About Dr. Kara Gendron

Disease can be complicated, and when it becomes chronic or resistant to treatment, it can be frustrating as well. Illness does not occur simply because of genetics or old age. Nearly every aspect of a pet's life can influence their health and predispose them to disease. On the flip side, those same factors can also support health and resilience.

While the primary focus of our appointments will be treating your pet's illness and addressing your concerns, I also take time to understand your pet's health history, personality, lifestyle, natural instincts, environment, nutrition, stress, exercise, and rest. All of these factors can influence how a pet feels and how well their body is able to cope with disease.

One case that has stayed with me was a dog with chronic pancreatitis who had been hospitalized several times in just a few months. Her owner was beginning to wonder whether her quality of life was still good enough to continue. We spent nearly an hour talking through the things that could trigger a flare for this particular dog, including dehydration, hunger, and overexertion. I explained what living with a chronic disease could look like day to day and suggested simple changes, such as offering a small meal and some water before and after walks.

I didn't change her medications or prescribe a new diet. Those aspects of her care were already appropriate. Instead, our conversation gave her owner practical tools for managing her dog's condition at home. She remained out of the hospital for the next eight months while I continued caring for her.

Through my studies of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and my own experience with chronic illness, I have come to appreciate just how important lifestyle and daily routines can be to health and quality of life. By understanding these influences, we can better treat disease, support the body's resilience, and sometimes reduce the risk of problems developing in the first place.

Acupuncture, herbal medicine, and food therapy can provide additional tools for supporting the body alongside appropriate conventional veterinary care. By combining these approaches with a deeper understanding of the factors influencing a pet's health, we can create a more individualized plan to help pets feel better, stay comfortable, and live well.

I have lived with chronic, heritable migraines for most of my life, and they have shaped how I experience the world. At their worst, I was experiencing pain almost every day.

Living with a chronic illness was difficult for me to accept. I was determined to live just like everyone around me, but I struggled with things that seemed effortless for others. A long day at work could leave me bedridden the next day, or an enjoyable hike with friends could trigger a migraine. Dehydration, overexertion, missed meals, certain foods, bright lights, overheating, and lack of sleep could all set one off. I felt like I was walking a constant tightrope, trying to avoid triggers while still living my life, and I was continually losing my balance.

I gradually learned that managing a chronic condition involves more than finding the right medication. Although medication was an important part of my treatment, I also had to pay close attention to nutrition, sleep, stress, exercise, and the demands of my daily life. With these changes I saw dramatic improvement to my pain, but I was still experiencing migraines about once a week.

That was when I began exploring acupuncture. Alongside the improvements I had already made through conventional medical care and lifestyle changes, acupuncture became another important part of my journey. I experienced further improvement and a greater sense of freedom from pain, and I became fascinated by the potential of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine to complement conventional treatment.

I knew I wanted to bring these approaches into my own veterinary practice. So many pets receive appropriate medications, prescription diets, and attentive veterinary care, yet continue to struggle with chronic illness. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine offer additional tools that may help support these patients and improve their quality of life.

Although living with chronic migraines is a difficult one, this experience has given me a personal understanding of the challenges of chronic illness. I know how much it can affect everyday life, how frustrating it can be when symptoms persist despite appropriate treatment, and how important it is to look at the bigger picture. I bring that understanding to my work with every patient, with the hope of helping pets feel better and giving their families more ways to support them.

My own journey with chronic illness is ongoing, and I'm still learning more about what it means to support health and healing. That curiosity continues to shape the veterinarian I want to be. I'm committed to continuing my education, exploring new ways to support my patients, and remaining open to approaches that may help animals feel better and live more comfortably.

I have always loved learning. After a particularly influential science class in middle school, science and biology became my passion. When I went to college, I knew I wanted to build my career around understanding living systems.

I decided to start at the cellular level so I could understand the body not only by how its organs function, but also by what is happening within the cells of those organs. I earned two bachelor's degrees from the University of Colorado, one in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and the other in Neuroscience. I then added in my other love: animals, and continued to Colorado State University, where I earned a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences with a focus in veterinary medicine.

In 2018, I earned my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University. After graduating, I spent seven years in small animal general practice, providing medical care, preventive medicine, and surgery for cats and dogs. I loved practicing veterinary medicine and found deep satisfaction in helping pets and their people, but eventually I realized I needed to find a different way to practice.

After my own experience with acupuncture, I became interested in veterinary acupuncture and the broader principles of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. I was drawn to the idea of looking at the whole patient and considering not only disease, but also the many factors that influence health and quality of life. I pursued my veterinary acupuncture education through Chi University and became a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA) in 2026.

I have also continued my TCVM education through additional continuing education in herbal medicine and food therapy. While I am not certified in either of these areas, I am continuing to build my knowledge so I can thoughtfully incorporate these approaches when they are appropriate for my patients.

Learning is a lifelong journey, and it is one I didn't always have enough time for in a busy general practice setting. One of the things I love about Whole Companion Veterinary Care is that I now have the opportunity to continue learning about animal health, treating disease, and supporting long-term wellness, and to bring that growing knowledge to every patient I see.

I created Whole Companion Veterinary Care because I wanted to build a practice where a pet is fully comfortable during their appointment, and there is truly time to look at the whole patient.

As a mobile veterinarian, I come to you, and your pet doesn’t have to experience the stress of going to a clinic. I also intentionally allow more time for each visit. That means having the conversations that are sometimes difficult to fit into a traditional appointment: What is your pet eating? How much are they drinking? What does their daily activity and routine look like? Are they getting enough rest? Are they stressed? What are their natural instincts and behavioral needs? What patterns have you noticed at home?

These more in-depth questions help me better understand you and your pet, and allow me insight into what your pet needs. My goal is to help pets feel better today while also giving their families practical ways to support their health over time.

I don't believe integrative medicine needs to replace conventional veterinary care. Instead, I want to combine the best of both approaches and consider the individual animal, their medical needs, their environment, and their quality of life.

Every pet is more than a diagnosis. They are a whole companion, and they deserve to be treated that way.