Holistic Veterinary Consultants - Blacksburg

01/20/2024

Just a few of the sweet patients we’ve had in recently, enjoying the attention - and a few treats 🦴🐾. We have the best patients! Come see us.

01/16/2024

We are planning to be open tomorrow but may have to adjust times to allow for driving conditions if needed! Please be safe and just let us know if you need to reschedule.

01/10/2024

Dr L doing acupuncture 1992. Yes, folks, it does work on animals!

01/08/2024

**Hour Changes for 1/9/24**
Happy New Year to all our 2 and 4 legged friends!
We are back to normal hours but will be closed tomorrow morning from 8am until 1pm. If you need us during that time, please feel free to leave a message or call the after hours number.
We look forward to seeing you soon!

12/24/2023

Wishing everyone a very happy and safe holiday!
Our holiday hours:
-Dec 25, closed for Christmas Day
-Dec 26 open 8am - 12n
-January 1, closed

Merry Christmas from a few of our 4 legged friends 🎄🎅

11/11/2023

A few pictures from Halloween at the clinic and sent in by our clients.

09/23/2023

Don't panic!
Yet we all do when we get a diagnosis of CANCER. It is alarmingly common in our pets. First, it is not an emergency like a broken leg. It did not just happen today, so take some time and look into making a reasonable plan of action. Start right away experimenting with some fresh food to see what your animal will prefer. THEN: call to set up a telemedicine consult at HVC where you can look at all your options and speak to a veterinarian with loads of experience. You will hear about our multimodal approach to cancer where there are ten options to choose from. You will learn about balanced fresh food diets which are crucial to success. (We would need a copy your medical history before your appointment.) You can also visit the cancer center in Roanoke where you will hear their perspective on therapy. Our goal is to work with your local vet and you to get the best outcome for your animal. Let us help you navigate the road to better health!

09/20/2023

3 generations of devices used in Chinese medicine, what are they used for???
•
•
•

08/07/2023

Retreat at healing Spirits Herb Farm with VBMA veterinarians

07/29/2023

Here’s a true story: In 2020 I decided to adopt another dog. I got Miss Dixie, an older dog who had been in the shelter a long time. She has been most grateful every day for her new life, and has been such a good girl. One day last October I came home from work and found Dixie with a very swollen and painful front leg. She could not put any weight on it. There were no external wounds and she had been in the house all day. The most activity she has is sneaking up on to the couch when I am gone. I was baffled. I administered pain medications and was sorry to find her just as painful the next morning. I took her to Blacksburg Animal Clinic where we sometimes refer for imaging, and radiographs showed she had a fracture. It was a pathologic fracture which comes from ordinary activity and a very weak bone. She had the dreaded osteosarcoma. This was not my first rodeo with OSA, and Dr Watson said she also had a metastatic tumor in her lungs. Ok, if this was your dog, I would have said her days are numbered and would not have argued if you chose euthanasia. After all she was in severe pain. So I took her home and got her comfy on a blanket and went out to dig a grave. I got her a nice spot alongside my 3 horses buried on the farm. I was still struggling with my decision. It is so hard as a vet with your own pets since I was planning on administering the lethal injection myself. There was no way I was going to make a case study out of my own pet using all the methods we recommend if it meant making her suffer more. The way she looked at me was heartbreaking. Like she was saying please help me. I called my niece who is a vet and asked her what she would do. I called a close veterinary friend and presented the case to her. I just needed someone else to tell me what I already knew and help me make the final decision. What Dr. Brockman told me was to “ask Dixie”. Well, of course, I tell people to communicate with their animals all the time! So I got down on the blanket and explained my predicament to Dixie. Here’s what happened: She put her good paw over onto my hand and looked at me with her big brown eyes. Absolutely,” Please help me” was the message. I slept on the idea of going forward with an amputation for the fracture would never heal with deteriorating bone. When I awoke, I felt brave enough to call Dr Watson and ask if he could squeeze an amputation into his busy Friday surgery schedule. Thankfully he said yes, bring her in. She healed up beautifully and that’s why I have a 3 legged dog today. Now the reason OSA is dreaded is because by the time you see it in the bone, it has already spread and even with chemotherapy, a survival of 6 months is considered a success. Of course, I know no oncologist would consider proceeding with chemo once a lesion is visible in the chest. Chemotherapy in my holistic practice is done with plant medicines, ozone, and dietary intervention. So, that’s where we are to this day, 10 months later. Dixie continues to have a happy life and willingly eats her supplements in her home cooked food. Every day is a bonus and she's such a happy girl. I hope other dogs and veterinarians can benefit from Dixie's story and that you enjoy her beautiful spirit.
Dr Marge Lewter

07/28/2023

Is he wearing pants??

