Special Services

Alternative or Complementary Therapy

Cryosurgery

Orthopedic & Complex Surgery

Stem Cell Therapy

Senior Health Imaging Profile

High dose Vitamin IV Therapy

Nutritional Blood Test (NBT)

Immuno-Augmentative Therapy (IAT)

Alternative or Complementary Therapy

These are the real “tools of our trade” that we use on a daily basis for both well pets and seriously ill animals.

As appropriate, we will incorporate and integrate some or all of the following options in helping your animal:

Herbal remedies or “botanical medicine”: This is the use of plants or plant derivatives as therapeutic agents. Examples of two common types of herbal medications are milk thistle and olive leaf. However, there are literally hundreds of which we make use.

Nutraceutical Medicine: This is the use of micronutrients, macronutrients and other nutritional supplements as therapeutic agents. Vitamins, minerals, glucosamine and Coenzyme-Q10 are all well-known examples of the types of ingredients we might utilize.

Glandular Therapy: This is the use of tissue extracts from animal organs to address weaknesses in the patient’s own organ functioning. For example, an animal with adrenal problems might be supplemented with tablets made from adrenal tissue extracts. Other common glandular treatments might include extracts from kidneys, liver, heart, thymus, thyroid, pancreas and pituitary.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): TCM encompasses many types of treatment, but at Smith Ridge we focus on its main branch of herbology. Like other herbal remedies, this is the use of plants for medical purposes. But TCM uses Chinese herbs specifically.

Acupuncture/acupressure: This involves the examination and stimulation of specifically defined energy points on the body by the use of acupuncture needles, injections and pressure.

Homeopathy: Homeopathy is a complex practice that is hard to summarize in just a few sentences. But at its most basic level, it is based on the principle of similars. That is, when a being experiences symptoms of illness, the best way to address the “dis-ease” and clinically resolve the problem is to give specially prepared, exceedingly small doses of a substance that, at larger levels, causes similar symptoms as those being experienced by the patient. In short, like cures like. While this seems counterintuitive at first, think of this: immunizations and allergy desensitization make use of this very principle of similars – they use exceedingly small doses of the offending agents to create immunity and reduce symptoms. Homeopathy views symptoms as inherent and adaptive defenses by that body that should be supported, not controlled, inhibited and suppressed. Homeopathy seeks to address the underlying cause of disease, not just manage the symptoms associated with it which is the common approach in conventional medicine.

Diet: Like us, our animals are what they eat. Good health and healing all start with food. We will review your pet’s diet and make suggestions for changes that incorporate as many real, whole foods as possible into your pet’s diet. We will also suggest that you provide things like wild salmon oil in order to give your pet the very beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.

Miscellaneous therapies we might use or recommend: natural pheromone therapy, Bach flower remedies, aromatherapy, light spectrum therapy, Reiki, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and physical rehabilitation therapy.