Frequently
Asked Questions
1.
Do I still continue to take my pet to my "regular vet"?
Yes, we strongly encourage you to maintain your relationship
with your primary care veterinarian or any specialist that
may be involved in your pet's health care. We are here to
provide treatments that complement the conventional medical
and surgical services provided by your other veterinarians.
Even if a completely alternative approach is chosen for a
particular problem, we recommend that you still see your veterinarian
for regular "check-ups" and any surgery, hospitalization,
or emergency treatment your pet may need.
2.
Do I stop giving medicine(s) my pet is taking?
No, do NOT change anything you are currently giving unless
directed by your veterinarian. Even if your goal is to get
your pet off medications, we will need to implement a treatment
plan first. Most of the time, we gradually eliminate medications
as your pet becomes stronger and healthier and doesn't need
the drugs anymore. Abruptly stopping medications that your
pet's system is depending on could cause serious problems.
Our goal is to help the animal heal or rebalance their system
so they no longer need the drugs.
3.
What will happen at the first visit?
On your first visit to AHP, you will discuss your concerns
about your pet's current problems and go over your pet's history.
Please bring with you any pertinent x-rays, copies of blood
tests or other diagnostic tests, and copies of medical records
for your pet. If you would prefer, we can contact your other
veterinarian(s) and request that they send us this information.
Just let us know with enough advance notice so that we can
get this done before your appointment. After reviewing history,
the doctor will examine your pet and discuss with you her
findings and recommendations. The first treatment will be
done and we will answer any questions you may have.
4.
How long does it take to see a response to treatments?
This varies from patient to patient. Some pets feel better
the day after the first treatment, and some need 3 or 4 treatments
to even start to feel better. Some patients show gradual,
steady improvement, feeling a little better with each treatment.
Even if your pet feels better right away, it is important
to continue the treatment schedule set with the doctor, as
the body tends to revert back to its diseased state if not
supported with additional treatments until it's completely
healed.
5.
How often do I need to bring my pet in?
This also varies from patient to patient depending on the
problem(s) and severity of the disease process. For most patients,
we recommend starting with one treatment per week for 4 consecutive
weeks. We will then gradually increase the interval between
treatments to find out what your pet needs for maintenance
of health and comfort. For some patients this means a visit
once a year, yet a patient with severe problems may need treatment
every 2 weeks to be comfortable and happy. Most patients require
recheck visits every 4-12 weeks.
6.
Do you always use a combination of acupuncture, chiropractic,
and herbal medicine on every patient?
No, we tailor the treatment of what your pet needs at each
visit. We also can design an approach based on your preferences.
For example, if you only want your pet to get a chiropractic
adjustment, we can do just that. If you want to use just herbal
medicine, and /or acupuncture, that can be done also. We will
give you our recommendations, but will respect your decision.
7.
Are there times when these types of treatments don't work?
There certainly are patients that do not show any improvement
in spite of our best efforts. Thankfully, this occurs in less
than 10% of our cases (and many of our patients find us only
after everything else has failed!). When the patient responds
favorably to our treatments it is because healing has taken
place and the body is actually healthier in some way. Likewise,
in patients that simply can not heal because disease is too
advanced or there is irreversible damage to nerves or organs,
no favorable response will be seen. Thankfully, many very
chronic or severe problems can often be significantly improved
by optimizing the body's ability to heal and making it as
well balanced and as healthy as possible.
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