07/28/2023

07/26/2023

Get your herd visit scheduled today! New FDA regulations require a prescription to purchase antibiotics for livestock. That requires that a vet has been to your farm withing the year and knows your operation and then a telephone consultation can get your meds. They can be ordered from our on-line store but of course you should plan ahead for emergencies. And while you're ordering, get yourself a re**al thermometer. If there is no fever, you probably need something other than antibiotics! Please spread the word.

07/20/2023

A day of house calls: Treat a tiny puppy, save a turtle, vaccinate a horse and check a calf, treat a flea.

07/20/2023

I planted extra veggies for the fresh dog food I make. It's now cheaper to make your own food than to buy overprocessed, herbicide laden, inflammatory and cancer causing dog kibble. I saw a 40 lb. bag at Tractor supply this week for $91.00. Call us for a nutrition consult for it is key to health and longevity!

07/11/2023

Just look at this face! Gotta be pet of the week!

06/23/2023

https://vimeo.com/832048586?share=copy
Thank-you to everyone who orders their pet and livestock supplies from our store where prices are great and you get free shipping. There are prescriptions (require a current patient/veterinarian relationship as well as toys, food, treats, and many supplements including Vet Classics natural products. Link is on our HVC website!

Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com

06/22/2023

Two doctors and twice as much work! Never a dull moment in this business!
Sample day: Cow pregnancy checks in the rain, kitten vaccination, vaccinate 2 donkeys and a horse, float teeth , blood test, two more horses blood test and vaccinate, acupuncture treatment for liver disease, nutrition consult, blood test 3 dogs, acupuncture for arthritis, cellulitis from infected tick bite, injection for arthritis in a very large dog, booster vaccs for a puppy, blood test geriatric screening, vaccinate two dogs and 5 donkeys. I tell you, this county has a donkey on every corner!
(These pictures are other patients from the past.)

06/17/2023

This is the "Chicken of the woods". Different than Hen of the woods that looks like a hen's ruffled feathers. This one looks like chicken meat when its sliced up. Tastes fabulous with butter, but could taste like chicken if breaded and fried. All mushrooms contain beta glucans which are pre-biotics and are great for our immune system, helping many problems such as cancer and allergies. The famous Turkeytail is most known in vet med because research was done by a University on hemangiosarcoma in dogs a few years back. It is also plentiful and is found in the human cancer drug Krestin.
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/mushrooms-pdq

06/14/2023

Between the two of us, that's 59 years of education and experience! Our patients teach lessons every day!

06/11/2023

Drum roll, please......Our veterinary services just improved exponentially! Please welcome Dr. Jan Tesi to the team!!

06/09/2023

Gardening for pets? These collards, kale, zucchini and red cabbage are great additions to meat for your dog's low-carb cancer or weight loss diet! Parsley is a good diuretic and blood cleanser for heart disease. With the price of dog food these days, you can feed a MUCH healthier home made diet for about the same price or maybe less. Contact us for recipes and advice on mineral supplements that are recommended! Amber is now my "in-house dog food advisor. " Ingredients in pet foods change constantly. Remember, you could stay alive eating cereal every day, but you would not be in prime health without some fresh food!

06/09/2023

A day in the life of this holistic veterinarian:
1) Puppy check-up and vaccinations
2) Acupuncture for a cat with seizures
3) Wellness check on a senior doggie.
4) Acupuncture and laser treatment for elbow arthritis
5) Electro-acuuncture and laser for paralyzed dog
6) Acupuncture and laser therapy for a doh with hip pain
7) Ozone therapy for facial muscle atrophy
8) Acupuncture for vestibular disease in a dog
9) Acupuncture for cancer pain
10) Nutrition consultation Telehealth visit
11) Second opinion on managing a hyperthyroid cat.
12) Ozone therapy and vitamin D testing for a cancer patient
13) Annual check up and Bartonella testing for a cat.
14) Checkup for Lyme disease and skin tumors in a dog.
15) write up reports
16) call in prescriptions
17) Do a telemedicine consult on a horse

Whew! That was a busy day! These pictures are from other busy days!

06/07/2023

06/02/2023

What do we do that's different from a "regular" vet"? Our doctors have had additional training beyond vet school to become trained in Veterinary Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and other therapies that add so much to health care! Add to that telemedicine, laboratory services, home visits, hospice care, nutrition consultation and cancer care. Then you can see why we refer to the "regular vet" for imaging, intensive care, and surgery. They do an excellent job at what they do and we strive for excellence in our specialty, all the while creating a holistic care plan that works best for each patient!

06/01/2023

https://www.vbma.org/
Dr Lewter becomes president of the Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association tonight! Veterinarians, technicians, and vet students are invited to join us to learn more about the amazing power of plants!

05/30/2023

Dixie approves of Badlands Ranch superfood for dogs! It can be used as a complete diet or a topper and contains Lions Mane mushrooms, blueberries, turmeric, and chia seeds. Try a treat bag today and see if your dog approves!