The medical articles on this site are for informational purposes only, and are not meant to be used to diagnose or treat your pet, or to replace the recommendations of a qualified veterinarian that has examined your pet.
Integrative Therapy (IT) combines the most appropriate treatments from conventional veterinary medicine and surgery with acupuncture (AP) and herbal medicine, which are derived from much older, holistic disciplines. Utilizing the very best therapies available from different major medical systems optimizes quality of life, and can extend lifespan by months to years.
Urinary incontinence can be very frustrating for a pet and for his or her family. It may be caused by a number of things, including neurological, infectious, or hormonal conditions. Some forms of incontinence are difficult to resolve, though in many cases acupuncture (AP) and herbal therapy can be very effective treatment(s). Some dogs may require conventional pharmaceutical medicines to achieve complete bladder control. Those that are also being treated with AP/herbal therapy can usually maintain continence at significantly lower doses of these drugs. Incontinence that is caused by a bladder or urinary tract infection requires antibiotic therapy.
Inappropriate urination that is unrelated to incontinence may require considerable patience on the part of the family. This problem can occur as a result of many different medical or behavioral conditions. Some, like sterile cystitis (“interstitial cystitis”), are most successfully treated with integrative medicine, including both AP and herbal therapies.
Sterile (interstitial) cystitis, a.k.a. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is a recurrent condition resulting in very painful inflammation in the bladder, bloody urine, and straining to urinate. It is often first noticed because the cat starts urinating outside of the box or even on furniture. He may repeatedly walk in and out of the box but be unable to produce much urine; experience straining and painful urination; or even develop a life threatening blockage (males). While there is no conventional treatment for the disease itself, there are several pharmaceuticals that are helpful to treat symptoms. Treatment with Chinese herbal medicine (+/- AP) can potentially resolve this condition, or at least significantly decrease frequency of episodes.
Cancer of the kidneys or bladder, including Transitional Cell Carcinoma and Renal Adenocarcinoma, is best treated with integrative therapy. This can extend lifespan beyond the prognosis expected for those receiving either conventional or holistic treatment alone.
