Nashville Holistic Veterinary Care

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Nashville Holistic Veterinary Care Nashville Holistic Veterinary Care provides youth a holistic approach to your pet's health while in
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🚹This important nutrient could be missing from your pet’s diet! 🚹Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, are esse...
09/06/2024

🚹This important nutrient could be missing from your pet’s diet! 🚹

Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, are essential for your pet’s overall health, but they are often lacking in regular pet foods.

Link in bio for our favorite Omega-3 supplements and more!

Have you had any of these common questions about Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine or Integrative Medicine? Swipe ...
17/04/2024

Have you had any of these common questions about Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine or Integrative Medicine? Swipe through to get the answers, number 7 might surprise you!

Head to the website for even more information or to book an in-person or virtual consultation.


‌ Not all Probiotics are created equal! ‌Probiotics can be hugely beneficial for our pets but like most supplements, n...
12/03/2024

‌ Not all Probiotics are created equal! ‌

Probiotics can be hugely beneficial for our pets but like most supplements, not all brands and types are created equal.

Swipe through to learn about how probiotics can help your pet and what to look out for when buying a probiotic supplement!

Check the link in bio for our favorite brand of probiotic - your regular vet may even carry it in clinic or in their online pharmacy! 🩠




This is Sasha - swipe through to read how Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine helped her feel her best!Sasha’s owner...
06/03/2024

This is Sasha - swipe through to read how Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine helped her feel her best!

Sasha’s owner’s originally sought integrative medicine to treat a limp that traditional, western therapies weren’t helping.

She had the diagnostics - which were inconclusive

They tried rest and pain medication - which didn’t help the limp

In probing deeper to come to a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine pattern/diagnosis, it was uncovered that Sasha was also experiencing pretty significant anxiety and gastrointestinal issues.

A treatment plan of acupuncture, chinese herbal remedies, a high-quality minimally-processed diet, probiotics for gut health, and natural anti-inflammatories like omega-3s and green-lipped mussel was started and after just a few weeks Sasha made marked improvement and continues to thrive!

Sasha’s case exemplifies how holistic protocols can treat stubborn issues and optimize well-being - addressing the entire animal’s mind, body, and spirit through integrative practices.

Does any of this sound like your pet? Reach out to see if an integrative approach can help!


Swipe through to learn✹almost✹ everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Dr. North!Still want to know more?? Head to t...
16/02/2024

Swipe through to learn✹almost✹ everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Dr. North!

Still want to know more?? Head to the link in our bio to read the full interview!


With these updates... let's clear the air! 👇I'm not "alternative"; I'm integrative. It's not about taking shortcuts or c...
08/12/2023

With these updates... let's clear the air! 👇

I'm not "alternative"; I'm integrative.

It's not about taking shortcuts or cutting costs—rather, it's about ensuring a thorough management of conditions through a multimodal approach.

I rely on regular veterinary medicine until we reach a diagnosis. From there, my goal is to empower clients with a comprehensive understanding of all available options for the issue and to provide guidance on preventing recurrence.

I approach this from a holistic perspective, incorporating Chinese medicine principles to address the root causes. It's about offering a well-rounded and personalized approach to veterinary care.

Want more information? Head to the link in our bio to browse the brand new website! đŸ€©

Ever wondered if the mushroom supplements you're giving your pets truly contain mushrooms? Let's dive in and uncover wha...
13/09/2023

Ever wondered if the mushroom supplements you're giving your pets truly contain mushrooms? Let's dive in and uncover what's really in them. Swipe to the end for Dr. North's recommendations and favorite mushroom supplements!
Just a heads up that the link I'm sharing is an affiliate link. That means if you decide to make a purchase through this link, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I truly appreciate your support, as it helps me continue creating valuable content and recommendations for you all!


Did you know that Omega 3 supplements were for more than just skin and coat health in our pets?! Head to the link in our...
31/07/2023

Did you know that Omega 3 supplements were for more than just skin and coat health in our pets?! Head to the link in our bio to learn more and shop for Dr. Noth's favorite Omega-3 supplement!
Just a heads up that the link I'm sharing here is an affiliate link. That means if you decide to make a purchase through this link, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I truly appreciate your support, as it helps me continue creating valuable content and recommendations for you all!

