Locals looking for holistic medicine for their pets now have that option in Andalusia.

Dr. Sue Skelding, a veterinarian at Jones Veterinary Hospital, said she is certified in acupuncture, food therapy, tui-na and herbal medicine for animals.

The Grand Rapids, Mich., native graduated from veterinary school from Colorado State University in 1990.

Twelve years later she became certified in veterinary acupuncture and veterinary herbology in Gainesville, Fla.

“It’s a sought-out thing because that’s how human medicine is going,” she said. “But very few people around here have the certifications.”

Skelding said she’s been working at Jones Veterinary Hospital since August and is doing a fair amount of work with pets.

“I work part-time here and part-time in Dothan,” she said.

While in Tennessee, she said she lived in a rural area and was able to allow the holistic approach to have a great impact on the area.

Skelding said she learned of the holistic approach in the 1980s.

“I went to vet tech school before I went to vet school in the 80s and the vet I worked for did it,” she said.

Skelding said the benefits of the holistic approach are endless, but they are really amazing for arthritic and back conditions, as well as stomach and skin issues.

“They have been doing this for hundreds of thousands of year in the east,” she said.

Skelding said she prefers to use integrative medicine by using a combination of western and eastern medicine.

“You get a better yield by using the best of all worlds,” she said.

She works at Jones Veterinary Hospital Wednesday through Friday.

For more info, call 222-4713.