Racine Sun

Having newly graduated from the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies in Australia with a certificate in herbal medicine, Greendale veterinarian Dr. Kristin BeVirt-Patneaude looks to take what she learned and apply it in her care of cats and dogs.

BeVirt-Patneaude told the website NewsBreak treating pets with herbal medicine is a recent concept, explaining she learned western herbal medicine contrasts with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

According to the veterinarian, western herbal medicine is influenced by various cultures around the world while TCM originates from ancient formulas.

The premise of western herbal medicine is the craft treatment that fits the individual patient.

“Western herbal medicine also uses a system of diagnosis more closely related to our current way of understanding how body systems work, as opposed to a traditional system of diagnosis used in TCM,” BeVirt-Patneaude said, NewsBreak reported.

She added the focus is on the patient “as a whole.”

“That might include emotional stress, diet or organs that aren’t functioning at optimal levels,” according to BeVirt-Patneaude. “With western herbal medicine, there’s a huge focus on gut health and making sure there is healthy gut flora, because the gut is the root of where so many problems come from. It’s a different philosophy.”

The website reported that integrative therapies are ideal for health problems, including but not limited to kidney disease, allergies and intestinal ailments.

“You can do things sooner in the course of disease, and you can make formulas that cater to all the patient’s different problems,” BeVirt-Patneaude told Newsbreak.

BeVirt-Patneaude practices at Greendale Village Vet.

Clinic owner Dr. Michelle McDonough expressed excitement toward BeVirt-Patneaude’s approach.

“We are very excited to include Dr. BeVirt’s unique skill set in the options we can provide for pet care,” McDonough said, according to the website. “We are very proud to be leaders in veterinary medical care not just in Greendale but also for other nearby communities, and Dr. BeVirt is an integral part of our team.”