The Benefits of Seeing a Holistic Veterinarian in Roanoke

Holistic medicine is that which considers the whole animal—body, mind and emotional wellbeing. Virtually every holistic treatment for humans exists in veterinary medicine as well. At our animal hospital in the Roanoke Valley, our holistic vets use cat and dog acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, herbal therapy, and chiropractic spinal manipulation. These treatments have no adverse side effects and are used as a complement to traditional medicine. Generally, we use them to improve your pet’s quality of life and aid in the healing process.

To learn more, call us at (540) 562-4596 or make an appointment online.

Cat and Dog Acupuncture

Our holistic veterinarians are certified veterinary acupuncturists, so your pet is in the best of hands for this complex and relaxing procedure. Acupuncture originated in China as a therapeutic treatment thousands of years ago. The treatment restores energy flow that has been interrupted by disease or injury. The increased energy flow improves health problems and even helps to cure them.

Acupuncture uses very fine needles that cause little or no pain, and pets generally tolerate it very well. Incorrect placement of the needles can cause pain or complications, which is why you should only have a qualified holistic vet who is certified in acupuncture perform the treatment. Luckily, we have our very own certified veterinary acupuncturists right here at Hanging Rock Animal Hospital.

Cat and dog acupuncture helps treat:

Arthritis and other degenerative diseases
Asthma and other respiratory problems
Dermatitis and skin issues
Gastrointestinal problems

Back pain
Intervertebral disc disease
And more

Herbal Therapy

Similar to homeopathy, herbal therapy utilizes the power of nature, specifically plants. The main difference, however, is that herbal therapy does not prescribe to the same concept of “like cures like.” Herbal medicine acts to reduce or cure the disease or condition by counteracting it. Instead of isolating one chemical compound of a plant to use in plant-based drugs (think aspirin, derived from willow bark), herbal therapy uses all chemical components of a plant, letting them work together to treat disease.

Herbal therapy helps to:

Reduce inflammation
Improve blood flow to damaged tissue
Provide pain relief

Support the normal functions of the liver, kidney, and heart
Boost the immune system
And more

Restoring Health with Ozone Therapy

Ozone therapy may sound like a modern practice, but it has been around for generations and there have been hundreds of medical ozone studies over the years. Here at Hanging Rock Animal Hospital, we create ozone using an ozone generator. As a highly reactive molecule, ozone only exists in the environment for a short time. Yet this short-lived molecule plays an important role in your pet’s healing: It helps balance cells to more efficiently take and utilize oxygen. Why is oxygen so important? All chronic pain and diseases are caused by a lack of oxygen at the cellular level. The more serious the disease, the lower the level of oxygen in the body.

Ozone therapy has little to no side effects and can be used in conjunction with almost any other therapy or treatment. It works by increasing the amount of oxygen in the body, which has a number of positive effects including decreasing inflammation, stimulating the immune system, and fighting off infections.

Common conditions that benefit from ozone therapy include: