When your beloved pet faces a chronic condition like arthritis, allergies, or kidney disease, the search for effective treatment can be overwhelming. Many pet owners find themselves wondering if there may be additional options which could improve their companion’s quality of life while supporting their body’s natural healing processes.

We sat down with Dr. Pablo Mendoza from Mountain View Animal Hospital & Holistic Pet Care to get his insights on holistic pet care. We believe in a comprehensive approach that combines the best of conventional veterinary medicine with proven holistic treatments. Our integrative methodology offers multiple pathways to address your pet’s health challenges, creating personalized care plans that focus on alleviating symptoms and supporting overall wellness.

Understanding Holistic Veterinary Care

Holistic veterinary care takes a whole-body approach to pet health, recognizing that physical symptoms often reflect imbalances in the pet’s overall system. Rather than focusing solely on treating isolated symptoms, holistic care aims to support the animal’s natural healing mechanisms.

“Holistic treatments like acupuncture, veterinary orthopedic manipulation, ozone, and laser therapy can help reduce inflammation and improve mobility,” Dr. Mendoza explains. These natural therapies work synergistically with traditional approaches, enhancing their effectiveness while potentially reducing reliance on medications that might cause side effects with long-term use.

Holistic treatments address issues that conventional medicine sometimes struggles to fully resolve, such as chronic allergies, digestive disorders, and autoimmune conditions.

Conditions That Respond Well to Holistic Approaches

Many chronic conditions show significant improvement when holistic therapies are integrated into the treatment plan. While results vary based on individual animals, certain conditions have demonstrated particularly positive responses to complementary approaches.

“Arthritis and joint pain, chronic pain, allergies and skin conditions, digestive disorders, chronic kidney and liver disease, cancer support, and cognitive dysfunction syndrome all benefit from integrated holistic therapies,” notes Dr. Mendoza.

For allergies and skin issues, “herbal remedies, acupuncture, and dietary adjustments can support pets with chronic skin conditions. Performing vaccine serum titers in lieu of repeated vaccinations can help reduce ongoing inflammation,” Dr. Mendoza shares.

The Power of Integrative Medicine

One common misconception about holistic pet care is that it requires abandoning conventional medical treatments. In reality, the most effective approach combines conventional and holistic methods, leveraging the strengths of each to create comprehensive care plans.

“Holistic and conventional treatments are often used together, with veterinarians working as a team to ensure the pet receives the best of both worlds,” Dr. Mendoza explains. “A pet may receive medication for pain management alongside acupuncture, herbal therapy, laser therapy, ozone, or massage therapy for further pain relief and mobility.”

This approach allows us to address immediate symptoms while simultaneously supporting long-term health and healing.

Real Success Stories

The true measure of any medical approach is in the outcomes it achieves for patients. At Mountain View Animal Hospital & Holistic Pet Care, we’ve witnessed remarkable improvements in many pets with chronic conditions.

Dr. Mendoza shares one particularly touching case: “A 10-year-old Labrador suffering from severe arthritis in her hips was having trouble walking and climbing stairs. She was on long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication; however, it was hard on her kidneys and liver, and her organ values continued to rise on the medication.”

The pet parent chose a combination of acupuncture, veterinary orthopedic manipulation, joint-support herbal therapy, and laser therapy. Within three treatments, the dog showed increased mobility, reduced pain, and improved energy levels.

Another success story involved a senior cat with chronic kidney disease who was losing weight and energy despite receiving standard care. With kidney-supporting supplements, acupuncture, herbal remedies, and rectal ozone therapy, the cat’s appetite and energy improved, and blood work showed stabilized kidney function.

Balancing Short-Term Relief and Long-Term Healing

Finding the right balance between immediate symptom relief and addressing underlying causes is essential for managing chronic conditions effectively.

“Conventional medicine focuses on immediate relief with treatments like pain medication and anti-inflammatories. These address symptoms but may not always target the underlying cause,” Dr. Mendoza explains. “Holistic treatments aim to address the root causes of chronic conditions, improving immune function, reducing inflammation, and supporting the body’s natural healing processes.”

Taking the Next Step

At Mountain View Animal Hospital & Holistic Pet Care, we understand the challenges of caring for a pet with a chronic condition. Our compassionate team is dedicated to finding the right combination of treatments to improve your companion’s quality of life.

To learn more about how our integrative approach might help your pet, call us at (775) 853-6900 or visit our contact form to request an appointment. Your pet deserves care that goes beyond just managing symptoms—they deserve a chance to truly thrive.