đŸ”„ May is Mental Health Awareness Month so we wanted to share a recent statistic with you: a whopping 86.7% of US veterin...
02/05/2023

đŸ”„ May is Mental Health Awareness Month so we wanted to share a recent statistic with you: a whopping 86.7% of US veterinarians reported experiencing moderate to high levels of burnout in a recent survey. At Nashville Holistic Veterinary Care, we take burnout seriously and are committed to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. That's one reason why Dr. North practices exclusively traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM), which emphasizes the importance of balance in our pet's bodies.

📣 On that note: Dr. North will be out of the office for the month of May, but don't worry, our team has got you covered! We have a friendly and knowledgeable assistant who will help you schedule new consultations or follow up appointments during Dr. North's absence. To schedule an appointment for when Dr. North is back in the office, please visit the link in our bio and fill out the form on our website.

đŸ’†â€â™€ïž By taking time off and prioritizing self-care, we can prevent Chi Deficiency and promote balance and harmony in our own bodies. And when we are in a state of balance, we are better able to help our animal patients achieve optimal health and wellness. 💚

Meet Layla! Her mom is a “human” physical therapist and last March just knew something wasn’t right with her pup. This i...
06/04/2023

Meet Layla! Her mom is a “human” physical therapist and last March just knew something wasn’t right with her pup.

This is what she told us about these photos after her first appointment:

“I was convinced I was losing her. I had always wanted to get her picture by those wings, and while this sounds awful, I did it that very day because I didn’t feel like I’d have another chance to do it.”

Layla had been suffering from arthritis and hind end weakness for some time and traditional therapy and medication didn’t seem to be helping much.

Luckily, mom knew there was more than just what the western focused professionals were offering for her pup and she sought alternative care.

That’s where we come in! Dr. North started seeing Layla for acupuncture and helped create a home therapy plan to support her.

Almost immediately Layla’s mom started seeing improvements. After the first couple of visits mom started to notice:

đŸŸ Layla tried to jump off the bed by herself
đŸŸ She is walking with a “happier tail” vs it being slightly tucked
đŸŸ She wants to go get her ball again
đŸŸ She went down the 6 steps outside by herself

But most notably was in her face/expression - check out pictures 1 and 2 compared to 3 and 4. Can you see the difference?? 😍

Are you wondering if you should be using coconut oil for your pets? This post has everything you need to know about coco...
23/03/2023

Are you wondering if you should be using coconut oil for your pets? This post has everything you need to know about coconut oil plus the tried and true brand that Dr. North recommends most!

There are so many benefits of using coconut oil both topically and internally but the type of coconut oil you use matters. Many store brands contain other types of oils, have been heated during processing, or have other impurities making them less effective or worse, causing adverse effects.

CocoTherapy brand coconut oil is Dr. Noth's favorite for many reasons including:
đŸ„„ It has high Luaric Acid content
đŸ„„ They use organic, non-GMO, non-hybrid coconuts
đŸ„„ It has the lowest possible moisture content
đŸ„„ It's stored in glass containers

Have you tried coconut oil yet? Let us know in the comments!

Meet water constitution kitty, AJ! When Dr. North first met AJ she was so nervous and scared all the time that she was o...
15/03/2023

Meet water constitution kitty, AJ!

When Dr. North first met AJ she was so nervous and scared all the time that she was over grooming her abdomen to the point of traumatizing her skin and losing the fur on her belly. (See the second photo)

We worked on every possible skin issue that could have been the cause, intense flea prevention, tested for ringworm, etc. and she was still licking the fur from her abdomen. Even knowing the TCVM patterns, it’s still important to do a work up to rule out traditional western diagnosis too.

Once Dr. North identified her underlying TCVM patterns and treated those with herbs, her anxiety lessened and her hair grew back. She may be prone to this pattern again someday but right now she is off of herbs and still has hair on her belly!

Do you have a nervous or anxious pet at home? What untraditional ways has it shown up? Let us know in the comments!

Last but certainly not least on our deep dive into the Elements of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine is Water! Kee...
09/03/2023

Last but certainly not least on our deep dive into the Elements of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine is Water! Keep reading to see if your pet may be a water constitution 💧

An example of a water constitution would be this: a water cat's owners have a guest come over to their home. As soon as the person arrives (well usually minutes before, when they hear a car etc) the cat is gone (hiding). If the person stays for a couple of days then it's very possible the water cat will make friends with a house guest after a few days but if they came over again in a few weeks, the hiding would resume and the relationship would need to start all over. Fear is the primary emotion of the water element. It doesn't mean water cats aren't loving and affectionate with their owners. However, they could be hanging out with their owner, purring etc and at any moment, with the right stimulus (noise, car door, etc) that fear could take over and they will then bolt.

