Integrated Veterinary Specialist

After over 20 years in my own traditional practice in equine medicine in Florida, I chose to start a fully integrated practice and relocated to New Zealand. In 2007, I started the south islands only fully integrated practice on the many performance horses. Family called me back to the states and I left NZ satisfied with the adventure and the the wonderful friends that I made. Having traveled all over the country, the Charlottesville area had a tremendous draw and that has brought us here to the area.

 Photography is one of my passions and the photo was taken near Kaikoura, NZ.

Integrative or Complementary Care

In many situations, good veterinary treatment may involve multiple modalities, including surgery and drug therapy from conventional Western technology, along with complementary techniques to provide more complete and supportive care. This approach often outperforms other methodologies. Once the signs and symptoms have been treated, the health care is not complete until the underlying disease patterns have been reprogrammed. Often through complementary care, both the client and the practitioner, as well as the patient, will be directed to new levels of understanding, health and healing.

Acupuncture and Chiropractic is like 1+1=4

Each modality can be effective but together they are additive, producing results that much better and faster.

Chiropractic Care

 The use of antiinflammatories without resolving the cause of joint use imbalances may not be as effective, can shorten the functional life of a joint, and may have other detrimental physiologic effects.

Usual complaints that cause owners to seek chiropractic treatment for horses are proprioceptive problems, stiffness, uneven gaits, stifle or hock problems, sore backs, chronic front foot pain, obscure lameness, training or behavioral problems, poor development, plus a host of more specific problems and diseases. Animals with high stress occupations, or animals with preexisting conditions or conformational problems, may require more frequent adjustments than those needed for maintenance health care. Horses that cannot stand patiently or comfortably for shoeing are potential chiropractic patients as this may be evidence of balance, torque, or strain problems in the system.

Acupuncture 

Acupuncture works in a similar fashion to the chiropractic adjustment. It is a method of helping the brain and the rest of the nervous system to work correctly. Acupuncture helps the brain to recognize where it has interpreted the situation incorrectly and helps the body get back on the right track. Acupuncture also acts directly on spasms and knots in muscles and fascia, relaxing these both directly and via the brain and spinal cord.