Holistic animal
healthcare comes to Bolton
By
Lynda King
Friday, October 28, 2005
Randy Caviness says that
his sister, a chiropractor in California, was a big influence on him.
During a visit with her on the west coast years ago, she introduced him to
the idea of alternative therapies for animals, telling him about
practitioners in her area - chiropractors and acupuncturists. That first
hooked his interest in alternative veterinary medicine.
Today
Caviness, a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine, is looking forward to
celebrating the grand opening of his own practice, the Integrative Animal
Health Center, Sunday, Nov. 6. The center, located at 556 Main St. in
Bolton, officially opened Oct. 10, and offers both traditional and
alternative treatments for pets.
In a
recent interview, Caviness said that he'd been wanting to open his own
practice for several years, and had talked to the building's former owner,
Dr. Thomas Murtha, off and on for three years, about the possibility of
opening a practice there. Now it's a reality.
"We're
excited,," he said, "and a little scared." He acknowledged that it is a
big commitment.
Caviness,
a 1993 graduate of Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine, decided two years
into vet school to pursue his interest in natural medicine through the
study of acupuncture for animals. He became certified by the
Colorado-based Veterinary Acupuncture Society, and later became certified
in animal chiropractic by the American Veterinary Chiropractic
Association.
After
graduating, he worked for two years at Twin City Animal Hospital in
Fitchburg, and then at Apple Country Animal Hospital in Stow, until making
the decision to open his own practice.
Assessing treatment needs,
Caviness
describes himself as "middle of the road," when it comes to choosing
treatments for an animal.
"There
are some vets on the fringe of things," he said. "I know the limitations
of chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathy and other treatments. I can draw
uponall of my training to find what will help the most, with fewest side
effects. I try to stay pretty pragmatic and use common sense."
He said
that, when seeing a patient for the first time, he typically makes a list
of what would be good for treatment. Then he assesses what's going on with
the animal, including its diet and lifestyle, and narrows down the list to
what would best address the situation.
An
experienced acupuncturist, Caviness has held an appointment since 1995 at
Tufts University Small Animal Hospital, where he is the only instructor of
small animal acupuncture. He said that acupuncture offers a "nice, safe,
elegant treatment."
"If we
can get to the same place [medically] without using drugs, that's a plus,"
he said.
Caviness
said he uses acupuncture to treat a lot of arthritic animals, with a great
deal of success.
"I
don't rely on repeated x-rays to determine if treatment is successful," he
said. "I look at how the animal is moving."
He said
success is also determined through the pet owner's observation. "The
animal is more mobile, and can do things like climbing stairs more
easily."
He said
that, on average, improvement is often seen after three to four
treatments, but owners should be prepared to commit to at least six
treatments.
Pet insurance and alternative
treatments
Caviness
said that alternative treatments aren't cheap in the short term. An
initial visit for acupuncture costs $130, which includes a medical history
work-up, physical exam and one-hour treatment. Subsequent treatments are
$65 each. But in the long term, it could actually save pet owners money.
He said he has had "tremendous success" with acupuncture treatments on
small dogs prone to back problems, frequently obviating the need for
expensive surgery.
Caviness
said that the Integrated Animal Health Center does accept pet
insurance.
"More
importantly," he said, "they accept me."
He said
that pet insurance covers alternative therapies such as acupuncture and
chiropractic, in addition to more traditional healing modalities.
In
addition to his interest in acupuncture and chiropractic, Caviness is a
big believer in the role nutrition can play in animal health, and in the
use of herbal treatments when appropriate. He attends many seminars on
alternative therapies. He has taken several nutrition courses and has
studied the use of dietary supplements for animals. He has been going to
conferences on the subject since 1995.
"Recent
studies support what alternative practitioners have done for years," he
said. "It's been proven that omega-3 fatty acids are an important part of
diet - arthritis and heart conditions respond favorably to fish oil
treatments."
Caviness
said he hasn't done much with homeopathic treatments yet.
"That's
another whole art in itself."
But he
does have contacts with homeopathic specialists in East Brookfield,
Beverly and Danvers, to whom he can refer animal patients for treatment
when necessary.
Demand for holistic veterinary
practitioners
Caviness
said he is one of - by his estimate - only 15-20 holistic veterinary
practitioners in the state. So how much demand is there for holistic
veterinary services?
"For
the past five years I haven't been able to keep up with the phone calls
[requesting acupuncture, chiropractic or other alternative services]," he
said. "I was traveling to four different animal hospitals. I've been
inundated."
Caviness
is the only veterinarian at the new Integrative Animal Health Center. But
he is teaming up with other alternative practitioners to offer a wide
spectrum of treatments. There will be a massage therapist available, and
Cheryl Benson, a Reiki master, will be at the center one day a week.
Caviness said that Reiki has been shown to be very effective in
alleviating pain. He said studies in humans have shown that patients
recovering from surgery who receive Reiki treatments recover faster and
feel better than those who don't. One of his long-term goals, he said, is
to have a Reiki practitioner treat animals recovering from surgery on a
regular basis.
Open House, Nov. 6
Caviness
said he is looking forward to the open house on Nov. 6, which will run
from 1 to 3 p.m. He said that "it will be a big party" with giveaways and
refreshments. The open house will offer visitors behind-the-scenes tours
of the clinic, a large facility with upwards of eight big rooms, including
a spacious reception area, examination rooms, a lab, a full pharmacy, an
operating room, office area and room for expansion. Visitors will also
have an opportunity to meet the staff and learn about some of the
treatments available at the center. And they will have a chance to talk
with Caviness, who says that, where many veterinarians practice thescience
of medicine, he practices theart of medicine. |
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