Because the kidney and bladder belong to the water element, we also see a lot of cats with kidney and bladder issues. A water constitution who is unbalanced spends more time in fear than a water cat who is balanced. This is why it's very important to closely investigate the environment of a water cat who is having bladder or kidney problems. Dr North helps clients with ways to be sure their environment is enriched in such a way that they can feel more balanced. The acupuncture needles help as well. Even though water cats are fearful, they are almost never aggressive (don't really try to bite or scratch). For this reason they can be treated successfully with acupuncture. After a few treatments they tend to be more and more accepting of the needles as their body regains balance.

Do you think your pet is a Water?? Let us know in the comments!

Does your pet have a routine that they stick to religiously? They might be a Metal Constitution, keep reading to learn m...
22/02/2023

Does your pet have a routine that they stick to religiously? They might be a Metal Constitution, keep reading to learn more!

🔗 Metal dogs and cats are very dependable and once they have their routine down, they stick to it!

🔗 A sign of imbalance in these pets is asthma or constipation.

🔗 An example of a metal element is a friendly but aloof gray cat who has chronic asthma that’s worse in the fall and a slightly flakey coat. Pets like this respond beautifully to TCVM treatment!

🔗 What do you think, is your pet a metal element? Head over to the link in our bio to take the TCVM element quiz and find out!

Up next in our deep dive into the 5 Elements of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine is Earth! 🌎 💛 This is the elemen...
10/02/2023

Up next in our deep dive into the 5 Elements of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine is Earth! 🌎

💛 This is the element of your typical slightly overweight, very sweet, would never growl type of dog.

🌏 A case example of an imbalance with this element is as follows:

💛 7 year old yellow lab presented for chronic intermittent vomiting and diarrhea. Occasionally there is even a loss of appetite when this happens. They have been feeding a low fat Rx diet but the issue is not completely resolved. In addition, now he’s starting to develop a lot of lipomas.

🌍 Each symptom may seem fairly benign on their own or "normal" but intermittent vomiting is not normal and is a sign of imbalance. With a high quality, appropriate diet supported by acupuncture and herbal therapies we can find balance and resolve the GI upset.

Tag us in your earth pet pictures! We'd love to see them 💛

To continue on our deep dive into the 5 Elements of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, we're going to talk about t...
02/02/2023

To continue on our deep dive into the 5 Elements of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, we're going to talk about the Fire Element.

đŸ”„ Swipe through to see if your pet may be a Fire Constitution!

đŸ”„ A case example of an issue with this element is: a 4 year old red dachshund who is very vocal at home is having problems with separation anxiety. He pushes the owners hand to be petted, especially when she’s petting the other dog. His tongue is red, he’s thirsty and he’s always trying to lie on the tile floor or near an AC vent in the summer. At his last vet visit the vet heard a slight heart murmur.

đŸ”„ It’s important to remember that your fire pet doesn’t have to live with their conditions/imbalances for life. We can find balance through acupuncture, food, and herbal therapies!

Drop a đŸ”„đŸ”„ in the comments if your pet is a Fire Constitution!


Another post for GOLPP awareness (geriatric onset laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy - see previous post on for more...
31/01/2023

Another post for GOLPP awareness (geriatric onset laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy - see previous post on for more details on the disease process

“Riley was first diagnosed with laryngeal paralysis in 2017. I had noticed increased panting at times when she normally would not pant. At that time, we did not want to do a tieback surgery and actually managed her breathing with acupuncture and CBD oil. After a year, it eventually reached the stage where tieback was necessary to keep her from going into respiratory distress. With the tieback surgery comes the risk of aspiration pneumonia, which we did encounter twice. After the second incident, we noticed a decrease in strength in her back end. She began dragging one of her back feet more and seemed to have back pain and shoulder pain from overloading on her front end. At that time, we decided to take Riley to physical therapy. She did the underwater treadmill, laser therapy, and exercises to increase her backend strength. We were also given exercises to do at home. Riley did rehab therapy for over a year. We began seeing Dr. North at the advice of one of our rehab techs. We wanted to increase the acupuncture sessions and needed help with a diet and sleepless nights. Dr. North helped come up with a dietary plan and always had new ideas when Riley's appetite decreased. I firmly believe Riley lived to be 16.5 because of acupuncture, physical therapy and Chinese herbs. GOLPP makes you feel very helpless. There was nothing we could do to stop the progression of the disease, but we were absolutely able to slow it down and spend more time with Riley. We would see noticeable differences after treatments. I will always be grateful for our sessions with Dr. North. Sometimes you just need to talk to someone who understands what you are going through, and I believe I gained just as much from Riley during our time with Dr. North”

