1. Do I continue to see my regular veterinarian?
2. What does the initial intake involve?
3. How often do I repeat treatments?
4. How soon will I see an improvement after an acupuncture treatment?
5. Will nutritional supplements interfere with holistic medicine?
6. Can my pet get a bacterial infection from raw food?
7. Can I use a microwave to warm or cook my pet’s food?
8. Why can't we use acupuncture and homeopathy at the same time?
9. What is palliation, suppression, and cure?
10. Can traditional drugs be used with holistic medicine?

1. Do I continue to see my regular veterinarian?

Absolutely!  Vitality Pet Care specializes in holistic medicine and does not offer any traditional services such as labwork, x-rays and vaccinations.  We work in conjunction with your regular veterinarian (RDVM) to bring about health and well-being in your companion.  As our work encompasses only holistic forms of medicine, we strongly recommend maintaining a close working relationship with your RDVM who can continue to provide important traditional services.

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2. What does the initial intake involve?

The initial intake is generally 1 hour and 15 minutes in length.  As holistic medicine is reliant upon the specific details of individual pets, a detailed history is essential to formulate a treatment strategy.  The whole patient is discussed and specific adjustments are made to his or her lifestyle and nutrition.  In most cases, an initial treatment is performed using the various modalities offered.  Cancer cases are more involved and typically will take 1.5 hours.

In an effort to facilitate optimal use of time, it is helpful to:

• Have the guardian who is most familiar with the case accompany the pet.
• Bring medications and pet food labels.
• Organize the pet’s home veterinary file for quick reference.
• Have doctor’s notes faxed to VPC.

The time moves very quickly, so efficient use of this time benefits the clients and patients.

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3. How often do I repeat treatments?

The treatment schedule varies according to modalities used and the special needs of each pet.  In general, a follow up recheck is performed 2 weeks after the initial consultation.  At this appointment a treatment schedule is designed based upon the needs and response of the pet.  A complementary phone consult with Dr. Pam is offered to new clients to be used within the two weeks following the initial intake.  This will offer clients an opportunity to ask any questions regarding the consultation and treatment plan. 

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4. How soon will I see an improvement after an acupuncture treatment?

Each patient has an individual response to each treatment regime. Each patient's ability to respond is dependant upon a variety of factors, including:

* The number of disease processes present
* The length of time the uppermost issue has been present
* The level of tissue pathology present
* The innate recuperative power of each patient's body
* The specific medications the patient is taking
* The cooperation of the patient & care-giver in the treatment process

Holistic modalities stimulate the patient's body to correct the imbalances. Thus, the response to treatment is dependant upon the patient's ability to generate a response. The pet's response can be accentuated by providing the appropriate diet and whole food supplementation to act as a foundation on which the patient's body can rebuild vital health and well-being.

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5. Will nutritional supplements interfere with holistic medicine?

Whole food based nutritional supplements will not interfere with holistic medicine. Synthetic products can interfere by creating reactions within the body that deplete the very system that the holistic treatments are trying to stimulate.

6. Can my pet get a bacterial infection from raw food?

You can avoid bacterial contamination by using the same proper handling techniques that you would use for your own food. Such techniques practices include:

* Thawing raw meat in the refrigerator
* Cleaning all dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water +/or in the
   dishwasher
* Cleaning and disinfecting countertops
* Cleaning food bowls immediately after your pet(s) have eaten

In addition, it is important to know your sources for the raw foods. Commercially prepared fresh food products typically have quality control and safety guidelines assuring the freshness and safety of their food. Consult the individual companies to find out what safety measures they have in place.

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7. Can I use a microwave to warm or cook my pet's food?

We do not recommend using microwaves for cooking or warming food products.  Microwaves actually have a detrimental effect on foods which not only decreases the nutrient value, but can also result in the development of carcinogens.  For more information on the use of microwaves, click here: http://parkerhealthsolutions.wordpress.com/?s=microwaves.  When spending more time and money on wholesome home-cooked and raw food diets, it would be unwise to diminish the nutritional value and healthful qualities by microwaving.

Warming can be accomplished by using a hot water bath, whereby the food is placed in its bowl and placed in warm water for a short period of time. (30 minutes or less)  Cooking is best done via steaming or slow-cooking.

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8. Why can't we use acupuncture and homeopathy at the same time?

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9. What is palliation, suppression, and cure?

PALLIATION is the temporary relief of one or more symptoms as long as the medicine is continued. The response may be dramatic at first use, but the outward effects cannot be sustained without the medication. If the medicine is stopped the symptoms return and often are more severe than prior to beginning the treatment.

**An example of palliation would be the use of a thyroid medication.

SUPPRESSION is the long term or permanent disappearance of one or more symptoms without improvement of the patient as a whole. Suppression may lead to a decline of the patient in some other part of body, often the mental and/or emotional level.

CURE occurs when the symptoms are removed or reduced in intensity with an increase in the well-being of the patient as a whole.

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10. Can traditional drugs be used with holistic medicine?

Many of the drugs used in traditional medicine will blend with many holistic modalities.  As our goal is to strengthen the patient and improve quality of life, the desired outcome is often to wean patient off non-essential traditional medications as their health improves or reduce drug use to the least amount of the most effective dose.  Your holistic veterinarian can guide you more specifically.

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