Chattanooga Holistic Animal Institute (CHAI) opened on the Southside’s Main Street May 10 and “The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Colleen Smith, DVM, CVA, CVCP, CHAI’s founder. “Many new clients are saying they have been looking for a holistic vet for years, and knew I was on Signal Mountain but couldn’t make the drive.”
To celebrate CHAI’s enthusiastic reception by the community, the institute will have an official “Grand Opening” on Friday, June 22, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring facility tours, food, giveaways, prizes, free pet tags, and many local and veterinary vendors with free gifts. “Our massage therapist will even be giving away a free treatment session,” said Dr. Smith.
CHAI offers veterinary acupuncture, veterinary chiropractic, nutrition therapy, laser therapy, green grooming, awake dental procedures, digital X-ray, vaccinations and vaccine titers, general medicine, canine massage therapy and nutritional supplements. “Most of our appointments right now are for acupuncture, chiropractic and nutrition consultations,” Dr. Smith said.
The effectiveness of these treatments is sometimes apparent quickly. “WE had a sweet Schnauzer that that couldn’t walk on her hind legs. She had been treated with many medications, and even had a MRI to figure out what was wrong with her. After a few treatments with acupuncture and chiropractic therapy, she was not only walking, but running short distances down the owner’s driveway,” said Dr. Smith.
“Holistic veterinary medicine is the art and science of healing that addresses care of the whole animal: body, mind, and spirit,” said Dr. Smith. “The practice of holistic veterinary medicine integrates conventional and complementary therapies to promote optimal health, and prevent and treat disease by addressing contributing factors. Each animal is seen as a unique individual, rather than an example of a particular disease,” she explained. “Disease is understood to be the result of physical, emotional, social and environmental imbalance. Healing, therefore, takes place naturally when these aspects of life are brought into proper balance.
Dr. Smith graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She is a certified veterinary acupuncturist from the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society and a certified veterinary chiropractitioner in Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation. She also trained in nutrition therapy, using traditional Chinese veterinary medicine diagnosis and treatments.
For more information, call 531-8899. Regular CHAI opening hours: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday.