Lakewood Animal Hospital Adds Western Herbal Therapy to Pet Care in Locust Grove, VA
Locust Grove, VA, 2026-10-19 — Lakewood Animal Hospital, a full-service companion animal hospital in Locust Grove, has introduced integrative veterinary medicine with Western herbal therapy, giving pet owners a science-informed complement to conventional care. The service is led by Dr. Sally Ireland, a licensed veterinarian trained specifically in herbal medicine for companion animals.
Integrative veterinary medicine pairs standard veterinary care with complementary therapies. At Lakewood Animal Hospital, pets continue to receive the diagnostics, medications, surgeries, and preventive care they need, while Western herbal therapy adds plant-based remedies intended to support the body’s natural healing processes. Herbal treatment is layered into an existing plan rather than used in isolation, and it is never offered as a replacement for conventional medicine.
Every herbal plan is personalized around the pet’s medical history, current health status, and treatment goals. Recommendations draw on long-standing herbal tradition as well as modern research into the active compounds in plants and their effects on specific body systems. A licensed veterinarian monitors each patient throughout treatment and adjusts the plan based on how the pet responds.
Herbal therapy is often considered for dogs and cats living with chronic allergies and recurring skin issues, digestive sensitivity, arthritis and mobility changes, anxiety and stress, chronic respiratory conditions, or liver and kidney support needs. Pet owners who have tried several treatments without the improvement they hoped for, who are concerned about long-term medication use, or who want to support an aging companion’s comfort may find the approach worth exploring.
Dr. Ireland completed a Veterinary Herbal Apprenticeship under Dr. Laurie Dohmen of Purple Moon Herbs and Studies, a program developed specifically for licensed veterinarians. Her training included hands-on coursework and clinical instruction in the safe, science-backed use of herbal therapies in companion animals. Because every recommendation comes from a licensed veterinarian who reviews the pet’s complete medical picture, including current medications, herbal care is built on veterinary medical training first.
Herbal consultations are scheduled as continued care visits, which gives Dr. Ireland time to review the pet’s health history and discuss goals and options with the owner before a plan is created. A consultation is required before herbal therapy begins, and most dogs and cats are considered good candidates following an individual evaluation.
About Us
Lakewood Animal Hospital is a full-service companion animal hospital at 36097 Goodwin Dr, Locust Grove, VA 22508, in the Marketplace at Lake of the Woods shopping center. The hospital provides preventive, diagnostic, surgical, dental, and urgent care for dogs and cats. To learn more about integrative vet medicine & herbal therapy visit at: https://www.lakewoodanimalhospital.org/locust-grove-va/integrative-veterinary-medicine-western-herbal-therapy/ or call 540-972-2203.