Dr. Lord completed her undergraduate studies at James Madison University and graduated from the Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. She first became interested in alternative medicine in veterinary school and began her integrative education during her fourth-year rotations.
After beginning her career as a primary care veterinarian, Dr. Lord was certified in veterinary acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 2000. She completed her initial Chinese herbal training through the same organization in 2001. In 2004, Dr. Lord furthered her training to become certified in animal chiropractic through the Healing Oasis Center. She is working towards obtaining a graduate diploma in Veterinary Chinese herbal medicine.
Dr. Lord has been working exclusively as a holistic veterinarian since 2001. In her daily practice, she uses acupuncture, Chinese herbal remedies, spinal manipulation, nutrition, and other natural supplements to improve the health and well-being of her patients. Treatment protocols are patient-specific, with an emphasis on quality of life. She opened Four Paws Veterinary Holistic Service in 2014.
Dr. Lord treats a wide variety of conditions, ranging from the healthy pet whose owners want a more natural approach to their pets’ veterinary care to chronically ill patients. She routinely works with performance and working dogs and patients with arthritis, skin conditions, chronic liver or kidney disease, cancer, asthma, neurologic problems, inflammatory bowel disease, and various other states.