Dr. Selders’s interest in holistic medicine first began after seeing the results in her own horse, Isis. Since then, Dr. Selders has continued her education in holistic methods and provides services to equine, canine and feline patients.
Isis colicked and had to have surgery within the first 3 days that Dr. Selders owned her. Nothing significant was found on surgery and after that, Isis continued to experience colic. Typical veterinary medicine as well as nutritional and management changes were not helpful–and her situation caused Dr. Selders to search for “out of the box” answers. Dr. Selders’s colleagues Dr. Adrienne Moore and Bev Sosin advised her to train in acupuncture and homeopathy to help, and once these holistic methods were added to Isis’s routine, her colicky episodes reduced and Dr. Selders was able to ride her again for several years.
Whether you’re looking for help proactively or in response to an issue, let us work together to help find the answers you need!
Acupuncture
All animals can benefit from Chinese acupuncture treatments.
Common reasons for pursuing acupuncture include poor performance, generalized arthritis, intervertebral disc disease (paresis/paralysis), Cushing’s (PPID), allergic asthma (IAD & RAO), diabetes, kidney failure, incontinence, infertility, seizures, neoplasia (cancer), autoimmune diseases, Equine Recurrent Uveitis (Moon blindness), anhydrosis, and other chronic issues.
Equine acupuncture has been in existence since at least 600 BC. The emperors of China needed a strong fleet of horses to be able to defend and conquer the lands, and acupuncture was used to keep the horses healthy.
Acupuncture releases “feel-good” hormones such as beta-endorphins and serotonin. This is evidenced when (most) animals and humans relax or even fall asleep during treatment. In addition, the endorphins provide pain relief (analgesia), and the hormones provide pain relief, anti-inflammatory relief, and promote healing. Acupuncture has been shown to decrease muscle spasms and to increase local circulation, which stimulates the local repair mechanism.
On a Chinese or more holistic level, acupuncture stimulates the energy channels called meridians. When the energy flow in the body is stagnant or blocked, pain and disharmony occurs. The acupuncture treatment unblocks the flow of energy and restores balance to the body, thereby relieving pain and aiding chronic conditions.
When horses are treated with acupuncture one can see the immediate effects of relaxation. The horse will tend to lick and chew, stretch and yawn, release big sighs, and half-close its eyes. This effect will often last 20 minutes or as long as the needles are in place. After an acupuncture treatment, the horse may act tired or mildly sleepy for up to 24 hours. Afterward, renewed energy and specific improvements are noted. It is recommended that horses not be ridden for 24 hours following treatment. However, the horse may be ridden just prior to an acupuncture treatment provided that it is cooled out and dry, not sweaty or wet from being bathed/hosed off.
Dogs and cats will also visibly relax and often fall sound asleep during an acupuncture treatment. Many dogs will happily lay down where they are told for their second/third treatment–some will even push the other animal out of the way to get their turn!
Horses and small animals typically need at least 3 treatments 1-2 weeks apart. For acute (new) issues, further treatment may not be necessary. For chronic issues, treatments may continue but at more extended intervals (monthly/every few months/twice a year).
Chinese acupuncture works well by itself but may be enhanced with Chinese herbs. Dr. Selders is able to prescribe the Chinese herbs that will fit with your animal’s condition.
Dr. Selders is a certified veterinary acupuncturist and was trained and certified through the Chi Institute in Reddick, Florida in 2008, and has since completed the advanced equine as well as topographic acupuncture courses.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy can be used to treat a variety of acute illnesses, injuries, mental issues, chronic illnesses, and even performance issues.
Homeopathy is a system of medicine discovered by Dr. Hahnemann in Germany in the1800s. The medications are called remedies. Homeopathy has been used extensively in Germany, Britain, and India, as well as throughout the world. Even the British royal family has traditionally used homeopathy as their primary source of medicine.
The main premise is, “like cures like.” A remedy is an extremely dilute form of plant, mineral, or toxin that in its natural form would cause a set of detrimental symptoms in an otherwise healthy person. When a patient (that exhibits these same matching symptoms) is treated with the dilute remedy, the symptoms resolve and the body heals.
An example is APIS, a remedy made out of the poison of the honey bee. A bee sting brings about a rapidly reacting, painful hot swelling, that is edematous and extremely sensitive to touch. Dr. Selders recently treated a young foal that had received his last antibiotic injection post bladder rupture repair. Three days later his neck became very hot, swollen, and edematous. He was very painful too. Usually, a reaction of this kind can take 3-4 days and up to a week to completely resolve, but several doses of APIS caused his neck to reduce in size by 50% in a few hours, 80% by the evening, and 100% early the next morning. The foal was able to run and play again!
