Pets’ creature comforts

Imagine getting a cat to sit still long enough to poke in a needle. Veterinarian Rosemarie Asterino not only does this with pets on a regular basis, she often relaxes animals so much with acupuncture that they fall asleep.

Asterino is among a growing number of medically trained and licensed veterinarians providing alternative medicine for companion animals with benefits that parallel the relief many human patients find. Other options around Spokane and Coeur d’Alene include professionals who provide equine chiropractic care and massage therapy.

Cheney resident Melaine Sullivan took her pygmy goat, Hiccup, to Asterino because of its severe neck pain. During birth, the goat got stuck in the birth canal resulting in permanent neck damage, including three fused vertebrae.

“With the first treatment I saw her head come up,” says Sullivan. The 2-year-old goat is “highly functional” but had trouble with movement and balance. “Hiccup will never be cured, but this has certainly helped with her flexibility and pain management.”

Often, alternative methods can complement more traditional medicine.

“This is an added weapon in the arsenal of helping our pets live long, healthy lives,” says Asterino, a 1986 Washington State University veterinary medicine graduate, who had offered traditional treatments for animals until around 1996, after she herself sought acupuncture to relieve severe fatigue.

“I saw how much more could be done and what it did for me. It sparked my interest in doing more for animals.”

From her Spokane office, Asterino now exclusively offers acupuncture for dogs, cats, a few horses and birds. She still backs the need for traditional veterinary medicine care.

“I really believe in an integrated approach,” she adds. “There’s really so much out there that can benefit the health of animals. I work with people’s regular veterinarians. I review their X-rays and reports and take time to understand and weave it all together.”

Another DVM, Krista Porter, works within the practice of McKinlay & Peters Equine Veterinary Services with offices in Colbert and Post Falls. She provides both traditional veterinary care and now, animal chiropractic services.

“I’m just finishing up my education through a program approved by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, getting certification,” says Porter. “There is a demand for it. We get a lot of phone calls about chiropractic care,” which is very similar to people’s treatments. The doctor provides manual manipulation or adjustment of the animal’s joints, the vertebrae or extremity joints. She uses a hay bale or what’s called a chiropractic bale to stand on to reach the horse’s back.

“Chiropractic work can allow the animal to perform at the level we want it to,” explains Porter. “If they have an injury or are out of alignment, then it throws off the rest of the body.”

Jen Scardina, Athol, Idaho, runs a mobile business called Hands of Light Equine Massage. Trained in a 60-hour certification course through the Western Montana School of Equine Massage, Scardina gets referrals from veterinarians and horse trainers.

During $65 sessions lasting up to two hours, she massages deep muscles for healing and increased energy flows. Scardina has worked at rodeos, team roping and barrel racing events, horse shows and for stables and privately owned horses.

“It seems to help them loosen up their muscles and helps them focus on what they’re being asked to do,” says Scardina. “In the rodeo world and the horse show world, the horses are equine athletes. People who earn their living with horses want to keep them in top condition. I’ve seen the trend more and more also with your backyard horse owner. They know their horse is stiff and sore after a weekend ride, and they want to do something nice for them.”