In the not-so-distant past, holistic medicine was considered quackery, and those who practiced it were called charlatans by mainstream medical physicians. However, over the last 30 years, medical science has begun to recognize that non-invasive holistic therapies can enhance traditional therapies. It should be no surprise that traditional veterinary medicine has embraced holistic therapy as well.Jim Friedly, DVM, is the owner of Natural Healthcare Center for Animals, which is located at 7111 McLaughlin Road in Falcon. Friedly specializes in veterinary acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal and homeopathic treatment for pets and horses.Raised on a farm in northwest Wyoming, Friedly is the oldest of 10 children and had many responsibilities, including caring for their animals and helping with the other kids. He attended college after high school but lacked the direction and discipline to finish. He left school and worked as a guide in the Absarokee and Teton wilderness areas, guiding folks into grizzly bear country for four years.Friedly’s next job took him to Y-Tex Corp., where he worked in research and development and sales and co-developed the Angle Freeze Branding system used for horses in 18 countries around the world. Much more humane than the traditional fire branding, it is still used today.During this time, Friedly befriended a veterinarian who encouraged him to go back to school. He took his advice and entered school again with a sense of purpose, graduating with honors from the University of Idaho and the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1982. He opened his own veterinary practice in Montana and later joined Airway Veterinary Hospital in Colorado Springs.In 1986, Friedly opened the Countryside Veterinary Clinic on Woodmen Road. The practice quickly grew to five doctors and a full-service hospital. Friedly specialized in treating horses and in 1997 developed a bad case of “tennis elbow” from pulling the horses’ teeth. Medical doctors were unable to offer long-term relief, and in an act of desperation, Friedly visited an acupuncturist.”It only took two visits to completely rid me of pain, and I became a believer,” Friedly said.Inspired by his own experience, Friedly enrolled in the Colorado State University School for Veterinary Acupuncturists and CSU’s school for Veterinary Chiropractic and graduated from both. He continued his education and attended the Florida Equine Acupuncture School for advanced techniques and animal herbal therapy. With over 1,000 hours of advanced training in holistic animal medicine, Friedly was prescribing less and less pharmaceuticals, relying on natural remedies for his four-legged patients and seeing excellent results.In March, Friedly sold his traditional practice to Dr. Terri Johnson and opened the only natural health care center for dogs, cats and horses in Colorado.”I now specialize in only complementary and alternative medicine,” Friedly said. “I want to make it clear, though, that CAM cannot be applied to every illness without help from traditional medicine, i.e. heartworm prevention. In certain cases, antibiotics are necessary (as well as) chemotherapy for cancers.” But Friedly said alternative medicine can help with a host of ailments, such as chronic pain, allergies, liver disease, seizures and kidney disease, to name a few.”I see over 200 patients a month for CAM and have treated over 15,000 patients with CAM,” Friedly said. Currently, he has a waitlist for patients. Friedly has seen many pets that cannot tolerate pharmaceuticals and/or traditional treatments. Like people, Friedly believes pets are overmedicated.”Often pets do very well on herbs and supplements and a change in diet,” he said. “I have seen many chronic conditions dramatically improve and even disappear altogether.”He said that he believes most commercial pet food is toxic. “If the ingredients list wheat, corn, by-products, preservatives and additives, then stay away. Corn and wheat cause numerous problems in dogs and cats,” Friedly said. He recommends an all-natural diet of raw meat and fresh veggies but strongly suggests that it be designed and supervised by a veterinarian who can guide owners in the proper preparation and amounts to give Fido. For owners who lack the time or just prefer to buy pet food, Friedly recommends several dry and canned natural varieties that can be purchased at several local natural pet stores. A list of these brands is available at his office.Concerned about the issue of over inoculating pets, Friedly said, “With the exception of rabies, most vaccines last much longer than once believed. It is important to remember that all vaccines can have side effects.”Friedly also has written and monitored numerous pieces of legislation for animal welfare organizations, including legislation around the quality of animal facilities in Colorado.When he is not working in his office, he might be participating in various civic activities or riding his horses. Friedly is a member of the Pikes Peak Range Riders, and helps promote the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, Western Heritage in Colorado Springs and the Range Rider Foundation. He also is involved in Falcon 4-H.Friedly and his wife, Ione, his veterinary office manager, enjoy spending time riding their five horses with their two sons in Colorado and Wyoming. They also enjoy their motorcycles and trips to mountain towns and historical sites.To learn more about the Natural Healthcare Center for Animals, call their office at 494-1156.
