FAQs about HolisticalVets
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to email us at info@holisticalvets.com.
Services
How is HolisticalVets different from other mobile veterinary services or brick-and-mortar veterinary facilities?
HolisticalVets LLC focuses on different things to make us unique.
We thought about the usual stressors in veterinary medicine (e.g., 15 minute appointment slots resulting in not enough time to talk to clients or help pets feel comfortable and relaxed, crowded and busy waiting rooms filled with stressed out animals, trying to catch pets to put them in the car to travel to the veterinarian, the “just get it done” mentality, etc.) and we wanted to stay away from all that.
So, we decided to take time out of the equation, because we wanted to make sure there was ample time and resources available to help a pet be relaxed and comfortable. Which is why, instead of the usual 15-30 minute appointments you usually see at a veterinary facility, our appointment time is 1 hour, with an additional hour set aside in case your pet needs it.
Since we come to you and your pet, you also no longer have to worry about how and when you’ll get your pet to the veterinarian or if they’ll be further stressed out waiting in the lobby.
We also stayed away from the “get it done” mentality and we went through the extra step of getting Fear Free certified. It’s important for us to treat pets how we would like to be treated: with respect, kindness, understanding, patience, and compassion. We listen to what pets are telling us (after all, non-verbal communication can be just as powerful as verbal communication) and we work with the pet, not against them and therefore, we won’t force a pet to do something they don’t want to do.
In addition to the 8 years of schooling required to become a veterinarian, we also underwent countless hours of additional training and education to become proficient in veterinary acupuncture, Tui-na, food therapy, and herbal therapy and we’ve obtained certifications in veterinary acupuncture (CVA) and food therapy (CVFT)… and certifications in Tui-na and herbal therapy are coming soon.
Our core values guide everything we do. We believe in the combination of conventional and holistic approaches to provide well-rounded care for your pet. We are open and honest in our communication, sharing information to empower you as a pet owner. Our focus is on your pet’s individual needs and comfort. We strive for high-quality care, keeping up with the latest advancements in veterinary medicine. Most importantly, we treat every pet and owner with kindness, compassion, and respect, creating a caring environment where you and your pet feel supported.
What services does HolisticalVets provide?
HolisticalVets currently offers select holistic services (which consist of veterinary acupuncture and Tui-na for all animal species, along with food therapy and herbal therapy for dogs, cats, and horses), in-home euthanasia services and personalized pet memorial keepsakes for dogs, cats, pocket pets (e.g. guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, hamsters, rabbits, mice, rats, etc.), and birds, and virtual Quality of Life telehealth consultations for dogs and cats. HolisticalVets also currently provides product and telemedicine consultations. For more information about services, products, and associated prices, please click here.
Which counties does HolisticalVets travel to?
HolisticalVets LLC provides services to pets in Somerset County, Middlesex County, Mercer County, Monmouth County, Ocean County, Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, Salem County, Cumberland County, Atlantic County, and Cape May County in New Jersey.
Which species does HolisticalVets treat?
HolisticalVets is able to offer acupuncture and Tui-na to pets of all species, food and herbal therapies to dogs, cats, and horses, in-home euthanasia services and customized pet memorial keepsakes for dogs, cats, pocket pets (e.g. guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, hamsters, rabbits, mice, rats, etc.), and birds, and virtual Quality of Life telehealth consultations for dogs and cats.
Other than in-home euthanasia, does HolisticalVets offer any emergency services or conventional services?
HolisticalVets LLC only offers in-home euthanasia services, Quality of Life telehealth consultations, and certain holistic services and is therefore not a full service veterinary facility. Therefore, HolisticalVets LLC does not provide any emergency services or conventional/Western medicine (except for in-home euthanasia and the occasional sedative if needed for holistic treatments).
For this reason, we require that all of our patients have a primary conventional/Western veterinarian, especially since there may be times that HolisticalVets LLC recommends conventional/Western diagnostics and treatment. For a list of local emergency and urgent care facilities, please click here.
How long is an appointment?
In-person appointments are scheduled for 1 hour; however, if the doctor feels that your pet needs more time, the appointment may be extended for up to a maximum of 2 hours at no additional charge. Quality of Life telehealth consultations are for up to 30 minutes.
Is there anything I should keep in mind when requesting an appointment?
When requesting an in-person appointment, please choose a day/time where you have at least four hours free for your appointment, as there is a two hour (120 minutes) estimated time of arrival window for HolisticalVets LLC to arrive at the designated appointment location and appointments can last up to two (2) hours each.
Appointments for holistic services should NOT be scheduled less than 1 hour after meals and/or exercise, as the scheduled pet’s body needs time to digest and rest prior to treatments. HolisticalVets LLC requires that scheduled pets be easily accessible and available in a safe, secure, and non-stressful room/enclosure at the start of the scheduled appointment time to enable HolisticalVets LLC to provide services.
If a licensed rabies vaccine is available for your pet’s species, HolisticalVets LLC requires that your pet be up to date on their rabies vaccination prior to any holistic service appointments (unless your pet’s medical records state that your pet should not be vaccinated for rabies or if there isn’t an FDA approved rabies vaccines for your pet’s species).
Why is there a 2 hour (120 minutes) estimated time of arrival?
Since HolisticalVets LLC has an extremely large service area (six counties) and travels to multiple locations per day, we wanted to set aside some time to account for traffic and other unexpected delays.
