“Dr. Carissa has been a blessing—I don’t know what we would have done without her!” shares Kristin Young, owner of Louie, a 6-year-old French bulldog treated by Dr. Carissa Hoffman of California Integrative Veterinary Services in the Young’s home post-surgery.
“Louie absolutely loves Dr. Carissa! She does a complete evaluation every time she visits him to assess exactly how he is functioning,” says Kristin, adding, “She brings all of her rehabilitation equipment to our home and thoroughly monitors him throughout her visit. She even helped us to design a space in our home where he feels safe as he heals.”
Louie really looks forward to working with Dr. Carissa, notes Kristin. “He always falls asleep when she finishes a session with her with acupuncture, and we are so thankful that he is improving. He’s even able to walk on our street a bit and his sweet spirit and fun personality are back.”
Dr. Carissa and husband, Dr. Nicholas Hoffman, met in veterinary school where they shared a dream of offering their community a mobile veterinary service.
“I started my integrative medicine practice in 2022, and it is a blend of Western and Eastern medical concepts with the goal of treating patients’ health conditions in a multimodal manner,” Dr. Carissa explains. “A patient may have a treatment plan that utilizes common Eastern medical techniques, such as acupuncture and herbal therapy, as well as Western recommendations, such as prescription pain medication, rehabilitation, physical therapy and even referral for surgery.”
Kristin is one of many local pet parents that appreciate Dr. Carissa’s holistic way of treating their fur babies, stating that the in-home care is invaluable and provides the family with peace of mind.
“We serve clients in Moorpark and within a 30-mile radius,” notes Dr. Carissa. “We have clients from Somis, Simi Valley, Newbury Park, Westlake, Thousand Oaks and even in Malibu. We also provide service in Northridge and Tarzana.”
Dr. Carissa focuses on treating pets who are experiencing chronic pain, arthritis and other ailments. She also provides rehabilitation therapy after an animal is treated surgically or has been injured.
“In addition to offering acupuncture, laser acupuncture and providing clients with a home exercise program, we offer laser therapy and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF), which directs small amounts of energy toward a particular part of an animal’s body,” Dr. Carissa explains. “PEMF creates an electromagnetic field with pulses and promotes better blood flow; in some instances, it also helps to reduce inflammation. PEMF focuses on the mitochondria in cells and helps to activate and thereby repair cells.”
During her consultations, Dr. Carissa also determines whether an animal will benefit from using mobility devices, which can include specialized harnesses, carts, neurological training devices, braces and specialized slings. She has her Walkin’ Wheels certification and she can properly measure and fit a pet who needs a mobility device.
“Supplements and herbs are also very helpful for joint, muscle and overall health. I recommend herbal supplements to help with many conditions that are also being treated with prescribed medications,” says Dr. Carissa, noting that “Herbals and supplements are not replacements for prescription medication—they are meant to work in conjunction with them.”
Some pet insurance covers the Eastern medicine modalities that Dr. Carissa uses, which greatly helps owners wanting their pet to benefit from both Eastern and Western modalities. Dr. Carissa is a California licensed veterinarian (DVM), veterinary acupuncturist (CVA) and certified canine rehabilitation therapist (CCRT). She is accepting new patients.
To learn more, contact calintegrativevetservices@gmail.com, call 805.876.4625 or visit CalIntegrativeVet.com.
“Herbals and supplements are not replacements for prescription medication—they are meant to work in conjunction with them.”