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

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.

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.

Practice, Persistence and Patience – My Favorite . The first story of transformation that “jumped out” at me before my cancer and then the first one “sent” to me after my cancer diagnosis. A physician cures herself of a rare, life threatening sarcoma after chemo, radiation and alternative therapies had been tried.
” Source” the Documentary – The Science behind the practice. Highly recommended.
Proof – Stories of Transformation (listen to a few stories of transformation from serious health problems)
Stories of Transformation – YouTube Channel
Research: The Science Behind Mind/Body Healing and Meditation
Dr. Joe Dispenza’s Book : Becoming Supernatural

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