The Vitality Vet

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!🍷

📸:

28/03/2023

Definitely recommend this NPR podcast interviewing a mobile integrative veterinarian, Dr Karen Fine.
She shares about some experiences being a vet, including the remarkable possibilities of Chinese Veterinary Medicine and some struggles within the veterinary profession 🐾

https://www.npr.org/2023/03/13/1163097592/a-veterinarian-shares-what-animals-have-taught-her

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.

29/01/2022

Joint care is SO important to address early on in a dog’s life before they start to develop diseases like arthritis or injure themselves, such as with cruciate tears. By taking some simple action steps now, you can help prevent the progression of disease and injuries in your dog.

Read more about why joint health is so important and steps you can take now to promote joint health in your dog, especially for those larger breeds! ⬇️

https://thevitalityvet.com/joint-health-for-large-dogs/

11/11/2021

It’s World TCVM Day! 🐾

TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) has a long history of over 3,000 years and is still growing and advancing today.

But what’s make a TCVM approach so unique?

TCVM originated from a complete body of thought and practice grounded in Chinese Daoist philosophy which believes that the body is a microcosm of the larger, surrounding universe. As such, the cosmic laws and forces that govern the external world also govern the body’s internal environment. Just as life-energy or “Qi” is an innate force of the universe, it too is a fundamental force of the body, driving its every action and transformation 🍃

In Chinese Medicine theory, disease is understood as an imbalance in the body, and a diagnosis is made through identifying the underlying “pattern” of disharmony. Pattern diagnosis differs from conventional Western medical diagnosis in that it takes into account not only disease signs but how these signs relate to the individual patient. Thus, TCVM practitioners will consider the temperament, s*x, age, activity and environment of an animal along with the animal’s particular disease signs. This approach stems from the belief that the body is an interconnected system of forces and functions so that disease and disharmony must be examined with respect to the whole patient. For this reason, Chinese Medicine is often regarded as more holistic than conventional Western Medicine ☯️

Have you ever received a form of Chinese Medicine for yourself or your pets? ⬇️

03/11/2021

Searching for a new job?
Hoping for a better vet med?

Hound is on a mission to help you find a job as awesome as you!
This company has made it their goal to improve the hiring & culture of vet med through their software. I truly believe companies like this are gonna bring change to vet med, which is why it’s so important that we support each other to advocate for these changes.

Hound wants to build a better, brighter future together for veterinary professionals. They believe people must come first (heck yes!). They are even planning to give away some awesome prizes and vacations to those who use their platform because they know how hard veterinary professionals work!

So if you’re on the hunt for a job, searching for a change, or even just want to be a part of the movement to advocate for a better vet med, join the Hound community below!

https://vrlps.co/uN3tkPI/cp

29/10/2021

I really like immediate results.
Which is one reason I love acupuncture 🙃
Without any western diagnosis and even minimal diagnostics, I can offer an acupuncture session to patients and more often than not they feel better immediately 🙏🏼

It’s been nine months since I started treating patients with a TCVM approach, and four months of being a fully certified veterinary acupuncturist (CVA) ☯️

It can be easy to focus on the challenges and cases which seem to not be improving as expected in medicine. But then I remember the patients I’ve treated integratively, and it makes me so emotional (in the best way!). I honestly am so joyful & grateful thinking about the cases I have been able to treat with acupuncture and herbal therapy. With these therapies alone, I’ve treated dogs and cats with osteoarthritis, IVDD, cruciate ligament ruptures, generalised pain, neurological disorders, renal disease, cancer, chronic skin allergies and vestibular disease; on top of this I’ve had the opportunity to treat horses with various musculoskeletal conditions, EPM, and even Cushings! 🐶🐱🐴

It’s incredible to think that with an integrative perspective and a handful of needles, I’ve been able to see a difference in all of these patients. Even if I can’t provide a full cure, I’m proud to say all of these patients improved on acupuncture alone and/or with the addition of herbals 🌿

I feel like these are the cases in which I’ve certainly been able to witness miracles in my patients! 🥺
This is truly what makes being a veterinarian fulfilling: having an opportunity to help patients heal and getting to make a positive difference in the lives of the owners, too! 💜🐾

13/06/2021

April was stress awareness month.
May was mental health awareness month.
Now it’s June and I feel like I’m finally getting stability back on my emotional health.

