We offer a range of services to support you and your animals in addition to your regular veterinary hospital or clinic. Not sure what you need, or can’t find answers below? We can help determine what services are right for you and tell you more about our fees or process. Feel free to get in touch. Visit our Services and Blog pages for more information.
What is the difference between an integrative and a regular veterinarian?
Both regular and integrative vets utilise Western treatments as necessary. Medication, chemotherapy, surgery are good examples. Integrative vets seek to integrate this with evidence-based complimentary approaches to disease and medicine.
Veterinary Chinese medicine specifically treats disease by helping the patient to correct the underlying “root” imbalance pattern that manifests as disease in contrast to medicating the symptoms.
Why are integrative consultations more expensive?
Integrative vets require a more detailed history and examination in order to investigate “root” imbalances. In addition to all the familiar history and examination techniques, integrative vets pay close attention to personality traits, daily routine, temperature preferences, behavioural interactions, nutrition, toxin exposure as well as assessing acupressure points and meridians and determining a tongue and pulse diagnosis. In contrast to regular fifteen minute, often high-stress consults, this requires a minimum of an hour and preferably observing your pet in a low stress state, in it’s natural habitat (aka at home).
Integrative veterinarians also differ in the time needed to integrate all this information into a practical & effective treatment plan that has been discussed and agreed to before treatment is commenced. This can include communication with your regular or previous vets to clarify medical history, potential for any drug-herb interactions or conflicting treatment plans to ensure our plans are synergistic with the rest of your pet’s healthcare team.
How do I know if this is right for my animal?
Most pets will benefit from an integrative approach, often achieving incredible results. Whether you are interested in maintaining the health of your animal as naturally as possible, attempting to achieve peak performance in an athlete, or frustrated with not being able to support your pet more thoroughly through chronic or complex illness.
Integrative approaches include Western medication and treatment, changes to nutrition, behaviour modification, lifestyle, physical therapy, herbal and nutritional supplements and Chinese herbal formulas.
Please feel free to contact us via email or call us directly to discuss your situation or any questions further.
Where do these products come from and are they safe?
Most medications you are familiar with have origins in the plant or micro-organism kingdoms. Using herbal formulas can be likened to an intermediary on the scale between nutrition and medication. Herbal formulas can most definitely have mild, transient and reversible negative side effects if used inappropriately and can be dangerous if used irresponsibly (without appropriate knowledge and evidence).
FEHVS only stock the highest GMP quality controlled herbs and supplements. All our formulas are Australian, European and/or US regulation and guideline certified.
Wei has been a long time conservationist and has worked directly with many of the endangered species that have historically been used in CHM! You can be assured NONE of our products (animals, plants and fungi) are ever from at risk wild collected areas or containing CITES-listed organisms.
All our products are dispensed in sustainable packaging and we are constantly striving to improve the sustainability of our entire operation.
Fifth Element Holistic Veterinary Services 