Integrative Veterinary Medicine: A Holistic Approach to Pet Health

Vicky Simon is an integrative veterinary practitioner helping pet owners rethink how they support the long-term wellbeing of their animals. Drawing on her training at the National Centre for Integrative Medicine (NCIM), her practice focuses on treating pets as whole, sentient beings with physical, emotional, nutritional, and environmental needs.

She hosted a webinar for NCIM last week on the benefits of Integrative Veterinary Medicine and why using a holistic approach can benefit both pets and owners.

What Integrative Veterinary Medicine Means

Working primarily with dogs and cats, though occasionally with horses, rabbits, chickens, and even pet sheep, Vicky integrates herbal medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, and natural nutrition into her daily clinical work. Her goal is simple: optimise health rather than merely manage disease.

Much like Integrative Medicine in human healthcare, integrative veterinary care looks beyond symptoms. Instead of isolating a single body part or condition, it aims to understand the pet’s whole physiological and emotional landscape.

Because animals cannot speak for themselves, holistic vets rely heavily on:

• Close observation of behaviour, movement, posture, skin, coat, and even scent.

• Detailed owner conversations about changes at home, emotional shifts, stressors, and daily routines.

• Comprehensive history-taking, including environmental factors, nutrition, and family dynamics.

Owners are encouraged to become keen observers. Noting what makes symptoms better or worse (known in homeopathy as modalities) provides valuable insights. For example, does itching worsen in warm rooms? Does lameness improve after exercise? Does a cough appear when stepping into cold air? These details help form a clearer picture of the animal’s internal state.

Four Pillars of Integrative Veterinary Care

Vicky describes her work as sitting on four foundations:

1. Treatment of acute illness

2. Management of chronic disease

3. Preventative medicine

4. Maintenance of optimal health

Although many owners seek help for chronic issues such as skin disease, arthritis, behavioural problems, autoimmune conditions, or cancer, preventative care and wellbeing optimisation are equally important parts of the holistic model.

Nutrition: The Cornerstone of Pet Health

Good nutrition is at the heart of integrative pet care. The guiding principle is simple: feed a species-appropriate diet.

• Cats are obligate carnivores and require a meat-based diet.

• Dogs are facultative carnivores – primarily meat-eaters but also scavengers that can digest a variety of foods.

With the growth of the fresh-food and raw-feeding movements, pet owners now face a bewildering array of options. The holistic vet emphasizes:

Avoiding Ultra-Processed Pet Foods

Kibble, which is highly heat-processed, may contain lower-quality ingredients and can develop compounds such as acrylamides during manufacturing. She recommends choosing foods made from clearly identifiable ingredients such as fresh meat, named organs, and whole vegetables, avoiding anonymous listings such as “meat and animal derivatives” or “derivatives of vegetable origin.”

Raw vs. Cooked Fresh Food

While she is a strong advocate of raw feeding, she notes that it does not suit every household or every pet. High-quality cooked fresh foods and balanced home-prepared diets can also support excellent health.

Practical Feeding Guidance

• Prioritise variety to deliver diverse nutrients.

• Choose balanced, complete diets unless working from a nutritionist-approved recipe.

• Add fresh, whole-food extras (vegetables, eggs, meats) to improve a lower-quality diet when cost or pet preference limits other options.

• Transition kibble-addicted cats gradually, often by moving to wet food first.

Ultimately, the best diet is one the animal will eat consistently while supporting optimal vitality.

Integrative Preventative Medicine

Vaccinations and Titre Testing

Rather than routine annual vaccination for all diseases, many holistic vets use titre testing to assess immunity, particularly for dogs. By measuring antibody levels for distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus, they can determine whether boosters are necessary. Many dogs maintain strong immunity for years.

The leptospirosis vaccination is more complex due to rapid antibody decline and variable risk depending on lifestyle. Some owners choose to avoid it; others rely on homeopathic nosodes after discussing risks and benefits.

Flea, Tick, and Worm Management

Conventional preventive care often relies on monthly chemical treatments. The holistic approach emphasises:

• Natural repellents (internal supplements or external essential-oil-based products—using cat-safe formulas only).

• Environmental management to reduce exposure.

• Treating infestations only when they occur, rather than medicating preventatively.

• Faecal worm counts to determine whether worming is needed.

• Diet, particularly raw diets, which may create a less hospitable environment for intestinal parasites.

Chemical treatments are still recommended in certain situations. For example, when clearing established flea infestations or treating lungworm due to its serious health risks.

Dental Care

Dental health is often overlooked until problems arise. Holistic vets encourage early, attentive prevention through:

• Chewing raw meaty bones (for suitable pets)

• Tough vegetables such as carrots or broccoli stems

• Natural chews (dried tendons, fish skins)

• Toothbrushing with pet-safe toothpaste

Gut and Immune Support

While not recommending routine probiotics for every pet, Vicky stressed the importance of probiotic support after antibiotic use to help restore the gut microbiome. She also frequently uses medicinal mushrooms and other immunomodulators to help pets recover after illness or stress.

Integrative Approaches to Chronic Disease

Many owners seek integrative care when conventional treatments either cause side effects or offer limited solutions, especially for:

• Skin disease

• Arthritis

• Cancer

• Autoimmune conditions

• Behavioural issues

• Gastrointestinal disorders

• Age-related cognitive decline

Holistic vets work as detectives combining detailed history, physical examination, nutrition, lifestyle evaluation, and integrative therapies to create an individualised, multi-layered plan for long-term wellness.

A Different Way of Caring for Animals

At its core, integrative veterinary medicine is about partnership. The vet and owner work together, observing subtle changes, adjusting treatment, and prioritising the animal’s overall wellbeing rather than simply eliminating symptoms.

By considering the whole animal – their diet, emotions, environment, physiology, and lifestyle – holistic care offers another pathway to keeping pets not just living, but thriving.