The Glasgow vets who prescribe mistletoe and mushrooms

Reagan and Jordan Carnwath are sisters and holistic vets

Twin vets from Glasgow want pet owners to consider complementary therapies such as acupuncture and herbal remedies for their pets, as well as evidence-based medicine.

Reagan and Jordan Carnwath, who are qualified vets, opened a holistic vet practice in January, which they say offers therapies to supplement the usual treatments vets prescribe.

The "holistic vets" say pet owners should think about their animals' health as a whole.

The sisters say considering the overall wellbeing of an animal includes supplementing traditional treatments with complimentary treatments and herbal remedies made from the likes of camomile, mistletoe and burdock, as well as addressing diet, exercise and emotional well-being.

Jordan said: "People are taking on that wellness mindset for themselves and their animals. We encourage regular check-ups and an appropriate good diet to keep their pets healthy."

Reagan said they had achieved some good results using herbal medicine alongside conventional treatments

Reagan told BBC Radio Scotland's Kaye Adams programme: "We both loved being vets and enjoyed what we were doing. But we saw more animals with long-term diseases that nothing could be done for.

"We both had an interest in herbs and herbal medicines having used them within our family and with our own pets.

"So we both did postgraduate studies and gained certificates in herbal medicine and acupuncture."

After the twins, 29, graduated in veterinary medicine from Glasgow University, they both worked in traditional vets' practices.

'Primarily we are vets'

Their special "referral" practice in the southside of Glasgow opened in January. It offers treatments to complement the evidence-based practice that is carried out alongside evidence-based treatments by the pet's regular vet.

They say their supplementary treatments bring encouraging results, but not everyone believes in the value of what they offer.

Reagan said: "When you practice in a non-conventional way there will always be people who are sceptical. We try to reassure people by letting them know that primarily we are vets.

"We have a knowledge of conventional medicine and how best to incorporate our treatments alongside it.

"We use evidenced-based medicine and the health and welfare of our patients is at the forefront of everything we do."

She added: "At first people were unsure, wondering if we were real vets but the more they see the results the happier they are to come to us. And more vets are sending animals through to us too."

A 'complement' to evidence-based medicine

Ian Ramsey is a professor of small animal medicine at Glasgow University.

He says that quite a few vets use complementary therapies, and that this is generally fine as long as these are used alongside evidence-based medicine.

Prof Ramsey said treatment should be based on sound scientific evidence that supports the safety and efficacy of the treatments.

He added that this evidence did exist to some extent for acupuncture and herbal remedies.

The surgery's dispensing room is like a set from Harry Potter - shelves contain tinctures, dried herbs and and medicines made from a myriad of plants including camomile, mistletoe and burdock.

And he pointed out that many conventional treatments have roots in herbal remedies - such as aspirin, the oldest medicine in the world, which has its roots in willow bark.

Many herbal remedies, though, are impure and un-concentrated versions of some drugs - which can make it difficult to make sure doses are correct.

Daniella Dos Santos, president of the British Veterinary Association, said that complementary medicines should be used alongside, and never as an alternative to, conventional medicine.

She added: "The important thing is to talk to your veterinary surgeon about all treatment options to make sure that you get the right option for you and your pet.

"In the interest of animal health and welfare, all veterinary treatments should be based on sound scientific evidence."