Gentle, Holistic Care
for Your Pet's Wellbeing
Intergrative Medicine
Helping pets heal naturally with acupuncture and herbal therapy
We are proud to expand the care options available to our patients through our Integrative Medicine Service, which offers acupuncture and herbal medicine. These therapies can support the body’s natural healing processes, help manage a wide range of medical conditions, and promote overall health and wellbeing in our beloved pet companions.
Veterinary Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves placing very thin needles into specific points on the body to restore balance and address disease. It can modulate the nervous system, improve circulation, regulate inflammation, and stimulate the body’s own pain-relieving and neurochemical mediators.
Nervous System
Modulation
Improved Circulation
Reduced Inflamation
Natural Pain Relief
Treatments last 20–30 minutes and may include dry needle, electroacupuncture, aquapuncture, or Tui-na massage. Acupuncture is safe and well tolerated when performed by a trained veterinarian.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine uses plant and mineral ingredients combined into formulas to address specific conditions. Herbs can influence immune function, inflammation, gastrointestinal health, and other systems. Formulas are compounded into powders, capsules, or tea pills for safe dosing. Often used with acupuncture, herbs enhance and sustain therapeutic benefits, with fewer adverse effects than many conventional medications. Periodic bloodwork is recommended for long-term therapy.
Conditions & Benefits
Acupuncture and herbal medicine can relieve pain and support many chronic conditions in dogs and cats. They may be used alone but are most often combined with conventional treatments for comprehensive care.
Conditions suited for integrative therapies:
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Pain: arthritis, hip/elbow dysplasia, neck/back pain
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Geriatric care: mobility, comfort, quality of life
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Neurologic disorders: disc disease, seizures, cognitive dysfunction, vestibular problems
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Chronic diseases: IBD, diabetes, Cushing’s, incomplete response to conventional therapy
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Cancer care: reduce treatment-related side effects or provide palliative support
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How it Works/Treatment Process
Results vary by pet; some improve after the first session, others gradually. Meaningful improvement usually requires a series of treatments, with follow-ups to maintain progress.
Phase 1
Initial Treatments
In most cases, treatments are recommended once weekly for the first 4–6 weeks, followed by gradually increasing intervals (every other week, then monthly) as improvement is achieved.”
Phase 2
Individualized Adjustments
Treatment plans are individualized based on each patient’s condition, overall health, and response to therapy.
Phase 3
Maintenance Care
Some pets ultimately require only periodic maintenance visits, while others benefit from more frequent care. At each visit, your veterinarian will reassess your pet’s progress and adjust the treatment plan accordingly
Meet Dr.Sherrie Xie, VMD, PhD
“What I treasure most in practice is building trusted relationships with pets and their families while tailoring care to their individual needs.”
Dr. Sherrie Xie is a fourth-generation acupuncturist and holistic medicine practitioner who bridges Eastern medicine heritage with Western veterinary training. She earned both her Veterinary Medical Degree (VMD) and PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania. After leading research on global rabies outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance, she transitioned to clinical practice to deliver evidence-informed care.
At Art City Vets, she serves as an Associate Veterinarian and heads the Integrative Medicine Service. She also teaches and conducts research on integrative therapies at Chi University. She completed her formal acupuncture training at Chi University in 2019.
She lives in South Philadelphia with her husband, their senior dog and cat, and enjoys reading, hiking, and rock climbing.
