Big Valley Vet's Integrative Care Providers
BIO SHORTCUTS:
Dr. Shelby Watson
Dr. Rawnie Torres
Dr. Jamie Walkush
Big Valley Vet provides integrative veterinary care for cats, dogs, rabbits and ferrets of the Kitsap Peninsula and surrounding areas. Our services are designed to enhance the health and wellness of our companion animals through exceptional nutrition and complementary therapies that focus on achieving balance within the body.
Modern holistic care is very comprehensive in scope, yet it can also be utilized in concert with the treatment already provided by your family veterinarian, filling in the gaps in Western medicine.
Dr. Shelby Watson
"Challenges in treating my own greyhound with skin allergies led me to explore other treatment options, particularly nutrition and raw feeding. Ten years of emergency work showed me that conventional veterinary medicine is fantastic for treating acute illness and traumatic injuries, yet it is not always optimum for more nuanced and chronic problems like recurrent infections, cancer, arthritis, and allergies. As animal lovers, we just want our furry kids to have vibrant happy lives without suffering; holistic medicine gives me more tools to make them feel better- in fact, to facilitate their own bodies' ability to heal so they can really be better."
Dr. Watson founded Big Valley Vet in June 2016. She took over the clinic facility and wonderful client base of Dr. Michael Cable, who retired after 40+ years in practice.
Degrees & Continuing Education
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Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, 2002, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
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Certified Veterinary Food Therapist (CVFT), 2013, Chi Institute
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Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA), 2015, International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS)
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Natural Nutrition, 2013, College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies (CIVT)
Dr. Rawnie Torres
Rawnie has been working in the veterinary field since 2004. She graduated from Washington State University (GO COUGS) in 2013 and was part of one of the first groups of vet students to study acupuncture at the China Agricultural University in Beijing. Dr. Torres has also received training in Veterinary Medical Manipulation.
Since graduating from WSU, Rawnie quickly realized that the best way to treat her patients was with a holistic approach that focuses on the whole animal and not just the disease process. Rawnie enjoys integrative medicine where the best of both Eastern and Western approaches are used to provide exceptional care to her patients. She is currently pursuing her Master's in TCVM thru the Chi University. Rawnie and her husband of 15+ years are originally from Los Angeles, CA. They enjoy hiking, camping, and going places where there is “no cell phone reception or traffic sounds.” They are owned by their zoo of animals: 3 tiny humans, 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 turtles, several freshwater fish, and a snake.
Dr. Jamie Walkush
Dr. Walkush has been helping us seasonally since 2021. Also a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and currently immersed in Chinese herb training and certification, Dr. Walkush, too, comes to us with broad experience in fast-paced day and emergency practice. She is deeply committed to tailoring her treatment plans to best serve the complete physical and emotional health of each of her adored patients, and is looking forward to the expanded opportunity to harmonize and transform her patients in an integrative setting.
Dr. Walkush moved here from the Midwest and loves everything the PNW has to offer. She studied Animal Science at the University of Wisconsin River Falls and worked as a licensed veterinary technician before advancing to veterinary school. She studied vet medicine abroad on St. Kitts at Ross University and did her clinical year at the Royal Vet College in London, England.
Jamie studied acupuncture at Chi University and is currently pursuing additional certification in functional nutrition. Her interests include palliative care, integrative medicine, management of chronic pain, soft tissue surgery, and wound care.
In her free time, Jamie enjoys volunteering and works to bring veterinary care to underserved populations. She also is an avid hiker and backpacker and enjoys gardening, travel, photography, kayaking, and cooking. She shares her home with the best dogs in the world!