Welcome to Our First Newsletter!
Written by Drs. Megan Dayton & Tracy Lord
Hello from all of us at the Integrative Veterinary Center of Richmond. We’re excited to launch our quarterly newsletter to share insights about integrative medicine, spotlight our services, celebrate patient success stories, and introduce our wonderful team members. We’d love to hear what topics you’re curious about for future issues!
Understanding Integrative Medicine
Integrative Veterinary Medicine blends the best of conventional and alternative approaches—combining Western and Eastern medicine to provide comprehensive care for your pet. Rather than simply treating symptoms, we focus on your pet as a whole, creating a path to wellness throughout their entire life.
While conventional Western medicine excels at addressing specific illnesses directly, holistic approaches help us identify root causes and strengthen your pet’s overall health and immune system. This balanced approach gives us more tools to help your pet thrive.
Preventative care is at the heart of our practice. We create individualized lifestyle plans for each pet, supported by thorough diagnostics and client education, to help them lead their healthiest lives.
Primary Care Reminder
The Foundation of Your Pet’s Wellness Journey
While we offer a wide range of integrative treatments, we want to remind you that comprehensive primary care remains the cornerstone of your pet’s health. Annual wellness visits allow us to monitor your pet’s health, detect potential issues early, and adjust their care plan as needed. During these visits, we create individualized lifestyle plans tailored specifically to your pet’s unique needs, considering factors like age, breed, activity level, and existing health conditions. These personalized recommendations encompass nutrition, exercise, preventative care, and supplements that support your pet’s whole-body wellness. Don’t wait until something’s wrong—proactive care is the best medicine!
Supplement Spotlight: Fish Oil
The Omega-3 Advantage for Your Four-Legged Friend
Your pet’s body can’t produce omega-3 fatty acids on its own, making fish oil supplements a powerful addition to their wellness routine. These essential nutrients—primarily EPA and DHA—work throughout your pet’s body to support healthy joints by reducing inflammation, promote a lustrous coat that sheds less, maintain heart and cardiovascular health, enhance brain function from puppyhood through the senior years, and help regulate immune system responses. Quality matters when choosing fish oil: look for pet-specific formulations tested for contaminants like mercury and PCBs. Stop by during your next visit for personalized dosage recommendations tailored to your pet’s unique needs.
- Joint Health: Reduces inflammation and eases discomfort in pets with arthritis or joint issues
- Skin & Coat: Promotes a shiny coat and helps manage allergic skin conditions and excessive shedding
- Heart Health: Supports cardiovascular function and healthy blood pressure
- Brain Function: Essential for cognitive development in young animals and helps maintain mental sharpness in senior pets
- Immune System: Moderates inflammatory responses, supporting overall immune function
When choosing a fish oil supplement, quality matters. Look for products specifically formulated for pets that have been tested for contaminants like mercury and PCBs. The proper dosage depends on your pet’s size, age, and specific health needs—we’re happy to provide personalized recommendations during your next visit. Not sure where to start with supplements? We’re happy to recommend what supports your pet best.
Service Spotlight: UV03 Treatments
Ultraviolet Ozone Auto Hematology
What is Ozone?
Ozone (O₃) consists of three oxygen atoms sharing electrons. Unlike the stable oxygen (O₂) we breathe, ozone is naturally unstable—and that’s what makes it powerful for medical applications! This instability allows ozone to react quickly with biological systems, stimulating healing processes before returning to stable oxygen.
How Can Ozone Help Your Pet?
Ozone therapy can benefit pets with a wide range of conditions, including:
- Chronic degenerative diseases
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Osteoarthritis
- Chronic infections
- Inflammatory conditions
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Autoimmune disorders
- Chronic and acute pain
Ozone doesn’t directly heal but activates your pet’s natural healing mechanisms. It works alongside other treatments such as acupuncture, nutrition, herbs, and conventional medications to enhance overall results.
What is Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation (UBI)?
UBI is an innovative therapy that uses ultraviolet light to treat blood, helping reduce inflammation, stimulate healing, and decrease pain. When blood is exposed to UV light:
- Unhealthy cells absorb five times more light energy and are eliminated
- Healthy cells remain intact
- Blood becomes better oxygenated
- Immune function improves
At IVC, we often combine ozone and UBI treatments for enhanced therapeutic benefits.
