May 23rd, 2010 | 
Author: Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) is an ancient system of animal health maintenance and medical treatment based upon the flow of energy in the body known as Chi. This system can be used early in life as a preventative measure to strengthen resistance to illness and disease, it can be used during any life stage for support of continued health, if disease or imbalance is present TCVM can be used to re-establish healthy functioning and balance of the body, and during the end of life stage it can ease pain and smooth the transition into passing.
It is recommended that your animal companion be evaluated as early in life as possible to determine the diet and herbal supplements that will best support the health of the animal throughout its life. At six months of age or as soon as your companion is in your life is the best time to setup an initial consultation. At this point your animal may be healthy and we will focus on the best diet to help your companion stay healthy and prevent any imbalances. If your companion is noted to be in imbalance we will discuss treatment options (herbal medications, acupuncture or possibly western medication as needed).
Isabelle with her 2 dogs enjoying nature.
Follow-up checkups on a semi-annual basis will allow for continued health and prevention of disease through diet adjustment, herbal supplements, and acupuncture treatments. Routine TCVM diagnostics such as tongue color, tongue coating and pulse quality are used during exams to determine the health status of your companion. As an owner you may assist in managing your companions health by noticing and monitoring for any change in gait (limping or stiffness), hair coat (dandruff, dryness, odor, shedding, poor grooming), ear and eye discharge, appetite, weight gain and/or loss, changes in drinking and urination as well as defecation.
Should your companion be diagnosed with an illness, either chronic or acute, TCVM can be used exclusively or in conjunction with conventional therapy to treat the condition. Acupuncture, herbal medication, and food therapy have been used to great effect to treat conditions such as musculoskeletal problems (soreness, disc disease, osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease), gastrointestinal imbalances (vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, ulcers, colic), neurological conditions (paralysis, paresis, seizures) as well as other chronic conditions (asthma, uveitis, hypo/hyperthyroidism, renal failure, heart failure, behavioral problems) for centuries.
The end of life is a certainty for all living beings, however it is all too often a time of pain and sorrow. Increasing a healthy flow of chi during this period keeps the individual connected to life and allows the greatest enjoyment of the time they have remaining. This can be accomplished through acupuncture, herbal treatment and food therapy. Hospice care should be an enjoyable period for all involved and keeping your companion as mobile, comfortable and pain free as possible is the goal of treatment. It does not matter how many more days one lives, but how happy and fulfilled those days can be made. Acupuncture provides pain relief and may give enough strength for your companion to make the transition on their own. In cases where the animal needs help, home euthanasia is available as a last resort.
Sustaining the flow of chi in your companion will increase the number of days of life as well as the quality of life in the days you spend together throughout your lives.
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