The second premise is that in homeopathy, the individual patient is treated according to all of his or her unique symptoms. A patient with colic could potentially have 10-20 different possible remedies. Each remedy has slightly different symptoms–ones for bending over double, ones for stretching out, ones for over indulging, ones that have the patient wanting warmth (standing in the sun) versus wanting cold (standing in the shade or on the tile floor), In western/allopathic medicine the disease itself is treated and every patient is generally treated with the same medicine; for instance, colic pain is treated with one main pain reliever, Banamine, in most cases.
Homeopathy does not have side effects, whereas many allopathic medications do have side effects. For example, Bute can cause stomach ulcers or kidney disease.
Homeopathy is very effective in First Aid. Inflammation of tendons and muscles, pain relief, wound care, and certain aspects of traumatic events can be successfully treated with homeopathy. Many of the remedies can given to effect, meaning that they’re given every few hours until the issue (pain, inflammation), fear, anxiety has resolved.
Homeopathy for chronic conditions requires an astute owner to observe their companion or athlete and relay the pertinent symptoms. Then when treatment has started, the owner needs to be observant enough to notice changes in the pertinent symptoms — are they the same, better, or worse? Owner observation and rechecks (initially weekly and eventually monthly) are key to the success of homeopathy.
Dr. Selders has studied homeopathy with Dr. Pitcairn and the PVIH. Completing the course in 2013. Dr. Selders continues to attend the annual meetings to discuss cases and continue to learn with other veterinary homeopathic colleagues.
Veterinary Medical Manipulation (Chiropractic)
Reasons for medical manipulation treatment are many: Inconsistency in the bridle, unable to truly engage the hindquarters and lift the back, inability to build top-line muscles, irregular gait, and sour attitude. Restricted joints can also be a predisposing cause of some lameness issues. Veterinary Medical Manipulation for dogs and cats increases their mobility, reduces back pain, and may help with excessive licking of paws/hotspots. Dogs competing in agility and fly ball VMM increases suppleness and coordination which may reduce their times.
Medical Manipulation is the veterinary term for chiropractic treatment. The reason for the different name is that the terminology chiropractor/chiropractic is reserved for human doctors of chiropractic or DC’s.
Veterinary Medical Manipulation is a treatment that improves the range of motion of the patient’s joints by creating a neurologic relaxation reflex causing the joint to move freely within the joint space. The treatment improves nerve transmission and conduction, increases blood flow, releases muscle spasms, and allows for greater ability in suppleness, balance, and alignment.
Treatment recommendations are 2-3 visits to resolve an issue. If there was a singular acute injury, 2-3 treatments may be all that’s needed. However, if a chronic condition is being treated, such as arthritis, an intense training program, competition, or (in horses) poor saddle fit & an unbalanced rider, then treatment recommendations is 2-3 initial visits relatively close together with monthly rechecks.
Dr. Selders is certified as of 2015, in Equine Veterinary Medical Manipulation through Dr. Carla Pasteur’s program at the Integrative Veterinary Medical Institute in Reddick, Florida.
Equipulse (PEMF)
The Equipulse (a pulsed electromagnetic field) is often used in conjunction with spinal manipulation or acupuncture, or it can be used as a sole treatment. PEMF vasodilates blood vessels to increase blood flow and healing factors. It also opens up the lymphatic channels to remove edema and generalized swelling. An Equipulse treatment can continue to heal or improve the tissues for three days. Acute (a new or sudden) conditions may be resolved after 1 to 3 treatments. For chronic (occurring over time) conditions such as chronic/old/recurrent injuries, muscle soreness, and poor conformation, the patient continues to benefit from periodic treatments.
Cold Laser
The cold laser is a low-level light (photobiomodulation) treatment to reduce pain and inflammation as well as stimulate healing. Laser therapy delivers light energy called photons to damaged tissue. The photons are absorbed by the cells and stimulate the mitochondria (the cells energy plant) to accelerate ATP production. The effects include increased cell growth, metabolic activity, speed of wound healing, and vascular activity. Laser therapy stimulates nerve function and reduces inflammation, pain, and scar tissue formation. Cold laser treatments are used to help heal a variety of tissues including tendons and ligaments. The cold laser is also used to stimulate acupuncture points, which is particularly helpful with patients who do not appreciate multiple needles. Dr. Selders uses a Respond XL cold laser class 3B.
Header Image credit: Leah Horstman