Why I Became an Integrative Veterinarian

Why I Became an Integrative Veterinarian

I graduated from veterinary school in 2002, fiercely dedicated to traditional veterinary medicine.

At one point, I attended a meeting hosted by the holistic veterinary club—and I left deeply skeptical.

I still remember a case they discussed: a dog with megaesophagus, a condition where the esophagus becomes dilated and pets struggle to move food into their stomach. A local holistic veterinarian described how well the dog had responded to treatments like acupuncture.

I’m a bit embarrassed to admit this now—but I dismissed it entirely.

We had just studied megaesophagus in internal medicine, and the message was discouraging: there was very little we could do. Many dogs couldn’t keep food down and often developed pneumonia from aspirating food into their lungs. So without much thought, I discounted what I had heard.

Around that same time, I had an experience that reinforced my mindset.

As the president of our student chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association, I was called into a meeting with the dean of the veterinary college. He was visibly upset. I sat quietly as he expressed his frustration that the holistic club was hosting a conference on campus.

“There is NO scientific proof that these treatments even work!” he insisted.

At the time, that message stuck with me.

Looking back, it would be another six years before I encountered the scientific evidence—and the clinical results—that would begin to change my perspective.

When I began searching for my first job, I carried that skepticism with me.

If a position mentioned “holistic,” “alternative,” or “integrative,” I didn’t even consider applying. In hindsight, that was a narrow and uninformed approach—but at the time, it felt justified.

Instead, I chose a more traditional path. My first job was at a clinic outside of Chicago. It had specialists on staff and was in a desirable location, but the frequent turnover hinted that it might not be a long-term fit.

I moved through a few positions in those early years, still firmly rooted in conventional medicine.

Everything began to shift when I worked at a clinic with an integrative veterinarian.

She practiced both traditional medicine and therapies like acupuncture.

I’ll be honest—at first, I didn’t understand her approach. In fact, I thought she seemed a bit… different. We kept our distance.

At the time, I was working as an emergency veterinarian, managing urgent cases as well as patients in the ICU. Some days, I was responsible for 10 or more hospitalized patients while also handling incoming emergencies. It was intense, fast-paced, and often overwhelming.

One day, I was caring for a dachshund recovering from back surgery. Despite multiple medications, I couldn’t get him comfortable. He was crying and restless, and I felt terrible watching him struggle.

At some point, the integrative veterinarian quietly opened his cage and began working with him. I couldn’t see exactly what she was doing.

But when she stepped away, the dog was asleep.

Peaceful.

I found her shortly afterward and asked what she had done.

“Acupuncture,” she said.

That moment stayed with me.

After that, I began asking her more questions. She generously shared her knowledge and even gave me my first set of acupuncture needles. She showed me a point on the top of my head used for relaxation.

After long 14+ hour shifts, when I felt completely drained, I tried it myself.

To my surprise, I could feel the tension melt away almost immediately.

It was… surreal.

Seeing acupuncture work firsthand changed everything for me. I needed that experience—the direct observation, the tangible results.

A few years later, while negotiating a position at a clinic in rural Maine, I made a specific request: I wanted to pursue formal training in acupuncture as part of my contract.

They agreed.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Today, I am incredibly grateful for the path that led me here.

As an integrative veterinarian, I’m able to offer both traditional and holistic care—choosing the best approach for each individual patient. It feels aligned with who I am, both as a veterinarian and as a person.

In future posts, I look forward to sharing some of the cases that have stayed with me over the years. Even now, seeing the results firsthand continues to amaze me—and it brings a deep sense of fulfillment to the work I do.