How Holistic Medicine Will Help Your Pet
Holistic and Integrative Medicine
Dr. Richter, graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991. After many years of practicing as a traditional veterinarian, Dr. Richter began working side by side with an IVAS Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. This exposure to Chinese Medicine was eye opening to her. This was the beginning of a new journey in Integrative Medicine. She has done extensive continuing education training to learn many "alternative" medicine options.
Integrative Medicine is the practice of the best of both worlds. It combines traditional Western Medicine with the less "traditional" holistic therapies more common in Eastern Medical practices. Sometimes we need the stronger medications, but sometimes we can use less of them, if we employ some of the more holistic modalities at the same time. Dr. Richter looks at every aspect of your fur kid's life. The relationship with the patient's owner, nutrition, the environment, fellow house "fur siblings", disease patterns present and how they affect the entire body as a whole. All of this together allows her to take the best of traditional medicine and enhance that care with additional holistic modalities. This allows for less "toxic" western medications to be used more judiciously, and for other "safer" modalities to be added to improve medical outcomes with the best possible quality of life. Dr Richter still strongly believes in good quality workups so that we can get an accurate diagnosis and determine small changes with food and medication to help prevent illness, as well as how to best treat conditions that exist as pets age. By treating your pet using an integrative holistic medical approach, Dr. Richter will use a combination of healing arts to help your pet recover. The following are examples of the most commonly used modalities:
Nutrition:
We are what we eat. Dr. Richter can guide you to provide a well-balanced diet that still meets all the micronutrient needs of your patient. The growth phase of pets, as well as special diets for particular health issues can be discussed. Guidance with commercially available diets as well as ways to home cook balanced diets with the guidance of a Veterinary Board-Certified Nutritionist can be discussed with you in detail. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Guidance to enhance treatment with Chinese Herbal Formularies is available. Dr Richter works with a boarded Chinese Herbalist out of California to help treat your pets.
Cold Laser Therapy:
A Class 3B Cold Laser is used to treat many illnesses, to promote healing and reduce pain and inflammation. This is a keystone of many geriatric patient's healthcare treatment as it truly improves quality of life. The Cold Laser stimulates the mitochondria (the energy centers of the cell) and promotes self-healing. This is very helpful with arthritis pain and nerve issues and can help promote healing of inflamed skin as well.
Chiropractic Care:
Dr. Richter has been trained in VIN Chiropractic techniques and uses this modality to enhance the care of her patients. Addressing the subluxations of the spine with an activator, allows us to promote the flow of energy through spinal cord. When this energy is flowing properly, the intrinsic healing of the body works best, keeping the pet not only out of orthopedic pain, but helping with self-healing.
Dr. Richter looks forward to partnering with you to use integrative (holistic plus traditional) medicine to keep your fur babies happy and healthy with a nice long life!
Compassion Veterinary Hospital
2604 Route 103 Bradford NH, 03221-603-938-5500-Fax: 603-938-5353