David graduated from the University of Sydney in 1990 with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree before working for a year as an agronomist/livestock adviser in Tamworth, NSW. He then returned to Sydney University for 2 years as a research officer and completed a Masters degree in Veterinary Science. In 1994, David went to South Africa to start his Veterinary Science degree at University of Pretoria. He then transferred to Murdoch University, Perth in 1996 and completed his Veterinary Science degree in 1998. David is keen to incorporate complementary medicine to the conventional veterinary medicine protocols and apply an integrative “all round” approach to solving small animal medicine issues. He set up a mobile Veterinary Acupuncture business in 2019 and in 2021 he joined All Natural Vet Care in Sydney.  

Topics discussed include:

• Why Dr Ward became a Vet and how he became involved in alternative medicine.
• What acupuncture is, its history and how it can be used as a treatment.
• How meridians and acupoints work.
• The difference between acupressure and acupuncture.
• Dr Ward shares the main reasons why acupuncture is effective.
• In what cases should acupuncture be used and why?
• David talks about the benefits of combining acupuncture and rehabilitation.
• Acupuncture with Chinese herbs, do they work together?
• Using acupuncture as a calming agent before anaesthesia and as pain relief after anaesthesia.
• Dr David shares his thoughts of where integrative medicine is headed in the veterinary field.

Resources mentioned:

College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) https://www.civtedu.org/

Canine Acupuncture Point Pro https://apps.apple.com/us/app/canine-acupuncture-point-pro/id540753765

You can find Dr Ward at All Natural Vet Care https://www.allnaturalvetcare.com/