Dr. Valarie Castora D.V.M.
Dr Valarie Castora, D.V.M.
My family jokes that my first word as a child was “tea”. The second was “vet”. I deepened my infatuation with animals spending hours “playing doctor” with my pets. While my peers brought home goldfish or kittens, I arrived with a "rescued" racehorse, treating his fetlock with folk remedies, supplements, and the help of my farrier. I realized that my deep-rooted love for animals and my aptitude for science had to be put to use! (And my passion for hot beverages is still just as strong as ever!)
About 13 years ago, when my Rottie girl was sick with cancer, I started doing more reading and research on how I could help her be more comfortable and came across boatloads of information about diet, nutrition and herbs, and how they affected the body. While it was too late for my girl, it launched my profound interest in using food as medicine and over 10 years of continued research into the use of both Chinese and Western herbs.
Today, my practice focuses primarily on offering the use of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine including acupuncture and herbs, as well as Western Herbs, nutrition, and homeopathy along with more conventional therapeutic options as needed. By integrating the use of these modalities into your current care programs with your trainer, (your farrier,) your conventional vet, and your chiropractic vet, I can often solve lingering physical/lameness, metabolic, and behavioral issues.
Having over 40 years of experience riding, training, and showing horses in a wide variety of disciplines, I use that knowledge to help you work through the performance issues you may be having. And, with my extensive experience with Rottweilers, both owning, raising, and in rescue, I understand their temperaments, their "hot buttons" and how to treat their common medical problems holistically.
I have a mobile practice seeing all species of animals in the Capital Region of New York and the State of Vermont. Always attracted to beautiful outdoor places and the smaller, more rural areas of our state, it was an easy decision for me to make this my home. I have extensive experience with dogs and cats, as well as all large animals including horses, sheep and goats, alpacas and llamas, donkeys, cows, pigs, and some wildlife.
Educated at the University of Minnesota with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine with a background in Engineering, I am also trained in Veterinary Chiropractic, Veterinary Acupuncture, Veterinary Herbal Medicine, and tissue manipulation. Bringing my common sense approach and reassuring attitude, I look forward to meeting you and the animals you call your family.