Chinese (and Western) botanical (herbal) medicine helps to support the acupuncture treatment and is often a part of the treatment plan following the TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) diagnosis. We use high quality herbs, free from any heavy metals or other contaminations. Our doctors are trained in veterinary herbal medicine, which takes into account that some herbs can be toxic for animals, even though they are relatively safe for humans.

Homeopathy was born at about the same time as Western medicine, about 200-300 years ago. Samuel Hahnemann is generally seen as the “father of homeopathy”. It differs from Western medicine in that it is based on resonance of cell vitality with plant parts, minerals or rocks. It is based on the understanding that the smallest part of a cell, the atom, has a physical and energetic (wave) aspect to it, in the same way that Quantum physics explains the wave type behaviour particles displayed in physics. The wavelength and frequency of the homeopathic remedy cancels out or corrects the changes in frequencies caused by diseased tissue. Homeopathy is more difficult to apply in animals than in humans because we miss the information on subtle emotional or physical changes. To use homeopathy safely on animals, a doctor must have a thorough knowledge and understanding of western veterinary medicine so that diseases that occur in animals but not people aren’t missed. Homeopathy can treat acute as well as chronic diseases. Homeopathic remedies are used in different dilutions, called potencies. The higher the dilution, the higher the potency and the deeper the remedy works.

Dr. Heinrich Reckeweg founded the knowledge of Homotoxicology. The principle is based on homeopathy, but it goes a little further. In homeopathy it is recognized that diseases start on the periphery and progress deeper into the body if the patients system is unable to remove the disease-causing agent. The deeper the diseases settles in the body, the more serious the symptoms, the more chronic the disease and the more difficult it is to heal. Homotoxicology is based on the understanding that it is the doctor’s job to find the level of the disease and then support the body to bring the disease closer to the surface to eliminate it. This is done through stimulation of the specific cells of the diseased tissue, stimulating the lymphatic flow to clear the interstitional tissues, then to stimulate and support the bodies own detoxification systems, the liver and kidney. Followed by the stimulation of cell enzymes to make the body stronger and resist diseases in the future. Homotoxicology uses a combination of low dilution homeopathic remedies and is in between herbal medicine and homeopathy. The knowledge of Homotoxicology is still very new compared to Traditional Chinese Medicine and ongoing research keeps our doctors abreast of the latest knowledge.

Chiropractic is a method of healthcare that is drug-free and deals with the proper function of the joints of the spine and limbs. The spinal vertebrae have several larger and smaller joints. Slight sub-luxations can result in pain, and compromise the spinal component. This can lead to chronic pain, arthritis and reduced use and function of the entire body. With a subtle and gentle hands-on technique, the proper function of the patient’s joints can be restored. Pain is relieved and the animal can move more freely and easily again. Dr. Smith and Dr. Matheson have received training through the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association completing a very intensive and comprehensive course specifically for animal chiropractics. This is important, as the direction of joint surfaces in a quadruped is different from a human who walks on their hind legs all the time!

Other Services We Provide

Annual Wellness Exams - In these exams your pet will receive a complete western exam as well as a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) and chiropractic evaluation. A TCVM exam includes tongue and pulse assessment. The annual wellness exams can be combined with vaccinations or a blood titer test to evaluate the animal’s immunity to common diseases.  If needed (especially in the older pet) the doctor may recommend a complete blood panel, including thyroid, and urine examination to assess any early changes in the organs such as liver, kidney, heart or endocrine system. At Tree of Life Veterinary Care we recommend checking an animal’s blood for levels of immunity to diseases such as Distemper and Parvovirus as we respect the immune system’s daunting task of keeping the body free from diseases and cancer. We do not want to add extra stress to the situation by re-vaccinating animals that are not 100% healthy. Immunity to the common diseases that we normally vaccinate for can be assessed through a simple blood test called a “titer test”.

Geriatric Consultations - Here is where our integrative approaches really shine in providing our senior pets with the best quality of life. TCVM has many chapters devoted to the aging process, trying to understand it, recognizing what declines, when and how. As a result, there are many herbal formulas, diet changes, acupuncture etc. available to make the Golden Years more pleasant for our pets. A regular chiropractic manipulation keeps their spine and joints in better shape. As the pet ages, the annual exams may become bi-annual exams as animals age much faster then humans. The same changes that can take place in a human over a 15-year span between the ages of 65 and 80, can take place in just 2 to 4 years in a pet! Large breed dogs are considered to be in the geriatric class at 8 years of age, while the smaller breeds (10 lbs) may enter the geriatric years at the age of 12. Breeds that weigh 50- to 60 lbs can reach it at 10 years of age. Cats should be able to live until they are 18-20 years of age. However hyperthyroidism and renal disease can cause premature death in cats at the age of 12 and up.

Dietary Consultations - Many people still remember animals being fed the leftovers from the table. In the last 30 years or so, veterinarians and pet stores have convinced most animal owners to switch to a commercial dried or canned diet for their pets. Recent scares of contaminated pet (and human) food has made many animal owners rethink and examine the question “what should I feed my pet?” The doctors at Tree of Life Veterinary Care have followed the debate on this question over the last 10 years or so. They closely looked at the research behind the homemade diet and the processed diets. The staff at Tree of Life Veterinary Care can help you in your quest to decide what to feed your pet through a dietary consultation. We will provide you with oral information to help you better understand the issues behind raw or cooked homemade diets, give you written information and also refer you to Internet information that will help you to make your own decision on what and how to feed your pet. Here at Tree of Life Veterinary Care we belief that it is the animal’s owner/caregiver who makes the decision of what to feed their pet and we trust that through education and understanding you are very capable of doing so! Please call the clinic if you wish to set up a consultation with our staff. Our staff offer consultation services for healthy pets. For animals with health issues we recommend a consultation with the doctor in order to tailor the diet to the specific needs of that patient.


Miscellaneous Services -Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medical approaches can also be very helpful with a wide variety of behaviour problems such as anxiety, urinary spraying in the house (cats mostly), dominant aggression etc.

Reproductive problems can also often be treated successfully with Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine.

Urinary incontinence in males and females may also benefit from a TCVM approach.

Congenital abnormalities such as liver shunt etc. may be worth approaching with TCVM.

Old dog-Vestibular Syndrome (stroke) has a great response to acupuncture, nutraceuticals and herbal medicine.

Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia both respond well to acupuncture and gold bead implant, especially in the young dog! The use of acupuncture in IVD  (Intravertable Disc Disease) with paralysis of the hind legs in the short-legged (or long back) dogs has shown to restore motor function.

Cancer in our pet population is rapidly increasing. Cancer and immune mediated diseases are the special interest of Dr. Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk. She is looking at what western medicine has to offer, the latest in understanding and development in Traditional Chinese Medicine, neutraceuticals and homeopathy. Our website has a short questionnaire. Dr. Smith is using the answers to help find any relationship between how we keep and treat our pets and an increase in cancer.

Through the use of acupuncture we can often reduce the side effects caused by chemotherapy, and pain caused by the development or progression of cancer or nausea. The various herbal approaches can help to support the animal while it undergoes chemotherapy or radiation. Some of the components have also been shown to slow down the growth of cancer. As we are still looking for the cause of cancer (and this is still not 100% clear in western and oriental medicine), we will still be looking for the best way to treat cancer. We believe that one can only successfully treat a disease if one truly understands what causes that disease! Medicine is an ongoing school of learning!

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