DISCOVER
INTEGRATIVE PET MEDICINE

A LONG, HAPPY LIFE

Dr. Rachel's childhood dog, Roscoe, suffered from a degenerative spinal cord condition in his last years of life known as degenerative myelopathy. Strictly speaking, the spinal cord undergoes spontaneous, progressive degeneration, which starts at the tail and progresses toward the head over "x" amount of weeks, months, or years. The disease is characterized by early symptoms of rear leg weakness and loss of tail tone, and later symptoms of fecal/urinary incontinence and rear leg paralysis. It is a difficult disease for owners and veterinarians alike to manage, and it is heart wrenching to watch. It wasn't until several years after Roscoe's passing that Dr. Rachel learned of the potential benefits of acupuncture for neuropathies such as degenerative myelopathy. While conventional Western medicine lacks appropriate therapies to treat this disease and others, Dr. Rachel is inspired by the hope that acupuncture and other alternative therapies offer to pets and their owners.