We are interested in integrating complementary and alternative medicine, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, with conventional medicine for a more comprehensive health plan or treatment for your pet.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, acupressure, diet, exercise and meditation. Most of these modalities can be applied in veterinary medicine. TCM theory was developed over thousands of years of practice by hundreds of thousands of medical practitioners on millions of patients. TCM is a holistic approach to patient care. For a more in depth explanation of TCM, I recommend reading Four Paws, Five Directions by Cheryl Schwartz, DVM and The Web That Has No Weaver by Ted J. Kaptchuk, OMD.

At Macedon Veterinary Care we believe in a holistic approach to wellness. We try to integrate alternative medicine, diet, and conventional medicine to maintain optimal health for your pet. While conventional medicine tends to treat the immediate problem as a separate entity, i.e. ear infection, vomiting, etc, TCM looks at a variety of signs and symptoms to define a pattern of disease. As part of an integrated approach, diagnostic procedures such as lab work, x-rays, or surgery may be recommended for accurate patient assessment.

Acupuncture and herbal formulas, along with diet and exercise, are used to treat arthritis, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness, skin problems, renal failure, congestive heart failure, many chronic and geriatric problems, and are also employed for prevention of disease. Scientific research has only begun to recently identify biochemical and physiological explanations for results seen with some alternative therapies. Successfully using TCM requires knowledge, training, and caution. Herbs contain many active constituents that are essentially ‘drugs’.

We do not consider herbs or nutriceuticals a panacea, nor do we wish to minimize the good effects of conventional therapies. Herbs and nutriceuticals are not FDA approved. Sources must be chosen carefully for quality and purity. We recommend only products form sources known for their excellent quality and that are guaranteed additive and contaminate free.

We invite questions regarding Traditional Chinese Medicine, nutriceutical, dietary, and/or other therapies for your pet. Please contact our office at 315-986-4246 for an appointment or with any questions.

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