Is your pet the "leader of the pack"? If so, he or she may be a wood constitution! Keep reading to see how Dr. North can...
24/01/2023

Is your pet the "leader of the pack"? If so, he or she may be a wood constitution! Keep reading to see how Dr. North can help your wood dog 👇

When assessing a patient, Dr North takes into account what their TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) constitution is along with all of the other information available. It's a great idea to know if your pet fits into this category because many Wood dogs/cats are quite athletic but the imbalances they are prone to include tendon/ligament injuries.

đŸȘ” Here is a real case example from Dr North's patients: a nine year old Pomeranian wood dog presented for elevated liver enzymes. After a thorough workup including ultrasound etc, the traditional/ western treatment plan had been followed by the owner and the pet was not improving so they decided to add a holistic branch to her care.

đŸȘ” She was pretty growly and even snapped at the owner and Dr North at times. She also had a history of being aggressive towards other dogs. After acupuncture, herbs and food therapy her liver enzymes are mostly back to normal.

đŸȘ” In addition to the win with her lab work, Fluffy has had a successful playdate with another dog and is becoming less reactive! When treating wood dogs for Liver related disorders, the energetic aspect of this is that they also tend to act less aggressive when they are balanced. How cool is that?!

If your dog is showing signs of being an imbalanced wood đŸȘ”, head over to our website to schedule a consultation with Dr. North!

This is Macy Mae. We (the client and I) could not be more pleased with how she is doing today compared to just over a ye...
11/01/2023

This is Macy Mae. We (the client and I) could not be more pleased with how she is doing today compared to just over a year when we met. This 5 year old Pekingese has so much personality and is a huge part of her family. When I met her last year, Macy had been on antibiotics off and on (no more than a month in between) since she was 8 months old. She has renal dysplasia making her prone to urinary tract disease. We are pleased to report that we just hit her ***FIRST EVER YEAR MARK WITHOUT A URINARY TRACT INFECTION!!!!! . These clients are so dedicated her plan included regular acupuncture (every 4-5 weeks), chinese herbs, a fully home cooked balanced diet, microbiome care and urinary supplements. Chronic infections are the type of issues that respond really well to this type of care. These clients are so dedicated to her health and we are all so grateful!

Above is the overview, here are the details for anyone who is interested :) She is a wood dog who suffered from some pretty severe Liver Qi (pronounced 'chee') stagnation. This condition affects the immune system, digestion and appetite as well as mood. She was very growly at home, did not want to eat much especially in the morning and clearly was having issues fighting infection. Now that we have soothed her Liver Qi Stagnation (needles, herbs), her immune system is working for her, she is playing more, engaging with the owner, seeking out love and affection more and growling less with everyone (she was even pretty sweet with me on our last visit!). A lot of people ask about how pets do for acupuncture and she is one that requires pretty serious restraint because she just might want to bite me at times. However, we have still been able to help her immensely and her offers to bite are really few and far between now that she's feeling better.

Do you know your pet's TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) Constitution (aka personality type)? Are you wonde...
03/01/2023

Do you know your pet's TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) Constitution (aka personality type)? Are you wondering what a TCVM Constitution is? Keep reading to find out!

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine theory revolves around the 5 elements known as Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. Each element is associated with specific organ systems and a specific personality or "constitution". Each constitution can be predisposed to medical issues, based on the body parts associated with the personality.

Each element contributes to the next element in a clockwise circle, as the parent feeding the child. If the child is sick, it also drains the parent so it can cause a deficiency for the parent.

The element on the opposite side, going clockwise,(see silver arrows in the middle of the circle) is the grandchild. The grandparent element controls the grandchild element. For example, the wood element 'controls' the earth element.

Dr North uses her knowledge of these 5 elements and how they interact to obtain a pattern diagnosis for your pet. She then treats that pattern diagnosis with certain acupuncture points, herbs and foods.

An example of a pattern diagnosis would be something like Spleen Qi (pronounced 'chee') Deficiency or Liver Yin Deficiency. Earth constitutions are prone to the former, Wood constitutions are prone to the latter.

Now are you wondering what constitution (element personality) your pet is? Head to the link in our bio to see Dr North's latest blog with a downloadable PDF to take the quiz!

