Alternative Medicine
Alternative Veterinary Medicine in Exeter
At Veterinary Emergency & Surgery Hospital, our Exeter veterinary team believes in doing everything we can to help your pet maintain their health and happiness. When your pet isn’t able to tolerate traditional medical care, you don’t need to worry. We offer a variety of alternative medical treatments to protect and preserve your pet’s quality of life. Whether you choose to pursue acupuncture or laser therapy, our Exeter veterinary team will help you understand all of your options for your pet’s treatment.
What is Alternative Medicine?
Alternative medicine, sometimes referred to as holistic medicine, refers to treatments other than what we consider to be conventional, western medicine. These practices are typically not backed by scientific studies but have a long history of use.
Alternative therapies can include treatments such as:
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic
- Herbology
- Homeopathy
- Massage
Importantly, the American Veterinary Medical Association has specific guidelines for the use of these therapies in animals. As an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accredited animal hospital, Veterinary Emergency & Surgery Hospital is held to the highest standards of veterinary care in the country so you can be assured that your pet is in good hands whether your pursue conventional medical treatments or alternative therapies.
We are proud to have Dr. Toolan on our team at Veterinary Emergency & Surgery Hospital. Dr. Toolan has extensive training in traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (known as TCVM) and utilizes all five branches of Chinese medicine to treat your pets: Acupuncture, herbal medicine, food therapy, Tui-na (Chinese therapeutic massage), and exercise. With TCVM, Dr. Toolan’s goal is to help to balance your pet’s body and bring it back to a healthy state.
Importantly, TCVM works in tandem with conventional Western medical practices. Dr. Toolan and our other Exeter veterinarians will work together to use Western diagnostics, like blood work and X-rays, to diagnose your pet. Depending on your pet’s diagnosis, we’ll recommend a combination of Western and Chinese medicines to treat your pet.
Acupuncture at Veterinary Emergency & Surgery Hospital
Acupuncture is a branch of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine which helps pets heal and receive pain relief without any invasive techniques or severe side effects. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific points of the body to create a therapeutic response. It can be used in tandem with conventional Western medicines without any negative interactions. If your pet suffers from chronic pain or a medical condition that can cause pain, ask about acupuncture at your next visit.
Laser Therapy
An additional alternative option for pain management is laser therapy. Using a specific wave of light, laser therapy can provide targeted pain and inflammation relief without any invasive measures. Injured cells react to the laser, which results in a higher metabolism, speeding the healing process. Like other forms of alternative medicine, laser therapy is safe for use with conventional Western medicines.
For more information about alternative medical treatments at Veterinary Emergency & Surgery Hospital, please call (603) 642-9111 or contact us online today!