These treatments have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not labeled to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Seasonal Pet Care: Winning the Battle Against Fleas
Understanding the Flea Life Cycle
Did you know that visible fleas on your pet represent only 5% of the total flea population in your home? The other 95% exists as eggs, larvae, and pupae hiding in your carpets and furniture. The most resilient stage is the pupal cocoon, where fleas can remain dormant for up to six months, protected from most treatments until conditions are right for emergence.
This explains why one-time treatments often fail—they eliminate adult fleas but leave those protective cocoons untouched. For effective flea control, a comprehensive approach targeting all life stages is essential.
Building Your Pet’s Natural Defenses
A healthy pet naturally repels parasites better. Proper nutrition forms the foundation of this defense system. By improving your pet’s diet and adding appropriate supplements, you can strengthen their ability to resist fleas while reducing the risk of re-infestation.
Home Treatment Strategies
- Wash pet bedding in hot water, vacuum thoroughly (add mothballs/borax to vacuum bag)
- Create overnight flea traps: lamp at floor level with dishes of soapy water
- Natural products: Wondercide plant-based sprays, Tickless ultrasonic repellents, Fleabusters boric acid powder
Safe Options for Your Pet
- Bath with mild soap + thorough flea combing
- Apple cider vinegar rinses (3 tbsp/gallon water)
- Our clinic offers pet-safe essential oil flea/tick repellent sprays
A Word of Caution About Natural Remedies
While we embrace natural solutions, remember that “natural” doesn’t automatically mean safe. Some essential oils that effectively kill fleas (like sassafras and pennyroyal) can cause serious side effects including skin irritation, liver damage, and even toxicity when ingested. Since pets groom themselves, anything applied topically will likely be consumed.
Finding the Right Balance
When natural remedies aren’t enough, modern veterinary flea products are safer and more targeted than ever. Our clinic will help you find the right balance between natural and conventional approaches, with personalized recommendations based on your pet’s specific needs, health status, and your preferences.
Staff Spotlight: Dr. Wynnie Angus
We were delighted to welcome Dr. Wynnie Angus to our team last November. Dr. Angus grew up in Richmond, Virginia. She attended the University of Virginia where she earned her undergraduate degree in Environmental Science. After spending time in the field in Montana, she decided to pursue veterinary medicine.
Dr. Angus attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine where she graduated in 2018. After graduation, she moved to Maine to practice as an equine veterinarian with Annabessacook Veterinary Clinic. During her 3 years with Annabessacook, Dr. Angus began studying Traditional Chinese Medicine, and also gained a wide variety of experiences including primary care, emergency medicine, sports medicine, ophthalmology, and critical care of hospitalized patients. She moved back to Richmond in 2021 to work with Woodside Equine Clinic. During her time at Woodside, she became certified in animal chiropractic and continued to expand her knowledge on the benefits of both Chiropractic and Acupuncture in sports medicine and difficult cases. Dr. Angus is excited to be part of the team at the Integrative Veterinary Center where she can continue to pursue her passion for Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and Chiropractic. She is certified in acupuncture through the Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine in Florida and in Animal Chiropractic through the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association. In her free time, Dr. Angus prefers to be spending time on her farm with her husband, two small children, her 2 cattle dogs, her cat, and her horses. If she is not with her family, you can probably find her somewhere riding a horse.
Treat Your Pup: Homemade Dog-Safe Celebration Cake
Ingredients:
- ½ pound ground beef
- 1 egg
- ½ cup oatmeal
- ¼ cup shredded cheese
- 1 large sweet potato
- Blueberries for garnish
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 220°F
- Combine beef, egg, oatmeal, and cheese until thoroughly mixed
- Press mixture into 2 mini cake tins or shape into patties on a baking sheet
- Bake for 2½ hours, then press flat while warm and allow to cool
- Mash sweet potato (add small amounts of water if needed) to create “frosting”
- Decorate with the sweet potato frosting and blueberry garnish
- Enjoy!