Integrative medicine is the addition of "complementary" medicine that is practiced alongside conventional or traditional, medical treatment.

Any treatment that is outside the traditional medicine or practice of most primary health systems can be considered complementary medicine. However, a treatment that is complementary in one culture may be traditional in another. For example, acupuncture is a system of health that has been practiced in China for more than 8,000 years, yet it is considered a complementary medicine in the United States.

At Highland, if a traditional medical therapy has not worked well for a pet, if a pet owner wishes to reduce their pet's pharmaceutical or surgical needs, or if a natural approach will improve an ill pet's quality of life, we offer several integrative approaches with the goal of treating the whole pet.

The services and tools listed below do not usually eliminate the need for traditional medical treatment.  However, we can attest that we employ these methods because they have proven to us, and to many of our clients, that they often make traditional therapies and treatments more effective, may greatly reduce or eliminate the need for many pharmaceuticals or surgery, appear to prolong a pet's quality of life, and in some cases, even seem to reverse aging!

Highland Veterinary Clinic Offers These Integrative Medical Services

• Nutriceutical supplements for pets (often referred to as phytochemicals) are natural, bioactive chemical compounds that have health promoting, disease preventing, or medicinal properties.

• Acupuncture: A well established and extremely effective technique for muscle spasm and pain relief. Acupuncture has also been used in China to treat animals.  It is helpful in treating a variety of conditions including slipped discs, neck and back pain, knee and shoulder pain, as well as arthritic conditions.  Dr. Gormley is a skilled veterinary acupuncturist.

• Studies show that physical therapy and massage with humans relaxes muscles and improves range of motion (enhancing medical treatment). We use physical therapy and massage in pets to stimulate weak, inactive muscles and, thus, partially compensate for the lack of exercise and inactivity resulting from illness or injury. Massage also can hasten and lead to a more complete recovery from injury and disease.

•  Canine Hydrotherapy (also known as Aquatic Physiotherapy) utilizes the warmth (to relax muscles), the buoyancy (to assist or resist movement) and the weightlessness (to decrease pain and decrease stress on joints) water during monitored sessions of physical therapy.  We have the capability of using hydrotherapy on dogs <40lbs.

• Reiki: This ancient Japanese form of healing energy work is ideal for use with animals because it is gentle and non-invasive.  It doesn't cause stress, discomfort, or pain, and yet can yield powerful results.  Animals respond intuitively to Reiki's power to heal emotional, behavioral, and physical illnesses and injuries. For animals who are healthy, Reiki helps to maintain their health, enhance relaxation, and provides and emotional sense of peace and contentment.  For animals who are ill, Reiki is a wonderful complement to traditional Western medicine.  For dying animals, Reiki is a powerful yet gentle way to provide comfort, relief from pain, fear, and anxiety.