How I treat Arthritis and Joint Pain as a Holistic Vet

By: Dr. Jamie Walkush

Arthritis and chronic joint pain are a main reason pets are referred to my practice. Senior pets or super seniors are the majority of my clientele. Here’s a summary of how I manage these patients through a TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) lens to combat the root cause causing the symptoms of limping, difficulty using stairs/getting in the car, slipping on floors, not keeping up on walks, etc.  

Natural Nutrition: Wholistic Housecalls offers ongoing nutritional counseling focused on whole food, fresh diets. These diets are typically higher in moisture, healthy fats, and protein, and lower in carbohydrates. This nutritional profile best suits most patients and can specifically benefit bone and joint disease by helping to maintain muscle mass and promote weight management. The healthy fats are anti-inflammatory helping to address the underlying cause, not just the symptoms. Whole food diets are rich in antioxidants, combating aging and improving cell turnover which promotes healing.  Fresh food diets do not rely on high heat and pressure processing, reducing intake of by-products created through these processes. These processes destroy nutrients of the ingredients, resulting in artificial vitamins and minerals needed to balance the diet, which are often poorly absorbed. Lastly, the need for preservatives is minimized or eliminated due to foods being fresh.  

In response to client demand around “alternative” diets, I have undergone advanced training in Natural Nutrition and alternative feeding methods through the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies (CIVT). I feel confident that additional nutritional training and elongated appointment times can help provide the resources and tools to educate my clients to feed their pets healthier, less processed food, and do so safely.   

Targeted Supplementation: Once basic nutritional needs are covered, focus can be placed on supplements. Some of my favorites include: collagen/elastin (found naturally in bones, bone broth, and eggshell membrane so may be unnecessary to supplement on fresh diet), hyaluronic acid, medicinal mushrooms, boswelia, CBD, turmeric, and more.  

Environmental Modification: Wholistic Housecalls offers in-home care, allowing for assessment of the lifestyle and home environment of the pet. Clients often include the whole family, and a deeper understanding of the “big picture” is gained to help develop individualized treatment plans helping clients meet their pet’s health goals. Environmental modifications discussed include flooring, use of heat pads/warm compresses, modified exercise routines, mental stimulation/enrichment, and more.  

TCVM:  A TCVM approach uses specific examination criteria and history taking to allow the practitioner to detect pattern imbalances unique to each individual. Example: Some patients have stiffness worse after rest, some have worsening lameness after exercise. Using TCVM principals, these patients would be treated differently, allowing customization to treatment protocols. Specific tools used by TCVM practitioners (and utilized by Wholistic Housecalls)  

1. Chinese Herbal medications: Patients may be hot, cold, damp, dry, weak and loose, or tight and painful. Herbal medications are used to treat underlying imbalances by counteracting the pattern to bring the body to a balanced state. They are safe for long term use, affordable, and well tolerated by most patients. Specifically for OA and other joint diseases, TCVM excels at addressing the underlying weakness whereas Western medicine cannot. 

2. Food Therapy: Nutrition is a focus of this practice. Food therapy takes this a step further by providing individualized ingredient recommendations based on energetic properties of the food. Example: If the pet has arthritis worse in the colder months, and has Cold sign patterns on TCVM exam, neutral to warming foods would be recommended.  

3. Acupuncture: This modality is used primarily for pain, inflammation, and weakness. I often counsel my clients on acupressure techniques to be done at home as well. 

4. Tui Na: This is a hands on treatment similar to massage though it uses stimulation of acupuncture channels and meridians to have effects on other parts of the body. Benefits include: relaxation, increasing blood flow to promote healing, increasing lubrication and range of motion in joints, relaxing muscles and sinews, removing fascial adhesions, and more. I use this therapy while acupuncture needles are in place maximizing my treatment sessions or in place of acupuncture for patients that are reactive to needles. I also teach owners to do techniques at home. This modality is especially helpful for geriatrics and in palliative care settings. 

Summary: Many TCVM and holistic options are available to reduce pain and increase quality of life for your furry friend. These techniques provide non-invasive alternatives to address the underlying root cause of symptoms with a decreased risk of side effects. 

For more information please email wholistichousecalls@gmail.com