Holistic Veterinary Medicine is the examination and diagnosis of an animal, considering all aspects of the animal’s life (rather than individual symptoms) and employing all of the practitioner’s senses. When a holistic veterinarian sees a pet, in addition to employing a comprehensive physical examination, the practitioner takes into consideration other factors that may influence a pet’s health and healing such as medical and dietary history, environment, emotional stress and lifestyle. Holistic Veterinary Medicine is a “well-rounded” and integrated approach that often involves combining conventional and alternative (or complementary) treatment modalities.
Holistic Veterinarians are interested in genetics, nutrition, family relationships, hygiene, and stress factors. When a patient presents as ill or injured, the challenge revolves around determining the underlying cause. By a series of analytical observations and appropriate testing, the goal becomes to identify the true root of the pathology. What appears to be a simple symptom often has several layers of causation. Only when the true cause of the ailment has been found is there possibility for a long-term recovery.
Riversong Veterinary Clinic is a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA).