dog arthritis | legendaryteri

I don’t like using allopathic medicine (western medicine) as primary care for myself or for my dog.  Don’t get me wrong it has it’s place, if she had some major physical trauma or serious acute condition I’d be rushing her there.   But like most people, the majority of reasons for taking dogs to the vet are for ongoing chronic issues or minute injuries and normal illnesses.

Pinto turned 6 this year and I thought it was finally time to get a regular vet again.  She hasn’t had one since she was a puppy because I find I can take care of most of her ailments at home.  But she is gathering years and I wanted to lay a groundwork with a holistic vet in the area and start some preventative care now while she’s still fairly young.

A quick google search pulled up a holistic vet near me, Ancient Arts Holistic Vet.  Dr Rewers was trained as an animal acupuncturist at the American Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and also graduated as a doctor of traditional veterinary medicine from Florida among many other certifications and schooling. Her Yelp reviews were stellar, no one had a bad thing to say about her.  So I set up an appointment.

New clients were required to have an initial visit of an hour and half which I love.  I wanted our first visit to not be rushed and I wanted to be able to give the doctor a lot of Pinto’s background so she could get a complete picture of my dog’s health and help me make any lifestyle changes for Pinto if need be.

The Waiting Area

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived but the ‘waiting area’ if it could be called that was beautiful and very large.  There were colorful paintings everywhere, merchandise, a wall of jarred herbs, and comfy benches with pillows.  But I didn’t even have to wait, I was cheerfully greeted by name and taken back to the exam room.  This looked like a mini living room anyone would have in their home.  Everything was floor oriented with big pillows and mats so the dogs could be comfortable, and there was a little bookshelf with treats.  It was decorated with colorful art too and not all like the typical frighteningly sterile white rooms with metal tables at most vets.

Pinto seemed a little antsy but after sniffing around, she settled down by the door.

The doctor came in slowly, obviously used to dogs being by the door.  She immediately got down on the floor and let Pinto get used to her.  As we talked she gave a gentle physical exam checking Pinto’s mobility, coat, skin, heart beat, teeth, and everything else.  She genuinely was interested in Pinto and her personality and we chatted about diet, supplements, and my apparently unfounded fears about Pinto’s joints.  She showed me points I could massage on Pinto’s body that would help with mobility as Pinto gets older and even drew them out on a piece of paper for me to take home.  I felt a real empowerment and control in Pinto’s future health and well-being which is exactly what I wanted.

After chatting for close to an hour she asked me if I thought we should try some acupuncture.  I like that she differed to me as to whether Pinto’s was comfortable enough to allow it.  Pinto was pretty comfortable by now with the doctor and having been a long time patient of acupuncture for my own ailments I was really interested to see what benefits Pinto could gain from it.

The first point

All of us were still sprawled out on the floor and the doctor just brought a package of special veterinary acupuncture needles over to use so Pinto didn’t have to move from her comfortable position.  The first point went right into Pinto’s forehead.  She didn’t squeal or flinch or anything, she sat quietly kind of staring off into space as if she felt something inside her happening she’d never felt before and a relaxation swept over her.  The doctor always paused between inserting needles to make sure Pinto was comfortable before continuing.  After about 12 needles were in the doctor said she was going to step out for awhile and let Pinto rest with the needles for a bit.  Again having had acupuncture sessions many times myself, I’m used to the doctor stepping out, it’s usually when I fall asleep.  Likewise Pinto fell asleep on a big mattress pad on the floor with me right beside her.

Back leg and hip point for sore joints

The removal of the needles went just as smoothly.  The doctor said Pinto was in great shape and very healthy and there was really no reason to come back until I felt like she needed another treatment. I knew follow up visits were half an hour and about a third of the price and filed the info away in my head for future reference.

Only a month later while playing fetch Pinto landed funny and hurt something in her left front leg.  I couldn’t pinpoint where the injury was myself, no skin was broken and pressing all along the leg she tolerated without any compliant.  She could walk just fine but when she started running she would start limping, and this went on for a week with no improvement, no matter how much enforced rest I gave her.  Knowing the holistic vet would be able to tell what was wrong without an x-ray, or MRI, and without pushing drugs at me I opted to go see her again, besides the acupuncture would probably help what I suspected to be a sprain.

Relaxed Pinto!

Again the lovely calm atmosphere of the holistic vet office amazed me and Pinto and I plopped down on another floor mat and waited for the doctor to come in.  When she did enter Pinto was a bit shy at first but as soon as the doctor sat down on the floor and invited Pinto to come play she loosened up and flipped onto her back for the doctor.  So the doctor just scooped Pinto closer and started examining.  She couldn’t feel any inflammation in the shoulder or leg but as she started flexing Pinto’s toes she felt one slip back into place.  It seemed Pinto had jammed a toe when she landed funny the week before.  I was convinced that was the problem as nothing else seemed to be the issue after testing Pinto’s neck mobility too.  So we ended the session with another acupuncture treatment which again Pinto didn’t fight or seem scared of.  She just relaxed and went to sleep and acted like a little marshmallow after the needles came out.

Another pleasant experience without paying an arm and a leg for a bunch of tests and drugs Pinto didn’t need, plus she got a great acupuncture treatment to help with the healing process and dispel any pain or inflammation in that toe.

I actually don’t think of acupuncture as an alternative medicine.  I tend to think of it as Pinto’s, and for that matter, my primary medicine.  It’s gentle and relaxing, healing, and self empowering in a way that I personally appreciate.  I’m also an advocate for preventative care, treating myself well before I get sick or need to have drastic things done to my body or Pinto’s body is just something that makes sense to me.

I’m sure you can find an equally wonderful holistic vet in your area!

Check out this short video about Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine.