Our Story
I am Nicolle Rubendall and I am a veterinarian. I graduated from Iowa State University in 2002. I practiced small animal medicine in a Chicago suburb for about 10 years. I studied Veterinary Chinese Herbal Medicine over the course of a year and became certified in VCHM in 2011. I then attended the Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy course at the Healing Oasis Wellness Center in Wisconsin. It was an intense 230 hour course in small animal and equine chiropractic. I became certified in VSMT in 2012. I have also become certified in Veterinary Acupuncture through the Chi Institute in 2017.
I'm providing a Spinal Manipulation/animal chiropractic, Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine consult service to the Wilmington area. My goal to travel to the local veterinary clinics and/or to the clients' homes to provide this service.
Here is a summary of indications for both types of medicine:
Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy/Animal Chiropractic
Subluxations or misalignments of the spinal bones/joints and extremities damage or irritate the nervous system causing body malfunction. If left untreated, this can lead to injuries or issues with the body where the nerves travel. Common issues that VSMT can assist with include:
Disc Disease
Muscle weakness/atrophy
Early Degenerative myelopathy and other neuro diseases
Lameness
Sport Injuries
Post surgery - post dentals, ACL’s, etc.
Incontinence – urinary and f***l
Enhance performance
Slow to rise/arthritis
Behavior – head shaking/withdrawn
Lick granulomas
Jaw/chewing issues
Chronic internal medicine issues
Chinese Herbal Medicine/Veterinary Acupuncture
In western medicine, there is typically a “go to” medication for a particular disease or condition. However, in Chinese Herbal medicine, there can be several. One formula can treat several conditions. And with one condition, there may be several options of formulas. It requires an extensive history to determine the best option. Here is a list of indications for using herbs and acupuncture:
Kidney/Urinary Issues – incontinence, inflammatory kidney diseases, renal failure, chronic UTI’s, bladder stones, blocked cats
Gastrointestinal – chronic Clostridial infections, chronic diarrhea, chronic vomiting, early morning vomiters, excessive belching, flatulence, pancreatitis, megaesophagus
Eye issues – KCS (dry eye), periocular dermatitis, glaucoma, red eye
Liver disease –unexplained high liver values, cholangiohepatitis, intra hepatic porto-systemic shunts
Musculoskeletal – arthritis, disc disease, neck pain, etc.
Autoimmune diseases – Pemphigus, hemolytic anemia, low platelet counts, Lupus, Glomerulonephritis, etc.
Lyme’s disease, Splenomegaly, post vaccine reactions, reverse sneezing, not gaining weight or thriving,
All types of cancers – oral squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, mast cell tumors, osteosarcoma, lymphoma, etc
Dermatology – interdigital cysts, chronic skin infections, allergies, chronic ear infections, a**l gland issues
Neurology– seizures
Behavior – aggression, fearful, urine spraying, cognition issues
Endocrine – help manage Cushing’s, hypothyroidism, diabetes, Addison’s, hyperthyroidism
Cardio/Pulmonary diseases – pneumonia, asthma, Bordetella, chronic rhinitis, reverse sneezing, coughing