Can I bring my pet to HolisticalVets LLC's business location?
HolisticalVets LLC is unable to treat pets at our business location. All in-person services are provided at your pet’s usual location, such as your home, boarding stables, etc. or virtually (such as in the case of our Quality of Life telehealth consultations).
What is a VCPR (veterinary-client-patient-relationship) and why is it important?
A valid and legal veterinary-client-patient-relationship (VCPR) begins with a physical exam of the pet, and it is formed when there is mutual trust and respect between the client and veterinarian/veterinary entity, as it relies on communication and agreement to grow, foster, and succeed.
Without mutual trust, respect, communication, and agreement, it is impossible to help the pet involved, as both parties are unable to work together effectively, which results in a failed VCPR. Without a valid and current VCPR, a veterinarian/veterinary entity is not legally allowed to treat a pet or offer medical advice for that pet.
By law, in order to provide any kind of medical advice or prescription for a pet, a physical exam for that pet is required at least once a year to maintain a VCPR. In addition, an updated physical exam is required for any new concerns or a change in medical status.
Will pet insurance cover HolisticalVets LLC's services?
There are many pet insurance companies that cover holistic and euthanasia services. HolisticalVets LLC recommends that you contact your pet insurance company to see what they cover. If/when pet insurance is used, often times, the pet insurance company will reimburse you directly after you’ve paid for veterinary services and HolisticalVets LLC will be more than happy to provide your pet insurance company with the indicated documentation (e.g., invoice, your pet’s medical records) when needed.
For a pet to receive holistic treatment from HolisticalVets, why is required for the pet to have a primary conventional veterinarian?
HolisticalVets LLC firmly believes that an integrative approach, where both conventional/Western and holistic/Eastern medicine are utilized, offers the best care for animals and there may be times where HolisticalVets LLC recommends conventional/Western diagnostics and treatment for your pet. In the same manner that conventional medicine is not a substitute for holistic medicine, holistic medicine is not a substitute for conventional medicine. However, when both are used together, pets can reap the benefits from both.
What's the best way to reach HolisticalVets LLC?
HolisticalVets LLC’s primary mode of communication is via email (info@holisticalvets.com) and it is the best way to reach HolisticalVets.
Messages through social media accounts or other email addresses are not routinely monitored and HolisticalVets LLC is unable to accept to any information/questions regarding pet concerns, medical questions, and appointments, etc. to any form of communication other than email to info@holisticalvets.com.
What is Fear Free and why are you certified in it?
Stress can cause a great deal of negative effects on the body. As humans, many of us get stressed out when going to a doctor (and that’s with us knowing what’s going on). Therefore, it’s easy to understand how a pet may easily get stressed in the same situation.
Fear Free helps to eliminate some (or hopefully all) of that stress by focusing on an animal’s physical and emotional wellbeing. By using Fear Free techniques, everyone, including the pet, is happier and safer and a higher quality of medicine is achieved. To learn more about Fear Free, please click here.
Pricing
Is there a separate charge for each type of treatment my pet receives?
Nope, no separate charge 😊 Charges are based on the number of appointments per pet, not the type or number of treatments provided. So, for example, if your pet receives both acupuncture and Tui-na during the same appointment, you will not be charged an additional fee for one of those treatment modalities.
However, if you’re interested in a product or service that’s not included in an appointment session (e.g., food recipes, herbal products, telemedicine or product consultations, etc.), there is an additional charge for that. There is also an additional travel charge associated with each appointment. To see what is or isn’t included in an appointment, please click here.
Why is there an additional charge for questions I may have about products and diets that are not associated with HolisticalVets LLC?
As you can imagine, there are hundreds of pet food diets and non-prescription supplements and medications. While some can be safe for your pet, unfortunately, there are many others that are not safe. If you happen to have questions about any of them, HolisticalVets wants to make sure that we provide you with answers that are based on research and experience, since your pet (and their safety) is our priority. In order to accomplish this, additional time for research is required in order to provide you with the appropriate medical advice and correct information.
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
What is TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine)?
TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) is an adaptation from TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), which has been around for about 3000 years. Like TCM, TCVM focuses on the patient wholly and entirely. It does this by not just focusing on symptoms that tell you something is wrong, but also focusing on the body, mind, spirit, and environment, which helps resolve imbalances in the body and promote health.
What makes TCVM's Tui-na and acupuncture different from other bodywork systems?
It’s no surprise that are multiple types of bodywork systems out there. What makes TCVM’s Tui-na and acupuncture different is that treatment is based on a TCVM pattern diagnosis, which is made using the pet’s medical history and current exam findings. It is this pattern diagnosis that determines the correct and appropriate treatment for a pet.
An example of this would be a patient that exhibited diarrhea and was diagnosed with colitis (inflammation of the colon) in conventional/Western medicine. However, in TCVM, the diagnosis of colitis can be broken down further into a pattern diagnosis (e.g., Spleen Damp Heat, Spleen Qi Deficiency, etc.) and treatment is different depending on which pattern the colitis actually stems from.
As you can see, treating the appropriate pattern treats the underlying cause of the colitis, not just the symptoms. In the same manner, when HolisticalVets LLC begins to offer food and herbal therapies, the ingredients and herbs chosen for a pet will depend on the correct TCVM pattern diagnosis.
