Our Services
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Enjoy Your Visit With Highly Customized Care
We have extended office times for every patient so that we can listen to the owner’s concerns and have a good understanding of what the problems are. We only see one patient at a time, we do not have an office full of multiple animals at one time. Animals often feel like they are just visiting a friend of the family rather than “going to the vet.” We also happened to have the best treats in town! Most animals enjoy coming into the office, owners tell us they run to the door excited to get inside!
We offer a variety of care options tailored to your pet’s specific needs. We take a holistic approach to veterinary science and believe in treating the root of the problem as opposed to masking symptoms.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an amazing and somewhat mysterious treatment modality. It has the ability to treat every part of the body including the mind. The acupuncture points used in veterinary medicine are essentially the same as in human medicine, just some alterations in the physical location of the points. The acupuncture points are areas within the skin that are physically palpable and are usually about the size of an eraser head. When a needle is placed into the acupuncture point it stimulates the point and facilitates energy flow. Where the energy flows from and to is determined by the location of the acupuncture point. All the points have been “mapped” out and all the points have known areas of the body that they affect.
The limitation to acupuncture is the physical act of putting small needles into the patient and then the patient needs to hold relatively still usually for 10-20 minutes. For some veterinary patients this can be tricky. For those patients we might try laser therapy instead, no needles. Most acupuncture treatment plans require 4-6 visits one week apart.
Infrared Light Laser Therapy
Infrared light therapy, sometimes referred to as photobiomodulation, has become popular for a variety of health benefits. It is an easy, painless and fast way to facilitate an energy boost to the cells which allows for wide-ranging health benefits. Infrared light can affect multiple types of tissues such as skin, muscle, tendon, and even bones/joints.
Infrared light therapy promotes healing by stimulating small molecules called chromophores. Chromophores are located on the surface of cells and mitochondria. When chromophores are stimulated by a certain wavelength of light they change their configuration and allow increased cell wall activity. When the chromophores on the surface of the intracellular mitochondria are stimulated there is an increase in the energy available to the cell. So, all told, the light results in an overall energy boost and accelerated healing reaction of the cell.
The standard applications of light laser therapy are for inflammation, muscle soreness, wound healing and joint pain just to name a few. The results of the treatments are often immediate, the duration of pain relief varies per patient. The number of treatments needed to heal a tissue is usually 4-6 treatments once per week.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is an amazing cost effective and palatable way to stimulate the body into healing itself. In veterinary medicine, understanding the patient’s needs can be difficult, as you cannot question the animal directly, and the variables involved in choosing the correct remedy require years of training and experience. The choice of remedy includes picking the correct remedy, the appropriate strength and discerning the intervals of treatment for the patient. Homeopathy is one of Doctor Hunter’s absolute favorite alternative modalities. This is because when the correct remedy is chosen, it is like a virtual miracle. Homeopathy does not suppress symptoms, instead it stimulates the body into fixing itself and achieving homeostasis. The fix is usually permanent until or unless the body is disturbed again and thrown out of homeostasis.
Western Herbal Medicine
Western Herbal Medicine focuses on restoring the body to a state of wellness by using herbal remedies. The herbal preparations can be in the form of a salve, extracts, fresh herbs, or dried encapsulation. Herbs can be used for virtually any ailment. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, which are often derived from herbal precursors, herbal remedies utilize the whole plant part (leaf, flower, root, etc) with all its natural chemical compounds. These compounds work synergistically to help the body heal. Pharmaceutical drugs are usually just one chemical, that was chosen as the most influential chemical in the herb or flower or plant.
The risk with using Western drugs is that by using only one compound you have to use higher doses of the singular compound which puts the body at risk of toxicity and adverse reactions. Using the whole plant, flower, root, etc stimulates the body in multiple minute ways in order to facilitate a full healing response with no risk of toxicity. The body can often heal a great many ailments when given the opportunity with proper food and herbal medicine. Doctor Hunter uses Western herbal medicine when conventional medications for the same problem are not well tolerated by the patient. Examples of herbs deployed by Doctor Hunter are Hawthorn for blood pressure issues, Oregon Grape when antibiotics are not well tolerated, or Slippery Elm instead of harsh intestinal drugs.
Nutrition
This is the most important foundation for your pets’ health. From their diet, your animal will obtain the basic nutrients for its overall health and cellular repair. For a dog, seven basic nutrient categories need to be filled: water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and calories. Cats require only six categories, they have no need for carbohydrates. All the nutrients are equally important. Protein would seem to be the most important for both dogs and cats, but protein cannot be properly metabolized without water and vitamins and minerals, etc. Proteins are needed for the immune system, muscle building and repair, energy, etc. Fats are also necessary and come from animal and plant products. Fats are used to keep skin healthy, produce hormones, absorb vitamins, insulate the body and protect organs, etc. For dogs, carbohydrates deliver energy and maintain digestive health. Vitamins are important for a myriad of bodily functions and should generally be derived from a balanced diet. Finally, 60% to 70% of your pet’s body is made up of water, without enough of this vital nutrient they can become sick and die.
Remember, you cannot solicit a healing response from a patient if the patient does not have the proper nutrients to derive the response from.
Doctor Hunter completed her Certification in Natural Nutrition in 2021.
Chinese Medicine
Although still a new concept in the Western world, Chinese Veterinary Medicine has been used to treat animals for thousands of years and was adapted from human Traditional Chinese Medicine. This medical art is derived from the Chinese Daoist philosophy and centers on the body as part of the greater surrounding universe. As such, diseases in the body must be addressed by looking to the external environment and how they affect the patient. “Qi” is the life force that is the embodiment of an individual’s overall energy. Without Qi we do not have life. Qi is heavily influenced by the environment. The Yin-Yang theory is another driving force in this modality and is the concept that opposing forces in the universe play a key role of Physiological function and design. Yin-Yang can be thought of as Light and Dark, hot and cold or any other opposing forces in the universe. As with all opposing forces, health is only achieved when the forces are in balance, this is the aim of Chinese Medicine.
Doctor Hunter learned Chinese medicine during her acupuncture course conducted by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 2003. The Chinese medicine portion of the course was taught by Doctor Steve Marsden. Doctor Hunter has completed multiple continuing education courses with Doctor Marsden since her initial training. Doctor Hunter generally uses Chinese Medicine when the situation calls for energy movement and some herbal chemical influence together. Her use of Chinese herbs are quite different from her reasons for choosing a Western herbal prescription and are based on her extensive knowledge and experience in past interactions with her patients.
Nutraceuticals
These are dietary supplements that can be defined as: “food, or part of food, that provides medical or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease.” These are supplements meant to augment a good diet for the specific purpose of healing a particular body part. They are used when extra nutrients are needed during the healing process or to maintain the health of that area of the body. Examples are glucosamine/ chondroitin for arthritic joints, probiotics for imbalance gut flora, etc. Doctor Hunter works very hard to choose nutraceuticals made by reputable companies with guaranteed analysis and backed by clinical studies.
Western Medicine
This approach includes the use of antibiotics, steroids, and surgery when necessary to treat various conditions effectively. Antibiotics are employed to combat bacterial infections, ensuring your pet recovers swiftly and safely. Steroids are used to reduce inflammation and manage conditions such as allergies and autoimmune diseases. When surgery is required, we provide skilled surgical interventions to address injuries, illnesses, or other medical needs.
doTERRA Essential Oils
Dr. Hunter is currently in training for doTERRA Essential Oils usage in veterinary medicine.
