Wendy Asato, DVM — Veterinary Reviewer
Integrative veterinarian · IVAS-certified veterinary acupuncturist · Kailua, Hawaii
Dr. Wendy Asato brings two traditions of medicine to every patient. Since earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 1999, she has combined modern Western veterinary care with Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), choosing the mix that best fits the animal in front of her.
On the Western side, she relies on the evidence-based tools most pet owners already know: X-rays, CT scans, laboratory testing, prescription medications and surgery, used to find and treat problems as they come up. On the Eastern side, TCVM looks at the whole animal rather than a single symptom, using herbal formulas, acupuncture and other therapies that aim to bring the body's systems back into balance. Having both approaches on hand lets her match the care to each pet instead of the other way around.
Dr. Asato is certified in veterinary acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS). She began studying acupuncture and holistic medicine with leading practitioners while still in veterinary school and has since completed extensive additional TCVM training in Chinese herbal medicine, Tui-na (a therapeutic form of massage) and nutrition, along with courses in aromatherapy and ozone therapy. She has also served as a teaching assistant for veterinary acupuncture courses and is a contributing author of a veterinary textbook chapter.
Her path to veterinary medicine started in an unexpected place: she first worked as an electrical engineer, and she still brings an engineer's careful, step-by-step thinking to complex cases. In more than two decades of private practice in California and Hawaii, she has cared for dogs, cats, rabbits and other small mammals, and she once co-owned her own veterinary hospital. Today she practices in Kailua, on the windward side of Oahu.
Credentials & Experience
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 1999
- Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS)
- Advanced TCVM training in Chinese herbal medicine, Tui-na and nutrition
- Additional training in aromatherapy and ozone therapy
- Private practice with small animals and small mammals in California and Hawaii
- Former co-owner of a veterinary hospital
- Contributing author of a veterinary textbook chapter and former teaching assistant for veterinary acupuncture courses
- Licensed veterinarian in Hawaii
Her Role at LibertyPaw
Dr. Asato reviews LibertyPaw's supplement formulas, supplement product information and health articles for veterinary accuracy. Our articles share general information and are not a substitute for veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. For any specific concern about your pet, please see your own veterinarian.