Ongoing Herbal Case Study of “Willow” T.
October 2026Dr. Denette O. Cooke, DVM Signalment Willow is a three-year-old spayed female Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a history of suspected seizure activity beginning at 17 weeks of age. October 18, 2023 — 17 Weeks of Age Subjective:The owner reported unusual seizure-like activity that morning. Willow appeared “frozen,” with shaking of one paw. The […]
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
A Modern Qi and Blood Tonic When most people think of Vitamin B12, they think of an “energy vitamin.” While it certainly plays an important role in energy metabolism, Vitamin B12 is much more than that. It has become one of my favorite tools in integrative veterinary medicine because of its ability to support the […]
Buddy: From Paralysis to Walking Again
When Buddy suddenly became paralyzed in his rear legs, his owners were faced with an overwhelming situation. Initially weighing 24 pounds, Buddy first showed signs of back pain before rapidly progressing to complete loss of function in his rear limbs. Advanced imaging and spinal surgery were recommended, and euthanasia was discussed as an option. His […]
Announcing the Phyllis C. Cooke Memorial Scholarship
In loving memory of Phyllis C. Cooke, we are honored to establish the Phyllis C. Cooke Memorial Scholarship through drcookevet.com, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterinary healers through scholarships, mentorship, and mental wellness initiatives. This annual scholarship will provide $5,000 to a deserving veterinary student who demonstrates: Phyllis was a woman of extraordinary faith, resilience, and generosity. She devoted her life […]
Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi)
Schisandra, known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as Wu Wei Zi or “Five-Flavor Berry,” is a unique and respected herb recognized for its ability to harmonize and protect the body. Its name reflects its complex flavor profile of sour, sweet, bitter, pungent, and salty, symbolizing its influence across the body’s five major organ systems. Rather than […]
Fresh Food Diets Linked to New Type of Bladder and Kidney Stones
The Minnesota Urolith Center at the University of Minnesota processes more urinary stones than any veterinary center worldwide, analyzing roughly 93,000 cases annually. That scale allows researchers to identify emerging trends that can directly influence how veterinarians prevent and treat stone formation. In this case, what began as just two unusual samples—identified using infrared spectroscopy—eventually […]
Electro-Acupuncture and Spinal Cord Injury: What the Research Shows
The following peer-reviewed studies were presented during advanced coursework at Chi University in the course Advanced Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Approach to Neurological Disorders in Small Animals. These publications illustrate molecular, cellular, and clinical effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) in experimental and clinical spinal cord injury models. They are provided here for educational reference. Molecular & […]
Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang)
Warmth for the Firehorse Year A Note on the Year of the Fire Horse (2026) 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse — a rare blend of dynamic energy, momentum, and transformative heat. In Chinese philosophy, horse represents forward motion and fire represents warmth and change. This year encourages movement, visibility, and deep transformation […]
Lundy’s Recovery From Bilateral Sciatic Neuritis
Introducing Lundy, a 20 Month Old Spayed Female Pitt Bull Prior to adopting Lundy from a shelter in NC, the clients visited her before her spay surgery. She was normal in her movement as witnessed by the clients and the staff. Lundy was spayed on Feb. 20, 2023. The day after the spay surgery , […]
Breaking Down Intervertebral Disc Disease: Grades, Signs, and Prognosis
If your dog has been diagnosed with Intervertebral Disc Disease you’re not alone, and you may be feeling overwhelmed by medical terms and prognosis numbers. This chart is a helpful tool we use to better understand how severe your pet’s condition is and what kind of recovery you can expect. What is IVDD? IVDD is […]