TREATMENT : PROGRESSIVE, THOROUGH OPTIONS

At Animal Doctor, we encourage holistic wellness plans that include a natural diet. We set client education and preventative care as our priorities offering geriatric health screening, preventative dentistry and more, but often times an ill pet visit or even an annual wellness exam reveals conditions that require treatment. Treatment of your pet companion could consist of conventional drugs, alternative medicine and/or herbal remedies or perhaps surgical intervention. Acupuncture, spinal manipulation, massage treatments, ear treatments are performed in your presence in the examination rooms on a carpeted floor or padded table.

Some procedures are best performed in our treatment area where we have additional help, equipment, and special lighting or water/cleansing availability. An example would be an anal gland abscess, hotspot or wound treatment and nail trims or routine blood draws. We always hug your pet and console him/her reassuringly!
This treatment area also houses our dental unit. While under anesthesia, your pet can be treated to a thorough ultrasonic scaling and hi-speed polishing performed by one of our certified veterinary technicians. We encourage preventive oral care through brushing and nutrition (even raw bone consumption). But sometimes extractions are a necessary part of your pet’s treatment.
Conventional (allopathic) vs. alternative treatments  
We stock and utilize many conventional drugs used as preventatives or treatments, including name-brand heartworm and flea and tick products. But in some cases, we may actually discourage their use and educate you as to the safety and benefits of diatomaceous earth, neem, yarrow, essential oils or garlic for parasite control. Dr. Jodie and Dr. Becky attempt to assess each situation very individually when recommending prevention or treatment protocols.
Integrative pet care means combining the best of the allopathic (conventional) and holistic worlds to affect the best treatment plan for your pet. Sometimes a conventional drug or surgery is the best treatment for your pet, but an herbal product may minimize side effects or acupuncture may ease post-op pain or influence healing.  
An annual wellness exam does not mean a trip to the vet for a shot! During your pet’s visit and examination, the Animal Doctor physicians and staff will counsel you regarding pros and cons of particular vaccinations. We encourage checking a blood titre to assess your individual companion’s immune status. He or she may not need a given vaccination based on his lifestyle or titre result. Remember, a vaccination does not provide the protection! Don’t you wonder if you’ve been wasting money on all those vaccines and even putting your pet’s health at risk of reaction or immune-mediated disease by allowing unnecessary vaccinations?