Equine Osteopathy: Going Beyond Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Kimberly Rasmussen, a veterinarian and equine osteopath, said she always knew there was something more she could be doing for her patients.

“I didn’t know what, but I knew I was missing something,” she said.

Rasmussen graduated from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. During her years practicing veterinary medicine, her personal horse suffered from soreness in his back. She first prescribed a pain-relieving anti-inflammatory for the horse but saw little change in his health, she said. Wanting to avoid “putting a band aide” on the issue with steroid injections, she turned to acupuncture, she said.

“The acupuncture therapy seemed to provide some relief, but after 10 days he needed another treatment,” Rasmussen said.