Animal Rehabilitation, Acupuncture and Integrative Veterinary Medicine…An Interview with Dr. Justine Ma, DVM

Justine Ma, DVM
California Animal Rehabilitation
2237 Colby Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone (310) 998-CARE | (310) 998-2273,
Fax: (310) 998-2274
JMa@CalAnimalRehab.com

Video Interview Click Here

(Overview, Summary and Outline created by ChatGPT from interview transcript edited by Kirk Hamilton PA)

Interview Overview…

In this Staying Healthy Today interview, Kirk Hamilton, PA, speaks with Justine Ma, DVM, about her path into veterinary medicine and her specialized work in animal rehabilitation, acupuncture, and integrative veterinary care. Dr. Ma explains that her commitment to animal medicine began in adolescence after being bitten while volunteering at a humane society, an experience that deepened rather than discouraged her desire to help animals. She trained at UC Davis, initially considered public health, and later pursued acupuncture certification through Chi University (Florida) while working in small animal practice, driven by a growing sense that conventional veterinary medicine alone often falls short for chronic conditions and that a broader, more integrative toolkit could better serve patients. She now works at a rehabilitation-focused veterinary practice where acupuncture is used alongside physical therapy and other rehabilitation modalities. Throughout the interview, Dr. Ma underscores the importance of individualized care, teamwork between veterinarians, rehab staff, and pet owners, and the growing demand for integrative veterinary medicine, while also sharing that her larger mission now includes educating the public through social media so pet owners can better understand that options like rehabilitation and acupuncture can meaningfully improve animals’ quality of life.

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Interview Summary, Outline and Key Points…

This interview explains how integrative veterinary medicine combines conventional veterinary care with supportive therapies such as acupuncture, rehabilitation, physical therapy, selected supplements, and sometimes herbs or nutrition guidance to help animals recover function, reduce pain, and improve quality of life. Dr. Justine Ma describes how animal rehabilitation is especially valuable for pets recovering from surgery, disc injuries, arthritis, weakness, age-related mobility decline, neurologic problems, or congenital gait and coordination issues. She explains that acupuncture is often used as one part of a larger treatment plan and may help improve comfort, mobility, relaxation, and overall well-being. Rehabilitation programs may also include massage, stretching, joint mobilization, laser therapy, pulsed electromagnetic therapies, underwater treadmill, pool work, land treadmill exercise, and customized strengthening or coordination exercises. A major theme of the discussion is that successful improvement usually requires teamwork: the veterinarian evaluates the pet, the rehab team applies therapies, and the owner continues exercises, activity modification, and other recommendations at home. Dr. Ma also notes that diet, supplements, medications, and environmental support may all matter, and that treatment plans are individualized based on the animal’s diagnosis, severity, response, and owner resources.

Key Points

1. Integrative veterinary medicine uses more than one tool

Treatment may combine:

  • Conventional veterinary medicine

  • Acupuncture

  • Physical rehabilitation

  • Exercise therapy

  • Supplements

  • Selected medications

  • Nutrition support

  • Home care strategies

2. Rehabilitation can help many kinds of pets

Animals problems that may benefit include pets with:

  • Arthritis and age-related stiffness

  • Weakness or poor coordination

  • Postsurgical recovery needs

  • Spinal disc injuries or neurologic deficits

  • Mobility problems after injury

  • Congenital or developmental gait problems

  • Slipping, difficulty rising, or decreased endurance

3. Acupuncture is often part of a broader plan

Acupuncture may be used to:

  • Reduce discomfort

  • Improve mobility

  • Support recovery

  • Help calm some animals

  • Complement physical therapy and home exercise

4. Improvement usually takes time

A pet may show early improvement after a few sessions, but meaningful reassessment is often done after several weeks. Progress depends on:

  • The diagnosis

  • How severe the condition is

  • How often treatment is done

  • Whether home exercises are followed

  • The pet’s overall health

5. Home care matters

Clinic visits alone are usually not enough. Owners often need to continue:

  • Prescribed exercises

  • Safe activity modification

  • Medication schedules

  • Supplement plans

  • Environmental changes at home

6. Nutrition may affect inflammation and recovery

Diet may play a role in:

  • Inflammation

  • Allergies

  • Weight management

  • Healing

Dr. Ma emphasizes that nutrition can be important, but recommendations should be practical and individualized.

7. Treatment plans are individualized

Not every pet needs the same frequency, therapies, medications, or supplements. Good care depends on regular re-evaluation and adjusting the plan as the animal improves or struggles.

Common Therapies Mentioned

  • Acupuncture

  • Massage/manual therapy

  • Stretching

  • Joint mobilization

  • Laser therapy

  • Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy

  • Underwater treadmill

  • Pool therapy

  • Land treadmill

  • Strengthening and coordination exercises

  • Home exercise programs

Medications and Supportive Care Mentioned

Dr. Ma notes that some pets may also need conventional medications, depending on the case. Examples discussed include:

  • Gabapentin for pain, especially nerve-related pain, and sometimes mild calming

  • Trazodone for anxiety before appointments in some animals

  • Adequan as a joint-supportive injectable option in certain arthritis cases

  • NSAIDs may be used in some pets, but monitoring is important

Bottom Line

Animal rehabilitation and acupuncture can be valuable tools for pets dealing with pain, mobility problems, surgical recovery, neurologic issues, or age-related decline. The best outcomes usually come from a combined approach that includes professional treatment, home exercises, thoughtful medication or supplement use, and close communication between the owner and veterinary team.

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Kirk Hamilton PA-C
Health Associates Medical Group
3301 Alta Arden, Suite 3
Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 489-4400 (w)
krhammer@surewest.net
www.StayingHealthyToday.com
www.HealthyLivingforBusypeople.com
www.KwikerMedical.com

Staying Healthy Today is a reader-supported publication.
To Discuss Medical Questions or Make an Appointment Call Kirk Hamilton PA at 916-489-4400