Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Our Hospice Approach and Use of Alternative Therapies
The Gray Muzzle team is excited to offer our residents a variety of Alternative Therapies to help support their optimal health and longevity. Alternative Therapies include any type of medical therapy that does not fall into a conventional healthcare model- mainly pharmaceutical and surgical based. Alternative Therapies include traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) techniques, chiropractic, aromatherapy, massage, hydrotherapy, and more!
The advantages are that these methods are often safer (especially for geriatric pups) and less invasive that conventional medicine-which has a time and place-primarily acute conditions. Alternative Therapies are best suited for chronic conditions.
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) is an ancient holistic health care approach used for thousands of years in the Eastern world.
TCVM practitioners, like Dr. Jamie, are trained to find imbalances in the body and relate them to specific organ systems that are either over active or under active. By detecting subtle imbalances, they can treat changes before they become a full fledged disease process and they can get to the root of the problem, not just treat the symptoms. Another benefit, is that the individual is treated, not the disease.
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TCVM treatments are all aimed to promote balance and harmony in the body. A body in balance is best equipped to heal, so this form of medicine engages the body’s own healing mechanisms.
The treatment modalities or “branches” of TCVM can be used singly or are often used in combination. These include:
Acupuncture
Uses the insertion of sterile needles into different “acupoints” of the body to stimulate or regulate different organ systems. Benefits include pain relief, improved immunity, and improved organ function.
Herbal Medicine
The use of plants as medicine to treat multiple imbalances in the body, which then promotes balance and optimized vitality.
Food Therapy
The use of food as medicine by recognizing actions and properties each ingredient has on the body.
Tui Na
A manual therapy that includes pressing, rubbing, stretching, tapping, rocking, etc to stimulate or decrease activity of different points on the body. Benefits: Improves circulation, promotes relaxation, can speed healing processes, and ideal for patient who cannot tolerate acupuncture.
Additional care treatments we provide include:
Massage Therapy
Similar to humans massage can help relax the body and mind. It's appropriate for tension, pain, stress, and promoting balance.
Physical Therapy
The use of targeted exercises to improve strength and function.
Hydrotherapy
Includes guided exercise +/- massage in natural bodies of water or heated pools. Benefits: Improved strength, coordination, and nerve function. Very safe and non invasive treatment that is often enjoyable for the dog.
Aromatherapy
Engages dogs' 100-300 million scent receptors! Benefits can include calming, energizing, promoting immunity, and more.
Pain Management
Western Medicine
Medicinal Mushrooms
Many mushrooms are nutritious and medicinal. Benefits can include: Brain support, healthy aging, immune enhancement, stress relief and more.
Targeted Supplementation
Supplements will be used to ensure homemade diets are balanced and to support each dog in various other ways depending on what they need.
Fresh Food Diets
Fresh food is more nutrient dense and less processed than other versions. Our homemade diets made with fresh ingredients will be customized to each patient to promote wellness- in whatever way that best supports each dog.