S6E10 Integrative Medicine: Because Every Animal Is Unique

Join Sue as she reflects on over 40 years in the veterinary world—a career shaped by curiosity, conscience, and a determination to look beyond convention.

A wake-up call during her dermatology studies sent her exploring alternative modalities in canine health and wellbeing, opening the door to a journey through homeopathy, acupuncture, laser therapy, and more.

From “the nibs, the nabs, the mibs, the mabs” to the rise of biologics, Sue breaks down what these treatments are, why they matter, and how they fit into today’s evolving vet landscape.

She also takes a candid look at how corporate structures are influencing the profession—asking whether financial pressures are overshadowing what’s best for animal health—and why fewer young vets seem willing (or able) to explore integrative therapies.

Other topics include:

• How highly processed “junk food” contributes to chronic disease

• Why monthly wellness schemes might not deliver true wellness

• The concerns around lifetime pharmaceuticals

• mRNA and genetic-code vaccines—innovation or uncertainty?

• Environmental toxins, flea and worm treatments, household products, and their cumulative effects

• What really makes a dog “senior”?

• And ultimately, why supporting the gut and the microbiome might be the key to lifelong vitality

At the heart of it all lies a simple message: helping our dogs thrive may be more common sense than rocket science.

SUE ARMSTRONG

MA VetMB VetFFHom CertIAVH MRCVS RsHom

(Director Sue Armstrong Consultancy Ltd)

Sue Armstrong qualified from Cambridge Veterinary School, England in 1984 and worked first in Oxford and then in a partnership in Leeds for twelve years.

She set up Balanced Being based in Wetherby in 2003, which was one of the first practices in the UK to offer truly integrative healthcare for animals with homeopathy as its core philosophy underpinning the individualised therapeutic approach when using all modalities including conventional mainstream veterinary medicine and surgery, homeopathy, acupuncture, laser therapy, nutraceuticals and nutritional therapy. Sue sold Balanced Being in February 2018 and now runs a referral only veterinary clinic in Thirsk, UK; Sue Armstrong Consultancy Ltd.

Sue lectures extensively internationally and has presented in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Switzerland and the USA.

Sue has published the Little Book of Thinking Dog and The Veterinary Homeopathy Oncology Series: Cancer in Animals. She is a contributor to the books Foundations of Health and Social Care (Adams, 2007) and Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health (Dodds, 2015).

Sue is passionate about sharing the experience she has of working in a truly integrative way for most of her veterinary career. ---- oOo ----

Lez and Ross have both been in the industry professionally for well over 20 years and each has been involved with dogs for over 40 years.

Whilst sensibly they have stayed away from the ‘limelight’ regarding TV offers, they have regularly been on national and local radio, spoken at national events at NDWA, CFBA, and Kennel Club / Crufts events as well as bespoke speaking engagements for the Dog Safety Education Executive (DogSEE).

Ross wrote for Dogs Monthly Magazine for over 12 years and

Lez was the first lady feature writer for a national Shooting Magazine (both Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter).

They were also 'study buddies' and were the first in the UK to achieve a Masters Degree (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology in 2011.

They work well together and apart, support and work with dog rescue organisations and train professional dog trainers and behaviourists.

Different as chalk and cheese, but maybe not as different as they like to think.

Intrigued? want to know more? then check out our websites...www.rossmccarthy.com ~ www.lezgraham.com