All of the doctors at Tequesta Veterinary Clinic strive to provide health care with a holistic approach. Yes, we have all been trained in America with western medicine. And yet, whenever we can incorporate supplements or therapy laser or nutrition we will! We view holistic medicine as a common-sense approach that utilizes the safest options available. Sometimes that might be as simple as giving a pet with a dermatological condition a bath on a regular schedule!
Supplements
We at Tequesta Vet Clinic utilize supplements whenever possible over “medications”. Examples include fish oils, CBD, milk thistle, S adenyl methionine, and L-theanine. Know that when your pet has any issue, the doctors at Tequesta Vet Clinic will do our best to incorporate holistic alternatives such as supplements.
Nutrition
Several diseases (liver, heart, derm, and kidney disease in particular) can benefit from dietary management. For families who wish to make home-cooked diets we advise them to check out the website, BalanceIt.com. BalanceIt.com (as in “balance it”) was created by a veterinary nutritionist. The nutritionists at BalanceIt.com take into account your pet’s medical issues and help formulate the best diet while also involving your desires. They carry their own brand of trusted supplements that ensure a balanced diet to accompany your preferences. BalanceIt.com also provides nutritional guidance for healthy pets without health issues.
For the rest of us who are not culinarily inclined, we carry the Royal Canin brand diets. Royal Canin does 60% of veterinary nutrition research. More importantly, they strive for high palatability. What good is a kidney diet if your pet won’t eat it?
Proper body weight
We know that healthy body weight can alleviate many health issues from diabetes to tracheal collapse to arthritis. Obesity can cause insulin resistance. Obesity can not only predispose to arthritis but can exacerbate arthritis. Pets with upper airway disease typically improve when obesity resolves. If we tell you Fluffy is a bit voluptuous, we aren’t trying to make you feel inadequate or incite an argument. We are trying to help your pet live his or her best life, free of disease and pain. If we can get a chubby arthritic senior Labrador to lose weight and achieve a proper body condition, we may be able to avoid or decrease the dosage of anti-inflammatory drugs.
Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals for free
Does your sweetie turn into Cujo as soon as you get to the vet clinic due to fear? Are you bringing your pet in for anal sac expression or nail trims and your pet thinks we are trying to commit murder? Does you pet battle painful ear infections?
We now offer “pre-visit” pharmaceuticals to ease the stress and pain of such visits. We want your pets to love us! We don’t charge for these. We offer both gabapentin (which decreases anxiety AND offers analgesia) and Trazodone (which doesn’t decrease pain but is a dandy for anxiety). Again, these are FREE.
We would like for you to come get it as soon as you make the appointment so you can give it 2 or 3 hours prior to the exam. And if your pet is really anxious, you can give a dose the night before as well.
We strive to be as “Fear Free” as possible. Dr Joi and Dr Kate always incorporate local anesthesia into surgical procedures, but we often also use local anesthesia for ear care and hot spots in awake pets. Sometimes if there is a situation where a pet is in pain, will sedate the pet with a twilight sedative rather than do things that hurt while the pet is awake. ASK US!
We know your kitty doesn’t appreciate getting nabbed from the back of the couch, getting put in a box and going for a car ride and landing at the vet clinic. Our own cats don’t much like it either! We spray our scrubs with Feliway when we meet a cat. We also have Feliway diffusers in the cat exam room and in the treatment areas. (Feliway is a pheromone analog. You know when your cat is rubbing it’s chin on you? That is your kitty marking you with a pheromone and saying, “This human is MINE!” Feliway puts cat at ease.)
We always have treats for pets. Dogs are easy to please, but cats may be more finicky with treats to distract them so we have whipped cream for our feline friends. For dogs we have numerous treats, and our peanut butter bill is surprisingly high at Tequesta Vet Clinic!