Another GOLPP story: The quality of these photos reveals how old they are (back when we used to have a camera and develo...
19/12/2022

Another GOLPP story: The quality of these photos reveals how old they are (back when we used to have a camera and develop the film!) Maverick was my vet school dog. He was my heart. He lived to be 15 years old and the last 2-3 years of his life I'm certain he had GOLPP. The thing is, I didn't know what it was back then. The first paper I can find on it was published in 2013 and Mav passed in 2014. The cool thing is, I did most of what I would have done now even back then! His TCVM patterns were the same as previously discussed. He was non painful, had laryngeal paralysis with very slowly progressing weakness in the rear. (No cause found with imaging). He got regular physical therapy, laser therapy and of course acupuncture /
Chinese herbs. There were a few times where he could not walk at all and these modalities would get him up and moving again. Without an integrative approach I would have lost him much sooner. I am so grateful for acupuncture and canine physical therapy.
-Neely North, DVM

Have you heard of green lipped muscle? If you have an older pet or breed of dog predisposed to arthritis, you want to kn...
09/12/2022

Have you heard of green lipped muscle?

If you have an older pet or breed of dog predisposed to arthritis, you want to know about this colorful shellfish!

Some folks think they’re giving this in a supplement but in reality they’re giving the oil and not the extract. And the extract is where the benefits are!

Head to the link in our bio to read our latest blog all about green lipped muscle and what our favorite supplement is that has it!


We hope your Halloween is balanced. Sorry 😬 but seriously happy Halloween from my late Splinter (passed away as a 15 yea...
31/10/2022

We hope your Halloween is balanced. Sorry 😬 but seriously happy Halloween from my late Splinter (passed away as a 15 year old Australian shepherd) and my current Cora - a 14 year old Australian shepherd. I truly believe we can expect longer life spans for dogs and cats if we make some simple changes to help them achieve balance and true health. â˜Żïž

Aussie crazy eyes are great for Halloween pics. Be safe with your pets this Halloween! Photo op courtesy of
29/10/2022

Aussie crazy eyes are great for Halloween pics. Be safe with your pets this Halloween! Photo op courtesy of

Have you ever heard the southern term "crooked as a dog's back leg"?  Well, the point is their back leg is supposed to h...
14/10/2022

Have you ever heard the southern term "crooked as a dog's back leg"? Well, the point is their back leg is supposed to have several pretty sharp angles. In this first photo one of these things is not like the other one. Can you find the limb that is too straight? When the angles are missing it really sets dogs up for having knee problems. The last photo is an arthritic knee of a 9 year old patient with straight back legs. No major injuries, just pretty severe arthritis from abnormal stress on the joint due to the way he is shaped. Take a look at your dog's back legs, are they straight, or "crooked as a dog's back leg"?!

The French Bulldog is a curious creature. Penelope is a 1 yo female Frenchie who is such a sweet girl! đŸ€”She would not be...
12/10/2022

The French Bulldog is a curious creature. Penelope is a 1 yo female Frenchie who is such a sweet girl! đŸ€”She would not be here without artificial insemination and c section birth as is the case ith a lot of bulldog breeds. Some would say that this is a lot of the problem with their health. From a young age, Penelope dribbled urine up to three times a week and at least once a week. She had a full work up by specialists to rule out all of the treatable causes of this (for example she does not have an ectopic ureter etc). She has also had problems with her back legs from the day the client got her. Upon examination I found that Penelope has very straight knees and this sets her up for knee pain. She also had neurologic deficits in the rear limbs, the "lesion" located cranial to L4. This means she has a problem in the first 2/3 of her spine making her not be able to feel her paws like a 'normal' dog would. Lastly, she had some significant neck tension and back pain. I am posting her Xrays because it's so obvious that her spine is not normal that anyone can see it. Check out the normal spine then look at hers. She has hemivertebrae (misshapen bones that are supposed to protect the spinal cord) and you can even see a curve in the spine due to one area where there are abnormal vertebrae (spine bones). Here's the big part: after 3 treatments she is: đŸ’„moving her back end normally, đŸ’„being affectionate with her owner, đŸ’„playing more, đŸ’„only dribbling urine about once a week. (compared to three times a week- more improvement is expected when she starts herbs!) If your pet has urinary incontinence consider finding a TCVM practitioner to give acupuncture and herbs a try! It's helping Penelope and it's also helping her back and knee pain. She even squatted to urinate normally for the first time after her third treatment! Go Penelope!

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