I had every intention of being as mindful & self caring as ever these last few months.
Instead, I felt like I was entering each month with the baggage left behind from the last 🧳 With studying, work & personal things, it felt nearly impossible to NOT be stressed.

This fluster of anxiety forced me to give my soul the rest it craved. I had to do what always helps me gain more balance: take a step back and re-prioritising the things which add joy & peace to my life.

I’m by no means an expert in this field - it’s still something I have to ground myself in daily. But as we enter into a summer season which is bringing loads of fun yet a bit of overwhelm all at once, I wanted to share some simple practices with you👇🏽

1️⃣ 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦. Seriously, do this daily. Even if it means you just step out onto your front porch 😂 Fresh air is healing for the soul, and taking a moment to inhale & exhale fresh air is so necessary to clear the mind.

2️⃣ 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺. From a 15 minute walk or run, to yoga or a full body workout; it all counts and can help revitalise your body & mind! 💪🏽

3️⃣ 𝘚𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰. Set boundaries and know your limits. It’s okay if you don’t feel like it. We were not made to do it all 🚫

4️⃣ 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺. I cannot stress this enough. Make time each week to spend quality time with family & friends. We were not put on this Earth to be alone. We were made for connection and our souls can run dry without it 🤍

5️⃣ 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦. Don’t forget to take time to actually sit in the silence and listen. Meditate & pray. Doing this only five minutes a day is SO helpful with grounding yourself. I start nearly every morning with a devotional time and it truly helps me start each morning with peace & joy 🙏🏼

6️⃣ 𝘜𝘯𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘨. Every so often, it is important to step away from the online world. To reset priorities and reset your mind. Not to mention to remind yourself of the life outside of our devices 🌻

What are some ways you ground yourself when times get stressful? ⬇️

12/06/2021

Don’t miss out on Monday’s event!

Petsummits presents the ‘Dog Health Solutions Summit’

This event will bring together the best vets, pet specialists and pet health experts in the industry to teach you step-by-step, practical and actionable protocols you need to regenerate your dogs health for FREE (for a limited time).

ONLINE & FREE • JUNE 11, 2021 • REGISTRATION OPEN (Link in Bio)

Featuring - - Dr Rachel Mar the Vitality Vet talks about the power of Integrative Medicine and the benefits for helping dogs live happier healthier lives.

Follow 👉 for more! 🐶🐾

07/06/2021

Chronic Disease In Dogs Is Rising...Here's The Solution ➡ https://mailchi.mp/c92edfa04a2c/dog-health-solutions-summit

Hi , If you’re interested in raising a healthy and happy dog, then keep reading because this may be the most important email you read this year.

01/06/2021

Download Your EPIC Dog Health Solutions Playbook! (It's FREE) - https://mailchi.mp/bb71b02ff5e5/download-your-epic-dog-health-solutions-playbook

Hi , It's been a long time since I've been in touch, but there are some exciting things coming up this summer that I can't wait to share with you! Sadly, more than 80% of dogs will experience chronic disease in their lifetime.

22/04/2021

Some tips and action steps you can take to help restore our planet 💚🙏🏼🌎🌿

Share your eco-friendly tips below ⬇️

22/04/2021

𝙷𝙰𝙿𝙿𝚈 𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚃𝙷 𝙳𝙰𝚈! 💙

God gave us one planet 🌎
Hundreds of thousands of unique plant & animal species.
Species which don’t actually rely on us to thrive.
And here we are, humans, using whatever resources we desire without considering the impact.
The impact it has on species around us.
The impact it has on this colorful planet and the air we breathe.
The impact it has on future generations.

