Our Services

Acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the patient to produce a physiologic response. Stimulation of acupuncture points affects the nervous system and can lead to an increase in circulation, decrease in muscle spasm and the release of chemicals known as neurotransmitters and hormones. These chemicals can decrease pain sensation and help regulate the immune system among other effects. Acupuncture is used in the treatment of disorders of the musculoskeletal and neurologic. Acupuncture can also be used in patients following surgical procedures, thereby improving the patient’s comfort level and speeding up the post-operative recovery period.

Therapeutic exercise is used in the treatment of disorders of the musculoskeletal and/or neurologic systems as well as in patients who need conditioning and/or weight loss. Each session includes various types of exercise with use of appropriate equipment, tailored to your pet’s specific diagnosis and needs. This modality can improve strength, flexibility, balance and coordination and can slow progression of disease, leading to an enhancement in mobility and better quality of life for your pet. This therapy may also be taught to an owner during a demonstration session in order for the owner to provide the benefits of therapeutic exercise outside of the clinic.

Chiropractic care (also known as veterinary spinal manipulation therapy or VSMT) treats symptoms related to dysfunction of the musculoskeletal and neurologic systems. Abnormal gaiting and a decrease in mobility can be caused by heavy play, falls, trauma, discomfort, recent surgery, sports injuries, neurologic disease, conformational or postural abnormalities, and amputation. Pets of any age can benefit from chiropractic care.
During the chiropractic session gentle massage, range of motion, traction and other manual therapy techniques such as joint mobilizations are performed. Therapy is tolerated well by most animals and sessions are generally 15-20 minutes in length.

Hydrotherapy utilizes the warmth, buoyancy and resistance of water in a controlled environment to provide an optimal setting for cardiovascular conditioning and physical rehabilitation. At Integrative Pet Care we offer hydrotherapy in the Underwater Treadmill or Resistance Pool (Chicago Location) to treat many conditions such as arthritis, post-operative recovery, obesity and spinal injury. Walking or swimming in water is also a great form of conditioning for healthy pets looking to excel in the sport of their choice or for active pets who need to burn off some energy.

Massage therapy is a series of manual manipulation techniques used to improve a patient’s physical and emotional well-being. Physiological benefits of massage include pain relief, improved joint mobility, relaxation and increased circulation. Many people also find that massage deepens the bond between owner and pet. Each massage therapist on staff has completed at least 200 hours of training and is either certified or in the process of being certified through the National Board of Certification for Animal Acupressure & Massage. We customize each massage session based on your pet’s needs and often teach our clients how to perform certain techniques at home.

Also known as cold laser, low-level laser therapy is the use of light energy to stimulate tissue repair and provide pain management. The laser uses focused light of various wavelengths to stimulate tissue at and below the surface of your pet’s skin. Laser therapy affects tissues at the cellular level, increasing the metabolism of cells, which leads to improved circulation, decreased inflammation and release of the body’s natural pain relievers, such as endorphins.
Therapeutic laser can be used to treat a myriad of conditions. Most commonly it is used for post-operative pain management after orthopedic surgeries, musculoskeletal injuries, soft tissue injuries (such as sprains and strains), back pain and arthritis.

Acoustic Compression or “Shockwave” therapy is the application of short, intense sound waves to a specific site to stimulate healing in a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Because the intensity of the treatment with the PiezoWave Vet unit is carefully controlled and tailored to each patient, this therapy does not require sedation. Conditions most commonly treated with shockwave include osteoarthritis,hip and elbow Dysplasia, chronic back pain, tendon and ligament Injuries, non-healing or delayed healing fractures and trigger points. Like therapeutic laser, shockwave is often recommended in conjunction with other modalities.
 
 

Ultrasound is the use of sound waves to create heating (thermal effects) and vibration (non-thermal effects). Ultrasound is beneficial for a variety of conditions including wound healing, fractures, tendon and ligament damage, muscle relaxation, restricted range of motion and scar tissue, inflammation, localized swelling, and pain.
 
