Saving lives with holistic veterinary care

The world of integrative and holistic veterinary care is rapidly growing, and Animal Wellness is thrilled to be a part of it!

There’s nothing like a group of like-minded individuals to get you re-inspired! My husband, publisher Tim Hockley and I just returned from the annual American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) Conference in Kansas City. For us, it was a great opportunity for continued learning, and to reconnect with old friends, meet new people, and get important feedback.

We were humbled by the kind and supportive words about our publications from the veterinarians, and want to thank all those who have contributed articles over the years. Some of these people have been with us since we started Animal Wellness 14 years ago! Back then, we talked about natural health for animals as a movement, and we’ve worked hard to influence consumer demand so that there are better food and treat options as well as more awareness of integrative therapies for animals. (How cool is it that some veterinary schools now teach acupuncture?!)

Most of the integrative and holistic veterinary professionals I know truly care for animals and have a similar story. They graduated from vet school and, after a few years of practice, became frustrated with the limited skills that often lead to euthanasia for their patients. So they pushed themselves to learn about the complementary therapies that would extend their healing options. I’ve never spoken to one that went back to solely conventional medicine. Does this sound like any vet you know?

In the coming year, I look forward to bringing you articles based on some of the exciting lectures I attended. I hope you’ll continue to be inspired by the incredible options out there for our wonderful fur-friends. Of course, it’s more important than ever to get the word out. Help us save animals by being part of the animal wellness movement and spread the word by sharing on Facebook and Twitter!

P.S. More exciting news — We are now the publisher of the AHVMA Journal, the association’s official veterinary medical journal for its members!

AUTHOR PROFILE

Dana Cox is the co-founder, Chief Creative Officer and editor-in-chief of Redstone Media Group, which publishes Animal Wellness Magazine, Equine Wellness Magazine, Integrative Veterinary Care Journal and Canadian Dogs Annual, and associated websites. She regularly attends veterinary conferences to stay apprised of leading edge and best practices, therapies and modalities. Dana lives in Peterborough, ON with her husband and fellow co-founder, Tim Hockley, and their family, which includes two children, a dog and a cat.