• The successful practice of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), as with any form of medicine, depends on having a clear understanding of both theoretical principles and practical techniques. The mindset required to understand TCVM is very different from that used in conventional medicine, and this can often make the transition to TCVM difficult for Western-trained practitioners.

    With the ever-increasing interest in TCVM, there is a broad selection of books both ancient and modern on Chinese medical theory, acupuncture, herbal medicine, Food Therapy, Tui-na and lifestyle/exercise modification. Busy practitioners rarely have the time to search several books for clinically relevant information needed to design a comprehensive treatment protocol for each individual patient. It is also hard to find information on the TCVM treatment of species that have not traditionally been treated with TCVM.

    There is a Chinese proverb that states: “Reading ten thousand books is not as useful as traveling ten thousand miles.” In other words, experience is worth more than theory. The aim of Practical Guide to TCVM is to provide a single, comprehensive resource for veterinary acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Food Therapy, Tui-na and lifestyle modification for treatment of the most common disorders seen in modern clinical practice. By succinctly conveying the knowledge of expert practitioners, this text can be used as a quick reference in clinical settings, so practitioners can easily establish a treatment plan and gain valuable clinical experience.

    This project began in February 2007 with an initial plan of 38 chapters in a single volume. Over time, more chapters were added, with 45 different authors now having contributed information on TCVM treatment of dogs, cats, horses, birds, snakes, camelids, elephants, dolphins and other species. Since the project began, the authors and editors have invested countless hours collating information, summarizing knowledge gained from years of clinical experience, and revising and clarifying the text to prepare it for publication. The completed text has become so large that the editors have decided to publish it in 4 volumes for easier reference and clinical use.

    This is the second of 4 volumes of Practical TCVM and describes the diagnosis and treatment of Small Animal Diseases. The first volume Practical Guide to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine-EMERGENCIES AND FIVE ELEMENT SYNDROMES was published in January 2014. Two subsequent volumes will cover TCVM for equines (14 chapters) and exotic species (13 chapters), respectively. Each chapter of these volumes presents the complete TCVM treatment of disorders commonly seen in clinical practice.

    In this volume, the most common TCVM Patterns for each conventional medical diagnosis in dogs and cats are discussed. For each Pattern, the etiology, clinical signs and treatment with acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Tui-na, Food Therapy and lifestyle modification are described. Finally, each chapter includes case examples to illustrate the treatments that have been described, and provide information on the success of the treatment.

  • Huisheng Xie, DVM PhD

    Clinical Professor- Integrative Medicine

    Department of Comparative, Diagnostic & Population Medicine

    Education

    • BScVM (DVM), Sichuan College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan, China, 1983
    • MS, Beijing Agricultural University, Beijing, China, 1988
    • Acupuncture Training Diploma in Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China, 1992
    • Advanced Acupuncture Continuing Education Program Diploma in National Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China, 1993
    • PhD, University of Florida, 1999

    Professional Experience

    • Clinical Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2017
    • Clinical Associate Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2009-2016
    • Clinical Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2005-2008
    • Lecturer, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 1999-2004
    • Research Fellow Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, 1994-1998
    • Founded the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine where he continues to teach and develop educational programs, 1998
    • Associate Professor and Staff Veterinarian, The Beijing Agricultural University, College of Veterinary Medicine, PR China, 1992-1994
    • Assistant Professor and Staff Veterinarian, The Beijing Agricultural University, College of Veterinary Medicine, PR China, 1988-1991
    • Lecturer and Staff Veterinarian, The Beijing Agricultural University, College of Veterinary Medicine, PR China, 1983-1988

    Lindsey Wedemeyer MA, VetMB, MRCVS

    Lindsey Harris (formerly known as Wedemeyer), MA MS VetMB CVA CVCH CVFT CVTP, studied veterinary medicine at Cambridge University's veterinary school, graduating with degrees in both pharmacology and veterinary medicine and becoming a member of the UK's Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2004. After seeing how chronic disease is often not successfully treated by conventional medicine, she became interested in acupuncture and studied with the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society to become a certified veterinary acupuncturist (CVA).

    Dr. Harris started her own referral-based acupuncture practice in the United Kingdom, treating dogs, cats, horses and cattle. Her patients included Welsh national para-dressage team horses, valuable show cattle and many much-loved pets, and she was featured on both national BBC and local radio.

    Dr. Harris continued her Chinese medical training at Florida's Chi Institute of Chinese Veterinary Medicine (seen by many as the premier Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine [TCVM] training institute in the US) to become a certified veterinary Chinese herbalist (CVCH). She also studied advanced diagnostics and acupuncture techniques for both dogs and horses.

    Upon relocating to the USA, Dr. Harris obtained her New York veterinary license after completing the AVMA's ECFVG examination program for foreign veterinary graduates. She continued to expand her veterinary knowledge with courses and certification in Chinese food therapy (CVFT) and Tui-na (Chinese medical massage) (CVT).

    Dr. Harris joined the faculty of the Chi Institute in 2010. She lectures at the Chi Institute in herbal medicine and the scientific basis of acupuncture, and is a laboratory instructor for the institute's small animal and mixed animal acupuncture program. She has helped train over 500 veterinarians in veterinary acupuncture and visited China to take part in the 1st International Conference in TCVM.

    Dr. Harris was invited to lecture at the 2012 International TCVM Conference in Suzhou, China, which was part of the 3rd ever Chinese Veterinary Congress. She spoke about the impact on modern veterinary medicine of Yuan Heng Liao Ma Ji (Yuan-Heng's Therapeutic Treatise of Horses), a 400-year-old Chinese textbook on equine care, acupuncture and herbal medicine.

    Dr. Harris was the English editor for the first ever translation into English of Yuan Heng Liao Ma Ji. After her lecture, Dr. Harris received an 'Excellent Speaker' award from the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association. The significance of this book in world veterinary medicine was the subject of Dr. Harris's thesis for her Master's degree in Chinese Veterinary Medicine at South China Agricultural University.

    Through her work with older animals suffering from arthritis and those recovering from injury or surgery, Dr. Harris became interested in how canine rehabilitation can complement acupuncture to help these animals even more. She has been studying with the University of Tennessee for certification in canine rehabilitation and will complete the certification process this year. In addition, Dr. Harris also pursued study of Reiki, the Japanese form of hands-on energetic healing.

    Dr. Harris is an experienced author and editor. She is an associate editor for the American Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and has also authored several papers published in this journal, including “The Validity of Acupuncture in Veterinary Medicine,” co-authored with leading Chinese medicine authority Dr. Huisheng Xie. Dr. Harris has recently worked on the new series of textbook “Practical TCVM.” The 4 volumes of this series are the most complete TCVM reference guide yet written, with over 40 authors contributing their knowledge. Together with Drs. Huisheng Xie and Cheryl Chrisman, Dr. Harris is editor of the series and has also authored five chapters, including “TCVM Oncology,” “Equine Lameness” and “TCVM in Exotic Species.”

    In addition to her work at New York Veterinary Acupuncture Service, Dr. Harris recently completed study for her Master's degree in TCVM at South China Agricultural University, becoming one of very few US veterinarians with this qualification. She continues to enjoy teaching at the Chi Institute in Florida and living in New York's beautiful Orange County with her husband.

    Cheryl L Chrisman DVM, MS, EdS, DACVIM-Neurology

    Min Su Kim DVM, PhD

Veterinary Clinics of North America
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