Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurie Johnson DVM.
Hi Laurie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in the deep South, in rural Mississippi. There were endless adventures and discoveries involving nature and her creatures. I was inspired to become an artist before I decided to study medicine. My subject matter always referenced the natural world and the landscape of my youth. I eventually became a painter and animator living in New York City. Being an artist was amazing; however, I felt drawn to work with animals, so I moved to the Pacific Northwest and learned how to care for wild animals as a wildlife rehabilitator. From there, I decided to continue my studies to become a veterinarian. I came to Austin to be closer to family and have been here for about 10 years.
I knew that I wanted to become a holistic or an integrative veterinarian but it was a bit of a long road to get there because integrative medicine wasn’t taught in vet schools at that time. My father was my inspiration after he recovered from Crohn’s disease against all odds with natural medicine and nutrition. My own dog had a similar disease and as his veterinarian, I reached the limit of my medical ability and felt powerless that I couldn’t help him with conventional medicine. Thankfully, I found someone who could help (one of my future teachers) and I was hooked! I studied Acupuncture as soon as I graduated from vet school and shortly thereafter began studying herbal medicine and food therapy.
Now, more than ever my art background informs my practice as an integrative veterinarian. Medicine is science, but it is also an art form. Each patient is unique and you must use all of your senses to observe them to fully understand what is going on. My patients can’t tell me what’s wrong, so this way of seeing and noticing is even more important.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Looking back, my path seems pretty logical, but it has been challenging at times. My art training didn’t prepare me well for vet school. It took a few years to have enough prerequisites to apply. I love science and most of the classes were fascinating, but I didn’t know if I would survive calculus and organic chemistry!
Having significant student loan debt can be an incredible burden to bear and can really influence your direction in life. Whenever anyone tells me they want to be a vet, I always counsel them about having a plan to avoid taking on too much debt so they can better follow their own path.
As a solo, independent practitioner in Austin, I sometimes feel like I get lost amongst some of the larger vet clinic groups in town. My hope is that people who need my help can find me! I love getting referrals from local vets and specialists who see the value in an integrative and team approach to pet care. Pet parents are so grateful to know that there are other options they may not have considered that might help their fur kids. I believe that this kind of team approach is the future of pet wellness.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about AcuDog HerbalCat Vet?
My mobile veterinary practice is called AcuDog HerbalCat Vet. I’m a housecall veterinarian who specializes in integrative medicine with a natural focus. I practice primarily Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) and hold certifications in advanced acupuncture techniques, herbal medicine, and food therapy. I have an extensive background in all aspects of conventional veterinary medicine including dentistry and soft tissue surgery. I was a shelter vet at APA! for a bit and adopted my current pup Hippo from the parvo ward. All of these experiences inform my current work.
The majority of my practice focuses on helping pets who have been struggling with chronic issues get into a better state of health and balance. I love seeing healthy dogs and cats for holistic wellness care too! It’s nice to have the opportunity to pick up on a minor imbalance in a healthy pet that could lead to a more serious disease if left unchecked. Consideration of the emotional state is also super important. I’m passionate about animal behavior and practice fear free techniques. This style of practice is completely different from a conventional approach as it takes more time to get closer to a cure than it does to treat symptoms and animals who are fearful need a more patient approach.
One reason I left the clinic setting is because I felt that an integrative approach would be more effective and more rewarding using a different model. I wanted to create something that mirrored my own experience when I see a Naturopath or other wellness practitioner. I wanted to see patients on a smaller scale in a quiet, peaceful, relaxing and/or fun space (some dogs prefer fun and snacks to relaxation!) and I wanted to have more time with my patients and to be able to connect more with my clients, their parents in a space that was nothing like a vet clinic.
Housecalls are perfect for this type of care. I realized that a lot of my clients can’t budget for house calls, so I partnered with Tomlinson’s Feed at their Allandale location to create a cozy space where I can see cats and dogs for consultations or acupuncture without the added housecall and travel fees. I’ve been thrilled to see how relaxed and happy the patients are when they come to see me at Tomlinson’s. The prospect of a new toy or treat and a friendly interaction with a team member in a chill environment is an added positive experience.
How do you think about happiness?
My answer to this question would have been very different prior to the pandemic. I love connecting with people and animals outside, in nature. I love empowering my clients and seeing my patients heal or live better lives. I’m really into my wheels (speed skates, bicycles). One of my favorite things about Austin is that this city is so bikeable year round. Nature, fitness and health, art, creativity, and sharing those passions with others is my happy place. I’m embarking on a new journey that I’m very happy (and terrified) about. I’ll be a foster parent soon. I would not have been able to become a foster parent before starting my own practice and creating a more realistic work-life balance. I’m so grateful to have gotten here.
Contact Info:
- Email: acudogherbalcat@gmail.com
- Website: acudogherbalcat.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acudogherbalcat/
Image Credits
For the personal photo – credit goes to: César Barroso with amigostudio.net