You see, it is 𝘶𝘴 who rely on this Earth.
We need this planet and all its inhabitants.
But if we are to use resources and live on this Earth together, we need to do so in harmony & sustainability 🌱
Humankind, it is our responsibility to take care of this beautiful planet we have the opportunity to live on.
A planet which God literally gave us to call a home.
We must remember: There are millions of other living creatures and oxygen-exchanging foliage on this earth with us, who also call it home.
I don’t know about you, but without all the animals, plants & flowers we encounter daily on this Earth, it honestly would make life a lot less beautiful.
The refreshment of being outside would be diminished - getting ‘fresh air’ during a work break would become a distant memory; ‘fresh’ food would be a rare commodity.
The wanderlust of travel would become less incredible and the ‘views for days’ would no longer exist.
And let’s not forget all the puppy kisses & kitten cuddles we would miss out on 🐾

So, I ask you - how are you taking care of our home? And what actions can you take to ensure we can continue to call this place home? 💚

{Check out my next post for some simple action steps you can take to be more eco-friendly} 🪴

15/04/2021

Some midweek encouragement to all the dreamers out there ✨

Big or small, your dream matters and it can make a difference. There will always be naysayers and doubters, but don’t let them fill your mind with lies or fears.
Life may throw many obstacles your way but one of the the biggest road blocks you’ll face chasing your dream is your own mind 🧠
I’m a firm believer that you can achieve anything you set your mind to; which is why it’s vital to take care of your mental health if you want to achieve your dream(s)🌟

🤍 To all you final year vet students right now: you’re nearly there. You’re around the corner from becoming a “dogtor”. And when you get that degree don’t forget to take a deep breath, relax and acknowledge all the hard work you’ve accomplished! This is no easy feat! 🎉
💜 To all the vet students still in the process: Hang in there. I know it’s rough. But you can do it. And you will make it through, no matter the obstacles before you. There is no timeline you have to fulfill, even if you’re told otherwise. Do everything you can to preserve your physical & mental health during this time. If you do this, I promise you’ll be an incredible vet in the end, despite any detours.
❤️ To my fellow new grads: We are capable, and we have the resources we need to keep saving lives. We’ve earned the title and the only thing stopping us now from being the most badass vet is our own minds. Remember: we’re far from imposters!
💙 To anyone else out there feeling defeated, burnt out, or unsupported in the journey to their dream: don’t stop now. You’ve made it this far. You’re going to change lives. You can do this. And you WILL get there.

So hang in there, y’all.
And Keep Dreamin’ 💫

31/03/2021

In the past year, there have been over 3,800 reports of anti-Asian hate crimes. Hundreds more have occured unreported.

When is it enough?

In our veterinary oath, we solemnly swear that we will use our scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society. This doesn't only apply to animal health, but also to public health. Together we vow to stand up against racism and discrimination.

Please join us as we raise awareness for crimes against AAPI ❤️

謝謝,
🇭🇰
🇹🇼vetmed 🇹🇼vetmed 🇨🇳dogtor.diaries 🇨🇳kellydvm 🇵🇭
🇵🇰
🇨🇳

23/03/2021

My heart aches.
I don’t know how to put all this into words as my emotions about it for the last year have continued to build up...it crushes me that over a year ago I was witnessing racism towards Asians in Dublin and here we are in 2021 and this racism continues. In fact, hate crimes against Asians has significantly increased in the last year.
There is no other way to put it - racism is pure evil. You can’t convince me that any ‘good intention’ ever makes it okay to discriminate or hate someone because of their race. And no ‘bad day’ can justify such acts.

I am mourning with my Asian brothers & sisters.
I am also mourning the privilege I have of being hapa. Because unfortunately, being half white has allowed me to feel safer from these hate crimes. Since I don’t look Asian, I know I have the privilege of walking down the street alone, not fearing for my life just because of how I look...and this realization disgusts me. It’s absolutely sickening to realize that these hate crimes are layered acts of racism - not solely based on racial identity but based on how someone looks and the color of one’s skin.

Enough is enough.
We cannot continue to be subdued towards this racism.
These acts of evil and hate directed towards Asians and other POC are unacceptable.

I urge you to take a moment and reflect on the racism which has occurred this last year. What have you done to make a stand against racism? Have you made an effort to educate yourself more? Did you diversify your community or your following online?

Realize the privilege you have if you’ve been able to remain quiet about this for so long...There is no excuse to remain complacent if you have friends who are POC and claim to be their ally. Yes, speaking up can be hard and it can be uncomfortable. But in order for things to change, it can’t remain easy.

