Integrative Medicine

Hulen Hills Animal Hospital offers a wide variety of veterinary services, including the opportunity to explore additional therapies through Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM).  Dr. Kate Running, DVM, CVA, believes, “An integrative approach, which combines eastern therapies with western conventional medicine, increases our ability to prevent and treat disease that would not be possible when using one approach by itself.”

Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the concept that the body is a small universe with a set of sophisticated interconnected systems, and that those systems work in balance to maintain the healthy function of the body. This is referred to as yin and yang. Eastern medicine works to maintain the healthy balance of yin and yang, keeping pets healthy and free of disease.

Although eastern therapies benefit a pet throughout its entire life, TCVM is especially useful for patients that have been diagnosed, appropriately treated, and are still experiencing problems or quality of life issues that western medicine or surgery have not alleviated.

Dr. Running partners with clients’ regular veterinarians to develop integrative wellness plans to keep pets healthy, treatment plans to combat pain and disease, and therapy regimens to help pets recover from injuries or surgery.

Veterinary Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the most commonly used method of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which dates back over 5,000 years. The theory of acupuncture holds that the body contains vital energy called Qi (pronounced chi), which circulates throughout the body in natural channels called meridians. These meridians connect the outside of the body with the interior.

Symptoms of various illnesses, including pain, are believed to be caused by the disrupted, blocked, or unbalanced movement of Qi through the body’s meridians. Acupuncture needles inserted into specific meridian points through the skin can reroute or unbalance the Qi, which can restore normal body functions and relieve pain in our beloved pets.

Dr. Running also utilizes other techniques to balance Qi in her patients. These include prescribing herbal medications, customizing special diets and teaching clients massage techniques to use on their pets at home.

TCVM Consultation

Call 817-731-3733 to schedule a TCVM Consultation with Dr. Running.