 
 
 

Electrical stimulation (E-Stim) is the use of electrical impulses to an area of the body to stimulate nerves and muscles. There are two types of E-Stim:
1) Neuromuscular E-Stim (NMES), which stimulates nerves and muscles to prevent muscle atrophy (muscle mass loss) and strengthen specific muscles.
2) Transcutaneous E-Stim (TENS), which stimulates nerves to facilitate pain relief and comfort.
E-stim is beneficial for a variety of conditions including acute and chronic orthopedic and neuromuscular injuries, recovery from surgery, paralysis and pain. This therapy may also be taught to an owner during a demonstration session in order for the owner to provide the benefits of E-stim outside of the clinic.

There are many conditions that benefit from the use of an assistive device or cart. Whether it is created in-clinic or ordered from an outside manufacturer, Integrative Pet Care's veterinarians and physical therapists can help you select the appropriate braces, wraps and other devices. We can also assist in the measurement, fitting, acclimation to and proper use of a cart. Most devices require a very accurate and customized fit to be beneficial to the pet. A poorly fitting cart or brace may worsen a pet's condition or create new problems. Any patient that needs the assistance of a device or cart must be thoroughly evaluated by an IPC veterinarian to determine what is most appropriate for the pet.

The canine athlete is asked to work and train hard which requires endurance, speed and agility. Weakness or pain in a given area will limit your pet's ability to perform at the top of their game and increase their risk of injury. A customized and sports-specific plan including warm-up, cool-down, VSMT/Chiropractic adjustments, massage and targeted strengthening and conditioning exercises can help pets compete and get the edge they need.

Dr. Nathaniel Cook, CVA, CVFT, CTPEP is available for holistic medicine services at our Chicago location, including acupuncture, herbal therapy and food therapy. TCVM can be beneficial for patients in need of longevity support, especially for older pets (seniors and geriatrics); help in mitigating side effects of long-term steroid therapy; as adjunct care for patients with chronic health conditions including:
o Cancer: including patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy
o Neurological Disorders: e.g. peripheral nerve paralysis, seizures
o Gastrointestinal Disorders: e.g IBD, chronic diarrhea, constipation/megacolon, pancreatitis, poor appetite
o Respiratory Disorders: e.g. asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, collapsing trachea
o Endocrine Disorders: e.g. Diabetes Mellitus, Hyper/Hypothyroidism, Hyper/Hypoadrenocorticism
o Immune-Mediated Diseases: e.g IMHA, IMTP, Lupus
o Cardiovascular, hepatobiliary, renal/bladder (including incontinence, and lymphatic disorders (including issues with edema and effusions)
o Skin Disorders
o Behavioral Disorders

Diagnostic ultrasound of the musculoskeletal system can offer a quick, noninvasive way to diagnose soft tissue injuries. In addition, this technology can offer an accessible way to monitor injuries during treatment and assess the efficacy of the rehabilitation process. Diagnostic ultrasound can also confirm that injuries are healed and determine the appropriate time to return to sport. Advantages of using ultrasound include the ability to visualize soft tissues and certain structures in dynamic form during movement, which can help us have a more complete evaluation and a better-informed recommendation for rehabilitation. The most common areas for musculoskeletal ultrasound evaluation are the shoulder, flexor carpi ulnaris (carpus), Iliopsoas, and Achilles tendon.

This micro-invasive arthroscope is a tool that allows for arthroscopic views with the approximate insertion size of an 18-gauge needle. With this technology, we are able to quickly and efficiently diagnose through arthroscopy injuries of the shoulder, elbow, carpus, hip, stifle, and hock, often without the need for prolonged general anesthesia.

GAIT4Dog®, the gait analysis system utilized by Integrative Pet Care of Homer Glen, can assess the orthopedic soundness of your canine via a pressure sensitive walkway measurement system designed to capture and objectively analyze data in minutes. Dogs can be tough; they don't always show signs of pain or limping when they're injured. This technology allows us to not only assess orthopedic soundness (total pressure index), which provided a baseline, but a whole host of other information: step and stride length, velocity, stance time, swing time, and more.

Our veterinary specific thermal camera can look at thermal gradients of a patient as a physiological map. When a digital thermal image is taken of the patient, the physiological map can outline precise anatomical areas where further evaluation may be needed. This diagnostic tool allows us to find potential problem areas much earlier, helps us to objectively measure the efficacy of our treatment plan, and assist with client communication and education.