vestibular syndromes and facial nerve paralysis, and in some cases degenerative nerve conditions
- general care of elderly pets to keep them feeling as well and as energetic as possible.
Before treatment starts Dr. Tiffany Mosley will thoroughly examine your pet. This includes an in-depth history of environmental and emotional situations that may be affecting your pet's condition, as well as palpation of certain acupuncture points. Acupuncture complements but does not replace the use of traditional treatments. Therefore, all pets undergoing acupuncture should be treated medically or surgically as appropriate prior to acupuncture.
Treatments last anywhere from 10 seconds to 30 minutes, depending on the condition treated and the specific method used. Pets are typically treated once to a few times weekly for four to six weeks, but this can vary based on the individual pet's response to the treatment and the specific condition being addressed.
Acupuncture is one of the safest therapies available and side effects, if any, are usually minimal.
Herbal Medicine
Herbs are plants that contain ingredients with active therapeutic properties. Herbal approaches have been developed for the management of almost all conditions that challenge conventional veterinary medicine, including epilepsy, chronic kidney failure, chronic lameness, hormonal disorders, behavioral disorders, allergic skin disease, liver failure and inflammatory bowel disease.
Our Jacksonville veterinarians believe that in some cases using herbal remedies produces improved outcomes and fewer side effects than many pharmaceutical products. Clinical and laboratory research has shown that certain herbs can support normal function of the liver, kidneys, heart and immune system; reduce inflammation and improve blood flow through damaged tissues; and reduce pain. In many cases, herbal medicine can reduce the dose required or eliminate the need for chronic conventional medications.
The success of herbal treatment varies according to the age of your pet, prior treatment history and diagnosis.
Laser Therapy
Reducing pain and promoting healing are our medical team's top priorities. To that end, we have invested in a therapeutic laser, which we use on our patients following surgery or an injury and to help manage a range of chronic and acute conditions.
Laser therapy is a painless, FDA-approved medical procedure that uses low-level lasers to stimulate the natural healing capabilities of the body's cells. This form of laser therapy is effective at promoting healing on a cellular level as well as decreasing inflammation after surgery, injury or areas of the body affected by chronic illnesses such as arthritis or acute conditions such as otitis. It can also be used to increase joint mobility and relieve the aches and pains common to geriatric pets.
During each treatment, the energy from the laser increases circulation, drawing water, oxygen, and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. In addition, it can accelerate tissue repair and cell growth, improve circulation and nerve function, reduce scar tissue formation, and help the immune system fend off infection. Laser therapy causes no adverse effects on healthy cells.
As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is relieved, allowing your pet to quickly return to his or her normal activities.
What Conditions Does Laser Therapy Treat?
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Wound healing, including:
Skin conditions, including:
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Pain caused by musculoskeletal disorders
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