Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, or TCVM, is gaining attention among pet owners seeking additional ways to support their animals’ health, mobility and quality of life. Rather than replacing conventional veterinary medicine, TCVM can be used as part of an integrative approach that brings Eastern and Western methods together. 

“TCVM is the use of natural and ancient remedies to achieve health, which is a balance in an individual’s body as well as a balance between the body, mind and environment,” says Jokierra A. Johnson, DVM, CVA, of Integrative Veterinary Wellness in Richardson. 

Common TCVM therapies include acupuncture and herbal medicine, which work toward that goal in different ways. Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific areas of the body known as acupoints. Herbal medicine uses plant-based substances, including leaves, stems and roots, to help treat disease and support healing. 

In traditional Chinese medicine, energy, known as Qi, is believed to move through pathways called meridians, with acupuncture points located along those pathways. Johnson notes that research has found many acupoints in areas with high concentrations of free nerve endings, mast cells, small arterioles and lymphatic vessels. Stimulating these areas can prompt the release of neurotransmitters, including serotonin and beta-endorphins. 

Musculoskeletal conditions are among the cases where Johnson reports seeing especially encouraging results. Arthritis and intervertebral disc disease, or IVDD, are two of the most common. 

French bulldogs, for example, can be prone to disc disease. In some cases, acupuncture is added following surgery as part of an animal’s recovery plan. Johnson has seen dogs progress from having little or no use of their limbs to standing and walking on their own over a period of weeks to months. 

“These cases tend to be the most rewarding,” she says, because the effects of acupuncture can sometimes be seen in a very tangible way. 

TCVM, however, also has limits. Knowing when conventional veterinary care should take priority is an important part of integrative medicine. 

When a dog presents with paralysis and a possible acute disc injury, for example, Johnson recommends consultation and further evaluation with a veterinary neurologist first. If the animal is an appropriate surgical candidate, surgery may provide better long-term results, with rehabilitation, acupuncture and herbal therapy incorporated afterward. 

That willingness to use the most appropriate treatment for each situation is central to Johnson’s approach. 

A Philadelphia native, Johnson graduated from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2023. Her interest in TCVM began during her undergraduate studies after shadowing a holistic veterinarian who used acupuncture and herbal medicine with patients. After reading Four Paws Five Directions by veterinarian Cheryl Schwartz, she knew she wanted to incorporate this type of medicine into her career. 

As a second-year veterinary student, Johnson enrolled in Chi University’s fall 2020 acupuncture program and completed her Certification in Veterinary Acupuncture the following spring. She is currently pursuing certification in Chinese Herbal Medicine. 

Johnson has a passion for integrating Eastern and Western veterinary medicine to help achieve the best outcomes for her patients and believes in a holistic approach to animal health and wellness. 

She also sees integrative medicine becoming increasingly accepted within veterinary care. One example is administering sedative medication subcutaneously at the GV 20 acupuncture point on top of an animal’s head, which can be helpful for nervous patients that do not tolerate having their extremities handled. 

As interest in TCVM grows, the future may be less about choosing between Eastern and Western medicine and more about understanding how the two can complement one another. 

For pet owners, the goal remains the same: choosing the combination of care that best supports the health, comfort and quality of life of the animal they love. 

For more information, contact Integrative Veterinary Wellness in Richardson at 469-250-4023 or visit IntegrativeVeterinaryWellness.com.