Veterinary Herbal Medicine for Dogs and Cats
Integrating modern veterinary medicine with carefully selected herbal therapies to support your pet’s health.
Herbal medicine uses plant-based medicines to support the body’s natural healing processes. At Dural Veterinary Hospital in Sydney’s Hills District, these therapies are used alongside conventional veterinary care to support pets with chronic or complex conditions.
At Dural Veterinary Hospital we use herbal medicine as part of an integrative approach, combining traditional veterinary diagnostics and treatments with carefully selected herbal therapies tailored to the individual needs of each pet.
Herbal Medicine with Dr Nagisa Hiraoka
Herbal medicine consultations are provided by Dr Nagisa Hiraoka, one of our senior veterinarians who has undertaken additional training in veterinary herbal medicine.
Nagisa completed a Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Herbal Medicine through the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) and has a strong interest in combining conventional veterinary medicine with carefully selected herbal therapies. Her approach focuses on developing treatment plans that support the whole animal while maintaining the highest standards of veterinary care.
How Herbal Consultations Work
Herbal medicine consultations are structured to allow a thorough understanding of your pet’s health and medical history.
During the consultation, Dr Nagisa Hiraoka reviews your pet’s medical history, current medications, diet, lifestyle and previous treatments. A physical examination is performed and diagnostic tests may be recommended where appropriate to ensure an accurate understanding of the condition being treated.
Based on this assessment, Nagisa develops a tailored herbal treatment plan designed specifically for your pet.
How Herbal Consultations Work
Herbal medicine consultations are structured to allow a thorough understanding of your pet’s health and medical history.
During the consultation, Dr Nagisa Hiraoka reviews your pet’s medical history, current medications, diet, lifestyle and previous treatments. A physical examination is performed and diagnostic tests may be recommended where appropriate to ensure an accurate understanding of the condition being treated.
Based on this assessment, Nagisa develops a tailored herbal treatment plan designed specifically for your pet.
When Herbal Medicine May Help
Herbal therapies can be helpful in supporting pets with a range of conditions, particularly those that are chronic or recurring.
These may include:
gastrointestinal disease
liver disease
chronic kidney disease
inflammatory conditions
skin disease and allergies
anxiety and stress-related conditions
cognitive dysfunction in older dogs
Herbal medicine may also be used alongside conventional treatments to support comfort and quality of life for pets living with chronic illness.
Individually Prepared Herbal Treatments
Dr Nagisa Hiraoka prepares the herbal treatments used in her consultations herself. She carefully sources high-quality herbal ingredients and hand-mixes individual tinctures for each patient, tailoring the formulation to their specific needs
This approach allows multiple conditions to be addressed within a single treatment plan. Many patients, particularly older pets, may be managing more than one health issue at the same time, such as arthritis alongside cognitive dysfunction or chronic kidney disease. Individually formulated herbal mixtures allow these different needs to be supported within a carefully balanced prescription.
Integrative Veterinary Care
Herbal medicine at Dural Veterinary Hospital is used as part of an integrative veterinary care approach for dogs and cats. Herbal therapies may be used alongside conventional veterinary treatments such as medications, surgery or dietary management.
This allows treatment plans to be adapted to the individual needs of each patient, supporting the body’s natural healing processes while maintaining the benefits of modern veterinary medicine.
If you are interested in exploring whether herbal medicine may help your pet, our team would be happy to help.