Integrative Medicine & Therapies

Integrative Therapy Consultations

Integrative Therapy Consultations bring together the best of conventional veterinary medicine and holistic therapies to support your pet’s health as a whole. This approach looks beyond symptoms to understand the underlying causes of illness, while always prioritizing comfort, safety, and quality of life.

What Is Integrative Care?

Integrative medicine combines traditional veterinary treatments with complementary therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, food therapy, and supportive pain management. These therapies are used thoughtfully alongside conventional care—not in place of it—to enhance outcomes and improve your pet’s overall wellbeing.

A Personalized Approach

During your consultation, we take time to review your pet’s medical history, current concerns, lifestyle, and your goals for their care. From there, we develop an individualized treatment plan that may include a combination of medical and holistic therapies tailored specifically to your pet’s needs. This consultation is booked with Dr. Ilana Smolkin.

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) is a holistic approach to pet health that focuses on restoring balance within the body to support natural healing. Rather than treating symptoms alone, TCVM looks at the whole patient—physical, emotional, and environmental—to address the root cause of illness.

This gentle, individualized approach can be used on its own or alongside conventional veterinary care to enhance comfort, function, and quality of life.

How TCVM Works

TCVM is based on the principle that health depends on balance within the body. When that balance is disrupted, disease or discomfort can occur. By identifying patterns of imbalance, we tailor treatment to your pet’s specific needs using therapies such as:

• Acupuncture
• Chinese herbal medicine
• Food therapy
• Supportive integrative care

These therapies are selected thoughtfully and safely to complement medical treatment.

Supporting Whole-Body Wellness

TCVM can be especially helpful for pets with chronic conditions, pain or mobility issues, digestive concerns, allergies, anxiety, cancer, or age-related changes. Our goal is always to improve comfort, restore function, and support your pet’s overall wellbeing.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture, which originated in China, has been used as a therapeutic treatment option for thousands of years. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the body is composed of several pathways called “meridians,” along which energy flows. When disease is present, energy is interrupted, or unbalanced. Stimulating acupuncture points along the meridians can restore energy flow, resulting in improved or cured health problems.  

Acupuncture can be used alone or in combination with conventional medical and surgical treatment to remedy a variety of conditions including (but not limited to): 

• Musculoskeletal problems: arthritis or Vertebral disc disease
• Gastrointestinal problems: poor appetite, chronic vomiting or diarrhea
• Respiratory problems: chronic cough
• Skin problems
• Cancer and other debilitating conditions

Typically patients require 3-5 visits to see the effects of treatments depending on the condition being treated.  Since the needles are very small, most patients tolerate them very well and the number of needles and their placement location is dictated by the condition and the patient. 

Manual Therapy

Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy, also known as manual therapy, is a safe form of gentle and natural therapy that focuses on the nervous and musculoskeletal systems in your pets. The nervous system controls everything in your pet’s body and is intimately related to the spine and vertebral column. If the joints of the vertebral column do not move as they should, this will affect the nerves that enter and leave the spinal cord. These nerves transfer information between the brain, spinal cord, organs, muscles, and other parts of the body. 

Dr. Smolkin combines techniques learned at the Canadian Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre and Full Spectrum canine therapy Osteopathic techniques. These therapies address spinal subluxations, fascial tension and muscle trigger points.

During the consultation, Dr. Smolkin will address posture, gait and feel for muscle and fascia tension. Depending on the condition, we will then decide on the best treatment path for the patient. Dr. Smolkin is certified by the College of Animal Chiropractors.  

Chinese Herbal Therapy

Veterinary herbal therapy uses plant-based remedies to help treat chronic and acute conditions. These treatments, including Western and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) herbs, manage pain, arthritis, allergies, gastrointestinal, and organ issues and are often combined with traditional western medication. 

Herbal therapy can be used for many conditions including pain, anxiety, skin issues, digestive upset, kidney and liver disease. Herbal therapy can help increase the quality of life in geriatric patients and help extend the life of cancer patients with or without the addition of chemotherapy.

