As a holistic vet clinic we believe that your pet does not have to live with allergies, cancer, arthritis, and other “incurable” diseases. We encourage your pet’s body to self heal by utilizing herbs, vitamins, minerals and detoxification. We recognize that there is a time for all of us to go, but those years can be years of joy. Examinations are crucial in early detection of an abnormality before it becomes a disease. The exam portion of the annual visit is emphasized, which includes a chiropractic diagnostic pass. We encourage blood work, especially on the senior citizen.
We recommend that animals be fed raw meat and bones and vegetables as a main part of their diet. We sometimes feed processed food ourselves, but use and sell those that are of good quality. We do not recommend any foods with wheat because of its high gluten content as an ingredient. For the same reason we do not recommend any corn gluten. It appears that gluten is an indigestible protein for us and carnivores. It is put in food to raise apparent protein content; but if it is indigestible is it really raising the protein content? Cooking temperature is very important and high temperatures greatly damage food. We have clients that come to us for nutritional counseling and preventative medicine. It is fun to start puppies and kittens out right. For details on pet foods and how to avoid food allergies please visit www.foodallergiesdog.com www.foodallergiescat.com
At our clinic we are constantly trying to improve our success rate which is what propelled me into holistic medicine years ago. Until we are 100 % successful there is always room for improvement. We also endeavor to find what caused your pet’s body to break down and not function properly needing you to seek the assistance of a veterinarian. Although this may not be our primary purpose, if I cannot identify the process that was the cause, how do I keep the dysfunction from reoccurring? It should also be remembered that the same cause may have what appears to be entirely dissimilar manifestations.
For this we often use applied kinesiology (AK). With this method we have determined that food allergies are a major underlying cause of many of our and our four-legged friend’s maladies. For the last nine years since we have been checking every case of cancer that we have treated, regardless of where they are in the country, has food allergies. For the last two years since we have been checking, every paralyzed dog and every anterior cruciate tear (ACL) has food allergies. Our bodies and theirs are designed to heal and repair, but the inflammatory process initiated by allergies interferes with this God designed healing process.
We use AK to design and determine for each individual animal his own specific treatment regimen. The pet makes the choices that are best for him, determining what herbs, vitamins, antibiotics (if necessary), anti-cancer therapies, connective tissue regeneration supplements, foods, and other nutrients that are needed and in what order of importance. It takes longer than a cookie cutter approach, but the success rate is far superior and all are more satisfied that what could be done was. Do I sometimes miss something? Yes, I do. But it is becoming less and we expect to see steady improvements.
but provide appropriate protection by minimal vaccination and encourage titers.Titering is a way of determining the antibody levels an animal may have to a particular disease organism. For more detail on why holistic veterinarians choose to do titers please see the heading TITERS FOR VACCINES.
We principally treatarthritis, back problems, allergies, toxicities, inflammatory bowel diseases, chronic vomiting and diarrhea, skin and ear conditions, heart conditions, kidney and liver failure, cancer, and other chronic conditions that have not been resolved elsewhere. However, we still perform the basics such as annual health exams and dental cleanings for clients that have been with us over 30 years as well as new members of our FRAH family.
If you live out of state or even out of the country, we have had dramatic successful results long distance. We are able to discern much about an animal with their DNA and have had many happy pets and caretakers that we have never physically met.
We use modalities such as chiropractics – veterinary orthopedic manipulation (VOM), ultrasound therapy, prolotherapy, tens units, alpha stimulation, magnets, pulsing light therapy, prayer and deliverance, and resonant frequencies of light and sound (Rife/Beam Ray). We use our in-house lab, Antech Diagnostics, the State of Tennessee lab for conventional diagnostics, and other out-of-state labs. We also send off hair analysis when appropriate for heavy metal toxins, chronic cases, and cancer. We use whatever is best for the pet and will use conventional therapies when indicated.
We like to use applied kinesiology (AK) or muscle reflex testing, as a way of asking your pet’s body what it needs. We use AK to determine supplements, dosages, drugs, and diagnose conditions.
We consider ourselves as a resource and let the owners make the final decision. It is their pet, as it is their body and the ultimate choice is theirs. To be honest, our patients are often so messed up that it is sometimes difficult to know where to start. You may come in with a certain complaint, and I will begin treating the underlying cause before medically addressing the complaint. But that is holistic medicine…the cause, behind the cause, behind the cause.
I hope this explains how holistic veterinarians are different and what we’re about at Franklin Road Animal Hospital in Brentwood, Tennessee.
Mark C. Ingram, DVM