Modern Medicine, Old-Fashioned Care

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Herbal Medicine

Herbal therapy for dogsHerbal medicine utilizes naturally occurring active ingredients found in either whole plants or their parts to offer therapeutic influence in the body.

Herbal therapy in veterinary medicine has a long history of effective and safe treatment for a variety of conditions and illnesses including:

  • Skin allergies
  • Digestive disorders
  • Kidney and liver disease
  • Heart disease
  • Pain management

As a part of an integrative approach to veterinary healthcare, herbal medicine can stand alone in the treatment of chronic and acute illnesses, or complement conventional medicine to provide a customized approach to care.

Dr. David MacDonald has years of experience effectively treating dogs and cats with herbal therapy.

To schedule an appointment, call Doylestown Veterinary Hospital & Holistic Pet Care at (215) 345-6000

Case Study

“Lucy” – An 11-year old-female spayed Beagle mix presented for a routine dental procedure but was observed to have severe bruising on the body and under the tongue. The dental was postponed, and bloodwork showed a drastically high white blood cell count and a severely low platelet count. The dog was transferred to an emergency hospital for acute care of the life-threatening blood disorder. The diagnosis was Lymphosarcoma in the lymph nodes of her chest. She was discharged and started on a corticosteroid. Prognosis was a few weeks, maybe a month to live.

Through a holistic consultation, her diet was improved and treatment with three different Chinese herbal formulas to address the swollen lymph nodes, improve the platelet levels, and minimize the spread of the cancer. Lucy remained on the steroid, but at a lower dose. She improved clinically and was stable without any bruising within two weeks. Bloodwork performed during recovery showed that the white blood cell count and platelet levels normalized after three months. Lucy lived for 15 months following her initial diagnosis. Holistic care gave Lucy an improved quality of life for longer than expected.

TREATMENT: Chinese Herbal Medicine along with conventional treatment including a corticosteroid

HERBS:
1) Xiao Chai Hu Tang
2) Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
3) Hoxsey-Like Formula (Western herbal blend)