Being biracial, I’ve never known my ‘place’ regarding when it’s acceptable for me to speak up. I’m still learning about how to respond as a biracial female; I admit I don’t have all the answers and I know I can do better. But what I do know is this: I’ve kept my voice quiet for too long.
And I won’t be silenced now.

Let’s speak up together 🖤

08/03/2021

Everything in the universe has two opposite aspects, referred to as Yin & Yang ☯️

The chinese characters for Yin (陰) and Yang (陽) hold the origin of their meanings. Both characters have the symbol for ‘hill’ in them. However, the character for Yin also includes cold & clouds, while Yang includes sun & light ⛰

Yin and Yang merge and continuously cycle with each other. This is represented by the famous Yin-Yang symbol. Each controls and transforms into the other while carefully maintaining balance: there is always Yin found within Yang and Yang found within Yin 🔄

Yin-Yang is one of the fundamental concepts to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). Yin and Yang are used to analyze the relationship between all natural events, including health & disease. This is part of the approach taken to make a diagnosis and treat patients using TCVM. When determining a TCVM diagnosis, the basic Yin-Yang characteristics relating to temperature, activity level and direction are extended to observations of the patient. For example, a dog’s back is Yang since it is dorsal and where light hits; the ventral portion of a dog is Yin since it is in the shadow. Front limbs are Yang and rear limbs are Yin 🐕

With TCVM, treatments which increase energy (tonify) or warmth are Yang, while treatments which decrease (sedate) or cool the patient are Yin ☀️❄️

Some every day examples of Yin & Yang include day and night, the sun and the moon, hot and cold, fast and slow, male and female. Now that you know a bit more about Yin & Yang, can you guess which represents which in these examples? 😉

07/03/2021

We’ve lost multiple veterinary professionals to su***de this week.
Sadly, this is not new...we receive this kind of news every few months, and it never gets easier to hear.

Veterinarians are 2-3x more likely to commit su***de than the general US population.
1 out of 4 vets have contemplated su***de.
There are multiple factors contributing to these unfortunate statistics, including a high debt to income ratio, performing euthanasias regularly, long work hours, difficult client interactions, etc.

This is a crisis.

Please be kind to your veterinary staff. Including you, veterinary professionals - be kind to your coworkers and colleagues.
We are all in this fight together, and everyone is doing the best they can. From the front desk staff, technicians, kennel attendants and doctors; we are literally dying trying to help you & your pets.

Not One More Vet (https://www.nomv.org/) is an organization which aims to support veterinary professionals who are struggling or considering su***de.
This community offers constant support & mentorship, and the organization even helps to fund therapy for vets as well as provide temporary relief workers for vets who need time off to recuperate 🤍

Please consider donating to NOMV.
And let’s please take care of each other.

The following resources are available if you are struggling:
- National Su***de Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255
- Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741

18/02/2021

ᴅᴏᴇꜱ ᴀᴄᴜᴘᴜɴᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ʜᴜʀᴛ?

Very fine needles are used in acupuncture (they are almost as thin as hair). Over 95% of patients are comfortable during their acupuncture treatment. In fact, many patients actually fall asleep because it can be so relaxing! 😌

Acupuncture should not cause pain. What it can produce is what’s called the De-Qi response. This is a phenomenon which is the feeling or effect experienced as a result of the transmission of the acupuncture stimulation ❇️

This response manifests differently in each patient. It can feel like heaviness, tingling, soreness or pressure in the local region of the needle or in a more distant location along the meridian. A human patient can tell the acupuncturist when they feel this sensation, but we don’t have that privilege in veterinary medicine. Typically, a patient which demonstrates muscle twitching, flinching, or attempts to bite may indicate De-Qi from stimulation by needles.

Without this De-Qi response, there would be less benefit from acupuncture treatment. Inducing this response regulates the flow of Qi, which is vital to effective treatments. No acupuncture treatment can be successful without this ability of the meridians to transmit the acupuncture stimuli ✅

In short, acupuncture treatment should not hurt. Acupuncture does create a sensation which varies in each individual, and a majority of the time this sensation is very relaxing for patients🧘🏽‍♀️