Complementary Medicine

What is Integrated Medicine?

Integrated medicine includes conventional, or western, medicine for your four legged companion blended with complementary medicine. Complementary medicine includes, but is not limited to, Western and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, Acupuncture, Laser Therapy and Homeopathy.

Dr. Sue Hughson practises the above forms of complementary medicine at Yaletown Pet Hospital. She is at YPH every Wednesday, and is happy to join in your health care team with primary conventional practitioners, Dr’s Archeck, Spooner, Vandermeer, and Korbelik.

One of the best ways to introduce our clients to complementary medicine, is to provide some examples of successful treatments. One of the more common ailments we treat is cystitis- a potentially painful inflammation of the bladder. Once the diagnosis has been made, conventional medicine could address this with a combination of diet, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory medications.

In western herbal medicine, one formula that yields good results is HYDRANGEA and EUPATORIUM. These two plants help to acidify urine and decrease painful inflammation in a sore bladder. With Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, an excellent herb combination is REHMANNIA 8. These herbs have helped prolong life and sustain quality of life for animals suffering from kidney disease. We currently have several patients, cats and dogs, who have used these herbs in combination with other supportive measures to restore balance in their lives.

Acupuncture is an ancient practice that can be used in the treatment of internal disease, as well as problems of mobility affecting the muscles and bones. An example of success with acupuncture includes one beautiful athletic dog who sustained an injury to a vertebra in his back which did not respond well to pain medication alone. A few treatments of dry needle acupuncture and cold laser therapy has him pain free and ready to return to his outdoor adventures.

A condition called ear tip necrosis, that almost looks like ” frost bite” on the tips of dogs’ ears often is frustrating to treat with conventional medicine, but can respond well to laser therapy. Of note is that this can be done without the negative side effects sometimes seen with traditional treatment.

Homeopathy often leaves people puzzled as to how it can work when the medicine is so dilute that not even a molecule of the original substance remains in the remedies we use for treatment. Homeopathy is not always the best first choice, but when it is used results can sometimes be profound. A substance called Apis can be used to treat hives, Arnica is wonderful for strains and sprains, Natrum Muriaticum can be used to treat cats with early hyperthyroidism. Pulsatilla has saved the life of a cat with an obstructed bladder.

Is complementary medicine a good choice for your companion? Talk to your veterinary health care team at Yaletown Pet Hospital.