After a careful examination of your pet’s history and condition, one or more herbal formulas may be prescribed.  We may also decide that a nutraceutical is the best way to support your pet. The decision is based on the condition as well as the patient and what format might be the easiest to give as different options come in loose powders, capsules, tinctures or even sometimes as flavoured chew treats. 

Chinese Food Therapy

Chinese Food Therapy is a gentle, holistic approach that uses whole foods to support your pet’s health and restore balance in the body. Rooted in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), it views food as medicine—chosen specifically for your pet’s individual needs.

Rather than a one-size-fits-all diet, recommendations are tailored based on your pet’s condition, energy balance, and overall wellbeing. This therapy can be used on its own or alongside conventional care to help manage chronic conditions, support recovery, and improve quality of life.

Our team creates safe, nutritionally balanced plans using home-prepared meals, selected commercial diets, or targeted food additions that are practical for everyday life.

If you’re interested in a natural, personalized approach to your pet’s nutrition, we’re here to help guide you every step of the way.

Cancer (Oncology) Supportive Care

A cancer diagnosis can feel frightening and overwhelming—but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our oncology services are designed to support both you and your pet with compassionate, individualized care every step of the way.

We focus on creating treatment plans that prioritize quality of life, comfort, and meaningful time together, while offering clear guidance and honest conversations about your options.

Our Approach to Cancer Care

Every pet and every diagnosis is unique. We take the time to thoroughly assess your pet’s condition and develop a personalized plan that aligns with your goals and your pet’s needs. Treatment recommendations may include:

• Diagnostic testing and staging
• Medical management and chemotherapy
• Pain management and supportive care
• Monitoring and follow-up appointments
• Coordination with referral oncology specialists when needed

Our team will walk you through what to expect, potential side effects, and how treatment may impact your pet’s day-to-day life—so you can make informed decisions with confidence.

Quality of Life Comes First

In veterinary oncology, treatment is not about curing at all costs. It’s about maintaining comfort, joy, and dignity. Many pets tolerate cancer treatments very well, and our protocols are designed to minimize discomfort while maximizing quality time at home.

We regularly reassess your pet’s response to treatment and adjust plans as needed, always with their wellbeing as our top priority.

Compassionate Support for Pet Families

We understand the emotional weight that comes with a cancer diagnosis. Our team is here to answer questions, offer reassurance, and provide honest guidance—whether you’re exploring treatment options or focusing on comfort and palliative care.

You will never be rushed, pressured, or left without support.

If you have concerns about a lump, changes in your pet’s health, or have received a cancer diagnosis, please contact us to discuss next steps.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

This form of regenerative medicine involves specialized injections into joints, around soft tissue or even made into drops for the eyes to help promote healing. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a highly concentrated sample of the patient's own blood that has been processed to contain a high number of platelets in the fluid portion of the blood known as plasma. Platelets are potent cells that contain a reservoir of messenger proteins known as growth factors. These growth factors attract healing cells to the area and activate cells to assist in the repair of wounded tissue and inflammation.  

Conditions that may benefit from PRP treatments include arthritis, skin wounds, ligament or tendon injuries, post surgical healing, and recovery for athletic dogs.  During our consultations, we can discuss if this cutting edge therapy is right for your pet.  

CBD Consultations

As part of our integrative services, we are pleased to provide counselling in cannabinoid medicine, providing expert guidance on the safe and effective use of cannabinoids (like CBD) in veterinary care.

As research in this field grows, staying informed is essential. Our consult service helps pet owners navigate supplement options with clarity and confidence.

During your appointment, we’ll review your pet’s medical history, assess their current condition, and listen to your concerns. Together, we’ll create a tailored plan to meet your pet’s specific needs with CBD based products.

Our approach is evidence-based and safety-focused. We’ll explain the potential benefits and risks of cannabinoid therapy, help you choose the right product, determine safe dosages, and monitor your pet’s progress. This is a collaborative process—because your pet deserves thoughtful, personalized care.