See Below to Schedule an Appointment
Important Information to Review Prior to Scheduling an Appointment
-
As your Integrative Veterinarian, my promise to you is to care for your animal as I care for mine. I will explain the options available and help you decide your best course of treatment without judgement. I will be present, in the moment, with you at your appointments, and will do my best to respond to email or phone questions in a timely manner. If I am not available, I will do my best to help you seek care from another Veterinarian or facility if needed.
My expectation of you, as a client, is that you will listen to me without judgement and make your own decision about what is best for you and your animal. I ask that you understand that the advice or suggestions I give come from a place of caring. I ask that you respect my time off and understand that I am not available 24-7, as I too require time to be with my family. I ask that if you need to cancel an appointment, you give me 48 hour advance notice so that I can readjust my schedule. I ask that if you have a question or concern regarding the treatment plan, you voice your concerns so that we can address them and either proceed with the plan or develop a new one that you are comfortable with. I ask that you be honest and open with me, as this relationship we form is based on trust and respect, with your animal’s best interests at the core.
*By scheduling an appointment, you accept the Agreements above.
-
Please click the link and fill out the new client information form. This needs to be done before we are able to schedule an appointment.
-
Please click the link and fill out and sign the Integrative Treatment Consent Form. This needs to be done prior to the first treatment.
-
Please have all medical records sent via email at least 48 hours prior to your pet’s scheduled appointment.
Please ensure to include your regular veterinarian’s contact information so that records about our visit can be sent to them.
Email records to hello@auroraintegrativevet.com
-
Please click the link and fill out the medical history form. We ask that you complete the form 48 hrs prior to your pet’s scheduled appointment.
-
If you have an appointment for your pet for an in-home euthanasia, please download and completely fill out the attached form prior to the appointment.
FAQs
What does an integrative visit look like?
An integrative visit will start with a discussion about your pet’s medical history, both from your regular veterinarian and from the form you fill out prior to the visit. Your pet will be given a physical examination, with Western medical and Eastern medical components, and these findings will be discussed in relation to the history information you already provided. We will discuss treatment options and develop a treatment plan tailored to you and your pet’s needs. Based on the plan, your pet will then receive the treatment most beneficial that day.
How often does my pet need treatment?
Every animal responds differently to treatment. Often, in the initial stages, treatment is recommended every week to every other week. Once your pet is stable, we try and find the longest period between treatments that will maintain your pets disease and/or comfort level. The addition of Chinese Herbal medications can enhance the treatment response, sometimes allowing us to have a longer period of time between appointments. We will discuss the options and determine the best approach for your individual pet.
How much time should we plan for an integrative visit?
Depending on the treatment plan and your pet’s acceptance of the treatment plan that day, it may take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour for a visit. Please allow for an hour in your schedule, knowing it may be less. This will allow time for discussion and treatment.
How soon should I expect to see a response from treatment?
Every animal responds differently to treatment, but in general, a condition that has developed over a longer period of time may take a longer period of time before visible improvement is appreciated. It is important to not give up too quickly and to appreciate every sign of improvement, no matter how small.
What is a VSMT adjustment?
Assessment of the joints, using motion palpation of each joint, is performed by the doctor. When an area of decreased or abnormal motion is found, the motion is improved at that joint through a manually applied impulse called an adjustment. The impulse is applied in the specific direction and plane of motion in which the joint normally moves, in order to restore normal motion to the joint. Restoring more normal motion provides direct benefits to the articular, boney, and soft tissue components of the joint. It also provides direct benefit to the nerves and vasculature that interface with that joint, allowing for more normal functioning of these systems. The benefits can be seen from the cellular level all the way to the physical level, which can result in reduced pain, restoration of joint range of motion, strengthening on muscles, and improvement of balance.
Why choose VSMT?
VSMT is a non-invasive treatment modality. While VSMT should always be conducted in the context of a complete veterinary evaluation, it can be utilized to maximize and then maintain the health of the vertebral system and the associated musculoskeletal and nervous systems it impacts.
Is there a preferred place where the visit should take place?
The visit should take place in a quiet and clean area, preferably indoors. It should be an area where your pet is comfortable and both you and your pet can relax into the treatments. The area should be free of overwhelming smells, like cigarette smoke, essential oils and marijuana.
For large animals, the area for the treatment should be clean, out of the elements as best as possible, and free of other animals.
What should I expect from my pet after treatment using Acupuncture?
Your pet may respond in a variety of different ways following treatment. Some animals may feel tired or a little sore right after acupuncture treatment. This is often self-limiting and resolves within 24-48 hrs. Some movement can help, so offering your pet to go on a short walk or turning your large animal pet out to pasture may be helpful. If you feel your pet is unwell or doing worse following treatment, please contact us right away.
Why do I need to fill out a history form before every visit?
Disease from the TCVM stand-point is imbalance within the body, knowing that the balance of each body system impacts the balance of the others. The patterns of disease can change, especially when an animal is receiving treatment. The history form and physical examinations help guide our treatment plan, ensuring that your pet is receiving the best treatment for your pet that day.
Does my animal need to be sedated for acupuncture?
No. I cannot actually ask the animals how the needle placement feels, but for me personally, I don’t often feel the needles being placed. Sometimes I’ll feel a little jolt, which is often referred to as a De Qi sensation or response, and is considered a good thing. Many animals enjoy acupuncture and find it relaxing, just like people. For those animals who don’t like needle placement, we can use a Lacer device to stimulate the acupuncture sites with a very similar response.
Who would benefit from VSMT?
Any animal who runs, plays, jumps and/or participates in athletic activity may benefit from VSMT. Even daily living can produce wear and tear on our animals’ bodies, causing them to develop reduced mobility in their spine and joints, often accompanied by secondary muscle soreness, gait changes, reduced athletic performance, and reduced body comfort. This can be seen in any animal that is less athletic than they used to be, is getting sore more often than they used to, or seems to be “slowing down.”
Some clinical signs we may see in an animal who would benefit from VSMT can include the following: acute pain, stiffness, sensitivity to touch, hunched posture, uneven muscle tone or muscle loss, weakness, lameness or limping, refusal to jump, difficulty climbing stairs, behavior changes, abnormal tail carriage, and lack of desire to play.
Specific conditions that are commonly managed with VSMT include arthritis, muscle spasms, neurologic conditions, intervertebral disc disease, hip and elbow dysplasia, neck pain, back pain, and acute injuries.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact us.
hello@auroraintegrativevet.com
(907) 921-2566