Animal Wellness Center

Information may not be reliable

If you believe your pet deserves nothing less than the very best of both traditional and alternative veterinary medicine, then you’ll feel right at home at the Animal Wellness Center. We offer an integrated approach to animal health because we believe that no single school of thought holds all the answers.
Every animal is an individual, and we treat each of them that way!
Our approach to animal health is unique in the greater Sacramento area – no other veterinary clinic or hospital elevates alternative care to an equal standing with the practices of traditional Western medicine.
Welcome to our website. We’ve put lots of information in here for your education and enjoyment. Don’t stop here, though: We offer you a most sincere invitation to visit us in person soon. Your pet will thank you, we promise!
What is "alternative care"?
The practice of alternative (sometimes called “holistic”) veterinary care can take many forms. In our links area we’ve put together some information to guide you to the best sources for information on the Internet, including the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association’s detailed explanation of what’s included under the “alternative care” umbrella.
At the Animal Wellness Center, we offer a wide range of alternative-care offerings in addition to traditional ones. Our veterinarians are trained in acupuncture, chiropractic, and in the use of both Western and Eastern herbs. In addition, they offer counseling in nutrition. We also sell alternative-care products, such as holistic, preservative-free dog and cat food and our own AWC-labeled herbs and nutritional supplements.
Our little miracle!
This is Lucky's story. Lucky is a mix breed dog who is the apple of his mother's eye. Lucky is a senior citizen who likes to spend his day on patrol and chasing ground squirrels. All was well in Lucky's world until he started having clusters of seizures. By the time he came in for treatment, Lucky was having trouble standing and walking in a straight line. Not much was found on his traditional exam and he was started on some appropriate medication. Lucky went home, but a few hours later he collapsed and he was sent to UC Davis for a complete neurologic workup. He underwent extensive diagnostic testing, including an MRI, spinal taps and more bloodwork, but no abnormalities were found and no diagnosis could be made. Unfortunately, by this time, Lucky was a quadrapelegic. He was unable to use his legs or wag his tail and he could barely lift his head. Lucky was sent home with a "wait and see" approach.
We saw Lucky the day he was discharged from UC Davis. Since Western medicine was not able to benefit him at this time, we decided to treat Lucky with Traditional Chinese Medicine, which includes acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines. Within one week, Lucky was able to roll upright and hold his head up. By the second week, Lucky could hold himself up standing with assistance, and by week four, Lucky was able to start chasing ground squirrels again. His treatment and progress continue, thanks to his tenacity, his mother's support, and alternative therapy.
Although most of our patients are cats or dogs, we also welcome small mammals, reptiles, and exotic pets.