The Vitality Vet

22/02/2025

A little smoosh update and one reason I’ve been quiet on here lately….my derpy Rexi Boba was diagnosed with a grade II soft tissue sarcoma.

Unfortunately, due to its location on his arm, I wasn’t able to obtain good margins so cancer cells were left behind. Though it was an intermediate grade tumor, he had a high mitotic cell count so there is higher chance of recurrence. And if it recurs, it will most likely become a high grade sarcoma and these are most likely to spread to the lungs.

We met with an oncologist yesterday from who was amazing and so helpful with giving us all the options based on his case. (And afterward we did some mountain exploring to get outside and process everything).

Selfishly, I want to do everything I can to make him live forever (don’t we all 🥲), but I know I need to be realistic with his lifespan being a nearly 10 year old Boxer, and I need to consider his overall quality of life in whatever decision we make.

So for now we’re not really sure which route we are going to go. Whatever we decide I know that we will be loving on him every chance we get and will make it the best last year(s🤞🏽) of his life 🤎


{ Shoutout to for being a HUGE asset in keeping him comfortable during his surgery recovery 🙏🏼 }

06/02/2024

There are many integrative modalities which can be a useful first choice or supplemental treatment to your horse’s medical treatment. But which modality is truly best for your horse?

This is a question I will help you answer either via an in person or virtual TCVM consult for your horse. Based on your horse’s condition & needs, and your goal as an owner, I can help guide you through the different integrative approaches which your horse can benefit best from.

There is no one size fits all but some of the integrative options to consider for your horse include acupuncture, herbal medicine, laser therapy, rehab therapy and pulse electronic magnetic field (pEMF) therapy, as well as shockwave and ultrasound therapies.

31/01/2024

❗️NOW BOOKING❗️

New equine patients in SLO County!

Check out my February availability:

https://the-vitality-vet.square.site/

🙏🏼❤️🐴

05/01/2024

Ringing in the new year calls for a reintroduction 🎊

I’m Dr. Rachel Mar, an integrative veterinarian from California passionate about improving the vitality of our beloved animals. I am certified in small animal & equine veterinary acupuncture and am currently working on my canine rehabilitation certification through the University of Tennessee 🐕‍🦺

I utilize traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM), to offer owners answers and care options that western medicine may not be able to provide. And I love that through the modalities of integrative medicine, I have been able to help my patients regain mobility, receive comfort from pain, and overall live longer & happier lives ✨

Currently, I work full time in clinical practice as medical director at a small animal clinic in San Luis Obispo, where I am able to provide a TCVM perspective, acupuncture and herbal therapy to my dog & cat patients. I also own a mobile veterinary business where I get to focus on bringing these TCVM modalities to horses throughout San Luis Obispo County. Beyond these physical boundaries, I offer virtual consults to help owners navigate how integrative medicine can benefit their pets and horses, and help create personalized wellness plans for them 🐶🐱🐴

When I am not working with patients, I am probably exploring outside or doing yoga with my two dogs & husband. I am a huge foodie and wine enthusiast so you may also find me eating my way through the world. In fact, one of my hobbie goals is to become a certified sommelier!🍷

📸:

08/02/2023

Please be kind to your veterinary staff.
Choose kindness to anyone you interact with - you never know what they’re silently going through 💛

The story of Lacey, and why I had to kill her.

18/11/2022

Meet Dr. Rachel Mar 👋🏼, an integrative veterinarian working along the central coast of California and one of our beloved supporters. She is a Fear Free certified veterinarian and is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA) through Chi University. Dr. Rachel is currently enrolled in the Certified Canine Rehabilitation Professional (CCRP) course through the University of Tennessee. She has a blog dedicated to improving the wellbeing of both pet parents and their pets, and also offers virtual veterinary teleadvice consults via her website (thevitalityvet.com). Pet parents and animal lovers, give her a follow for great pet health resources and to learn more about her experience with !

