How to Find an Integrative Vet With more and more vets becoming truly integrative, it can be easier than you think to find one who is right for you by Carolyn Crew
A paradigm shift in the animal health care world has horse owners seeking alternative treatments of their horses. Integrative Medicine takes a more holistic approach to animal disorders than the present medical model that focuses mainly on neutraceutical solutions.
We asked three top vets to weigh in on finding the right integrative care for our horses.
Q A
How would someone find an integrative veterinarian and what qualities or training should they be looking for?
Dr. Cynthia Lankenau, DVM All of the Certifying organizations
of the different Alternative Modalities have lists of practitioners and their level of training. One should enquire as to the veterinarian's level of training; that is, did they just attend some classes or did they follow through with the requirements for full certification and what percentage of their practice is involved with the use of alternative modalities. I would recommend looking for a practitioner that has achieved full certification and is using that particular modality in at least 50% of their cases.
Dr. Rose DiLeva, VMD, MS, CVCP, CVA All integrative veterinarians should be licensed veterinarians. After that most will take a number of courses to get certified in their particular modality. The best place to find a holistic vet is
www.ahvma.org (American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association). It will allow you to pick a veterinarian by state or name. It will also tell you what holistic modalities that particular veterinarian practices (acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, Traditional
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Chinese Veterinary Medicine, energy medicine, etc.)
Dr. Joyce Harman DVM, MRCVS The best way to find one is to look at holistic veterinary websites for people in your area and who practice and have training in modalities you are interested in. It is perfectly acceptable to ask a vet what training they have because if they have good training they will be happy to tell you. Start asking around in your horse community if anybody has used them or heard of them. When it comes to Chiropractic or Osteopathy it is a good idea to watch them before they work on your animals; some people have rough techniques and there is no need to be rough with your horse.
Q A
Do you think that vets are also as passionate about more holistic
approaches and are seeking out additional training and resources?
Dr. Lankenau Being totally biased, I think that
the veterinarians that have become involved in holistic medicine are very passionate about what they do. It takes years of extra training to become proficient in these healing modalities.
Dr. DiLeva At the present time I believe that more traditional veterinarians are becoming more interested in the holistic approach. This comes, in large part, from the demand from our clients. Many individuals utilize some form of holistic care in their own lives and want the same care and treatment for their companion animals.
Dr. Harman Yes, there are many more veterinarians becoming interested and those who still just practice traditional medicine are
more willing to accept you having your horse being worked on with holistic medicine.
Q A
What types of modalities are being accepted by vets who are
becoming more integrated?
Dr. Lankenau There is a wide range of individual
variation. Massage, acupuncture and chiropractic care have become very common. Many practitioners are finding that drug therapy is no longer effective in these chronically ill animals and seek out training in alternative modalities in order to help their clients. Herbal medicine is becoming very popular, as is nutraceutical support and essential oils. I think once a veterinarian opens the door to one type of alternative modality, they very quickly understand the importance and value of the other modalities. Yet there are still many veterinarians who are quite frankly afraid and threatened by this type of medicine.
Dr. DiLeva In my opinion, acupuncture, chiropractic and homeopathy have gained notice in the veterinary community, in part, because these modalities require significant additional education and participation in case reports and potential publication.
Dr. Harman Vets who are becoming more integrative are implementing chiropractic, acupuncture, and nutritional approaches. Further down the list are vets who are interested in herbs; essential oils and homeopathic are secondary interests usually after they have learned one of the more common ones.
Holistic Horse™ • August/September 2012 • Vol.19, Issue 80
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