Integrated Veterinary CARE

28/08/2025

Three months ago in May, I had a horse riding accident that resulted in a head injury. I've been taking time off work to focus on my recovery, with limited digital input as part of my healing process.
I'm grateful to share that I'm now doing a graduated return to work which will be slow and very gradual so please be patient. The journey hasn't been easy - Thankfully, there was no cognitive damage.
I can't express enough gratitude to A&E, my supportive work colleagues, and Jan Bradshaw for their care during this time. Most importantly, my family has shown incredible patience as I've worked through each milestone of recovery.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this challenging time. Looking forward to getting back to normal life step by step. 🙏

04/06/2024

I am on a week after Dr Sarah Heath and Dr Clare Rushbridge .... those are big footsteps to follow in!!!!

ONE WEEK TODAY!!

We are pleased to announce that Veerle Dejonckheere, one of our brilliant advisers, will be joining us to discuss and provide more information on muscle relaxants.

TUESDAY 11th JUNE - 7:30pm
https://www.facebook.com/share/7JAYPZJRvhPP4LYT/

Veerle Dejonckheere qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 2001 and worked for two years in a large animal practice in France before coming to the UK in 2003 and working in conventional small animal practices. In 2009 she joined the SMART Clinic, Cardiff where she developed her experience as an acupuncturist. Since 2011, she has run a thriving referral service offering integrated veterinary care (https://www.integratedveterinarycare), including acupuncture, chiropractic care, therapeutic exercise, nutrition and herbal medicine, in several practices and a hydrotherapy centre in the Bath and Bristol area. Her aim is to work together with the referring conventional vet to maximise the wellbeing of the dog at all stages of life.

Hannah was so happy when Veerle agreed to come on and do a live interview about herbal medicine and how it fits in with a “holistic” approach to OA management. Veerle incorporates herbal with recognised veterinary practice which demonstrates a truly multidisciplinary approach. To often there is a massive divide between the 2 disciplines when actually they can both be utilised with a beneficial effect.

Veerle joined us before so have a look at all the great FB lives:

A herbal approach to supporting your arthritic dog with Veerle Dejonckheere
https://youtu.be/ledxmUiJUck

Herbal medicine for use in osteoarthritis with Veerle Dejonckheere
https://youtu.be/xMCXPiWa4v4

03/06/2024

🐾 Holistic Veterinary Success Story: Neurogenic KCS 🐾

Recently, a geriatric patient visited my clinic with a sudden onset of dry eye condition (KCS) in the left eye. Neurogenic KCS is a relatively uncommon disorder that requires recognizing characteristic clinical signs for accurate treatment and prognosis.

Patients may present with acute, severe unilateral dry eye and frequent ipsilateral dry nasal planum (xeromycteria) due to deficient parasympathetic innervation of the lateral nasal gland. While parotid duct transposition surgery can be considered for refractory cases, the owner sought my holistic approach.

Through my chiropractic training, I discovered marked TMJ and upper cervical rigidity. I treated this with gentle traction, manipulation, and acupuncture. Due to the patient's history of liver issues, the owner requested no oral treatments, so I refrained from my usual herbal backup.

Remarkably, tear production resumed that same evening, and within a week, it had returned to normal. This case highlights the value of considering alternative approaches as a trial treatment while still incorporating first-line therapies, such as eye drops and further workup when necessary.

🌿💧

16/03/2024

That's a wrap! I just finished recording my bite size talk for the Chronic Pain Symposium. It looks like there will be worldwide attendance! My talk is sponsored by CIVT and will be presented in the bite-size sessions!

CAM has teamed up with Elearning.Vet to deliver a 24 hour, two-day virtual symposium to a global audience, capturing the passion of chronic pain management. We do not plan to simply educate. We plan to Engage, Educate, Enable and Empower every attendee to become competent advocates of chronic pain m...

09/03/2024

Expand Your Veterinary Skills: Join Our VWHM Workshop in London!
The College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) invites you to our London Workshop on Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine (VWHM) for Beginners.
Date: 27th April 2023
Location: Centrally located venue, a two-minute walk from Victoria Station, London
Price: £200
This workshop is perfect for veterinary surgeons, nurses, and vet students looking to explore the world of herbal medicine. Our experienced practitioners and educators will provide a solid foundation in VWHM principles and practical applications.
Key topics include:
- History and philosophy of VWHM
- Herbal pharmacology and therapeutics
- Commonly used herbs
- Clinical case studies and practical applications
- Integrating VWHM into your practice
Register now and take the first step towards the CIVT Foundation Course in VWHM!
For more information and to secure your spot, visit: https://civtedu.org/courses/london-workshop-beginners-vwhm

Join the growing community of veterinary professionals embracing Western Herbal Medicine!
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London

CIVT provides world-leading education in natural medicine, including three accredited online post-graduate qualifications, industry-recognised certifications

04/03/2024

01/03/2024

Leo is 17 today. His owner and I have had to micromanage his medications over the last few weeks and we have on several occasions discussed his end-of-life care. However, he is eating and this video shows there is plenty of life in the old dog yet. Geriatric care is exhausting at times but so rewarding. A good life is a life with joy, little pain, naps, plenty of squirrels, food, and walks for Leo!

15/02/2024

I'm excited to share that I will be speaking at the upcoming CAM conference on chronic pain. This conference brings together leading experts to discuss the latest research and integrative approaches to managing chronic pain. I'm honored to be part of such an impressive lineup of speakers that includes renowned specialists in chronic pain management. My talk will focus on using herbal therapies as part of a holistic approach to treating chronic pain.

The CAM chronic pain conference promises to be an invaluable opportunity to learn from many perspectives and expand our toolkit for improving the lives of those pets suffering from chronic pain.

I highly recommend attending the upcoming chronic pain conference as a VIP. Hannah Capon and her dedicated team have long been advocates for recognizing osteoarthritis as a major issue in veterinary medicine, and for including holistic veterinarians in the discussion.

Your support as a VIP will also help honor Hannah's tireless efforts to improve care standards for animals suffering from chronic pain. While the free sessions will provide valuable insights, the VIP experience is an investment in her mission to bring a truly holistic approach to osteoarthritis in pets.

CAM has teamed up with Elearning.Vet to deliver a 24 hour, two-day virtual symposium to a global audience, capturing the passion of chronic pain management. We do not plan to simply educate. We plan to Engage, Educate, Enable and Empower every attendee to become competent advocates of chronic pain m...

22/01/2024

I'm thrilled to share that I've been accepted as a charter fellow of the American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine (ACVBM)!

This is such an honor for me. The ACVBM has worked tirelessly in the U.S. to gain acceptance for veterinary herbal medicine as a board-certified specialty. As a young vet, I looked up to the ACVBM fellows as leaders in the field. Now I'm proud to be part of this group, alongside the many other herbal medicine vets who have joined in recent years. There's an ongoing push for greater recognition of this specialty within the veterinary profession. I'm excited to contribute to that effort as an ACVBM fellow.