Holistic Care

The word "holistic" means taking the whole picture of the patient, the environment, the disease pattern, the relationship of the pet with the owner, and then developing a treatment protocol using a wide range of therapies for healing the patient. Veterinary medicine, like all professions, is rapidly changing.  Additional modalities of diagnosis and therapy are emerging in both veterinary and human medicine.  The populace as a whole is looking for "complementary," "alternative" or "holistic" care for themselves and for their pets. 

Veterinary Acupuncture 

Acupuncture is defined as the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to cause a desired healing effect.  This technique has been used in medical practice in China for at least 3500 years, and is the main medical treatment modality for a quarter of the world's population. 

According to ancient Chinese medical philosophy, disease is the result of an imbalance of the "chi" (energy) in the body. Acupuncture is believed to balance this energy and thereby assist the body to heal disease. Acupuncture can strengthen the body's immune system, stimulate nerves, increase blood circulation, relieve muscle spasm, and cause the release of hormones such as endorphins (one of the body's pain control chemicals) and cortisol (a natural steroid). 

Veterinary Chiropractic

Veterinary chiropractic care is the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of animals through manipulation and adjustments of all the joints in the body, especially the joints of the spinal column.  When vertebral joints are misaligned or have restricted motion, irritation and inflammation to the nerve root as it exits the spinal column is a common result. 

Herbal/Nutraceutical Therapy 

The use of specific herbs and plants for medicinal purposes has been practiced for millennia all over the world.  Herbs have healing powers that are capable of balancing the emotional, mental and physical dimensions of animals.  Nutraceutical medicine is the use of micronutrients, macronutrients and other nutritional supplements as therapeutic agents. Cardiff Animal Hospital has an extensive herbal and nutraceutical pharmacy to help provide our patients with the best in holistic medical care.

Veterinary Homeopathic Remedies

Veterinary Homeopathy is a system of medicine developed by the German physician Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in the early nineteenth century.  Through careful study of his patients, Dr. Hahnemann discovered natural laws governing the interaction between the "vital force" of the patient, the disease, and the medicines used to treat disease.  

Modern Homeopathy stimulates the body's own healing abilities and strengthens the patient.  Symptoms, as signposts of a treatable internal imbalance, are important guides to the proper treatment of a patient's disease.

Veterinary NAET

Through the use of this technique many "allergies" can be identified and "cleared."  NAET (Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Technique) -Treatment Vials offers the proper stimulus to the immune system to effect a cure for allergies and in many cases emotional issues (NET=Neuro-Emotional Technique) as well.  With this holistic treatment modality, we have been able to effectively address (multiple treatment sessions are usually necessary) skin allergies, food allergies, chronic recurring infections, recurring GI and respiratory conditions, vaccine and drug reactions, degenerative and auto immune diseases, gingivitis, emotional and stress related behaviors, etc.

About the Doctor

Dr. Monica Laflin received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1978.  After graduation, she worked two years as a critical care practitioner at the St. Louis Emergency Clinic. In 1980 she moved to San Diego, and was a full-time associate at an East County veterinary clinic.

In September 1985, Dr. Laflin purchased Cardiff Animal Hospital, and began her long association with the Cardiff community. With extensive experience in small animal medicine, soft tissue surgery, orthopedic surgery, dentistry, dermatology, and other facets of western medicine, Dr Laflin then branched out into several aspects of holistic or "complementary" veterinary medical care. Since 1993, Dr. Laflin has been practicing as a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, a Certified Animal Chiropractor, a Certified Veterinary NAET Practitioner and has completed the required case reports and certification tests for both the basic and advanced courses in Veterinary Homeopathy taught by Dr. Richard Pitcairn.

She has also completed both of the veterinary certification courses in Chinese Herbal Medicine that are currently available: the three year IVAS (International Veterinary Acupuncture Society) in Boulder and the International Institute of Chinese Medicine herbal course in Albuquerque.   In 2005-2006, she completed the basic human homeopathy course taught in Las Vegas by Dr. Luc de Scheppar, and completed the advanced three year course in July, 2008.