22/09/2022

It was pawsome being a featured guest on the Podcast by Mella Petcare. I spoke about preparing for a new furry family member with Daniella, the host. Have a listen and feel free to share! 🤗

To listen on Apple Music or Spotify:
https://www.mella.ai/podcast

25/08/2022

|| Bath Day Routines ||

Due to London’s thick coat and Rex’s allergies, we found it works best for the pups to get bathed once a week when the sun’s out ☀️

Bath time for us essentially turns into a grooming day. The morning of we will do some fun {dirty} activity with the pups like the dog beach or a hike. And we start the baths as soon as we get back! 🧽

Afterwards, they always get their ears cleaned (so important to prevent ear infections - gotta keep those ears clean & dry!), and their nails trimmed. London gets the full blow out and brush, getting any necessary trimming of her coat, and Rex gets his undercoat brushed out so he sheds less during the week 🐶

Another important thing we ensure to do whenever they get bathed is to wash all their bedding. Thankfully they both have beds which have a zip off cover and can be washed & dried easily (shoutout to Big Barker) 🙌🏽

They’re both so good, so this process is honestly efficient & easy, as we made sure to make it a positive & fun time for them since day one 😇

Rachel Mar, DVM, CVA • Integrative Vet shared a post on Instagram: "Bath Day Routines 🫧 Due to London’s thick coat and Rex’s allergies, we found it works best for the pups to get bathed once a week when the sun’s out ☀️ Bath time for us essentially turns into a grooming day. The morni...

23/07/2022

You can download the Dog Allergy Playbook (FREE PDF) via the link below, and you’ll automatically get a FREE ticket to the online event of the year, the Dog Allergy Summit hosted by veterinarian, Dr. Alex Avery (And featuring yours truly 😉)

https://petaffiliates.center/254-11-5-26.html

27/04/2022

If you have a beloved dog who has been diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, you are not alone. Dr. Rachel Mar is discussing the treatment options available for you and your family member. ()

"Osteosarcoma is unfortunately a fast-spreading tumor. By the time the tumor is found, it is considered to have already spread. That being said, prognosis and treatment options depend on whether or not the tumor spread has progressed. Osteosarcoma spreads to the lung in a malignant process called metastasis. Prognosis is substantially worse if the tumor spread is visible on chest radiographs, so if you are contemplating chemotherapy, chest radiographs should be taken. Some specialists recommend nuclear imaging of the skeleton to identify any spread to other bones, which might also alter recommendations; however, this form of imaging is not readily available.

❤️Amputation: Since the tumor in the limb is the source of pain, it makes sense that amputating the limb would resolve the pain. Unfortunately, many people are reluctant to have this procedure performed because of misconceptions.

💜Limb-sparing Surgery (removing the tumor but not the leg): Limb-sparing techniques developed for humans have been adapted for dogs.

💚Palliative Radiotherapy for Pain Control: Sometimes amputation is simply not the right choice. Luckily, there is an effective alternative treatment. Radiation can be applied to the tumor in two, three or four doses, depending on the protocol.

💙Bisphosphonates: This class of drug has become the standard of care in humans with bone tumors and have been found helpful in managing osteosarcoma pain in dogs as well.

💚Pain Medication: At this time there are numerous pain medications available for dogs with osteosarcoma.

💛Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the most useful way to alter the course of this cancer.

"Please make an appointment with your veterinarian if your dog shows any signs of lameness, and definitely so if your dog is painful to the touch or has a swelling on the affected limb. The best prognosis of this cancer occurs when immediate action is taken." -Dr. Rachel Mar.

Thank you for spending the time to educate us, Dr. Mar!

Be sure to check out the rest of her blog here: https://bigbarker.com/blogs/health/osteosarcoma-dr-rachel-mar-informs-and-educates

23/03/2022

Whether it’s working with small animals, mixed or exotics, being in clinic or over the phone, being a vet no matter the focus takes an unreal amount of diligence and sacrifice daily ❤️‍🩹
wild_vet_annie says it well in this post ⬇️

12/02/2022

How an orthopedic dog bed can improve your dog’s joint health AND why it’s important to make sure you invest in the right one 👌🏽

https://thevitalityvet.com/best-dog-bed/

What is truly the best dog bed for your dog’s joint health? I compare two dog beds and the results may shock you.