Veterinary Holistic Care
Our Doctors
Dr. Nicholas Albano DVM, CVA
Dr Albano has been practicing veterinary medicine since he graduated from the veterinary school at Virginia Tech in 2002. After graduation, he completed an intensive one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital. Dr Albano then spent years working only in emergency and critical care medicine at a large referral hospital outside of Baltimore, Maryland. He brought his desire to practice high-quality medicine to general practice and worked as a general practitioner for years in Howard County Maryland.
After many years of general practice, Dr Albano began to look for alternative methods of treatment especially for his patients with chronic conditions where conventional methods had failed to resolve the problem. This brought him to the Chi Institute where he studied basic, advanced and evidence-based acpuncture and chinese medicine. Here he learned of the benefits of age-old healing methods, herbal medicines, and proper nutrition. He successfully completed all requirements to become Certified in Veterinary Acupuncture (CVA), and continues to study eastern and western herbs as well as traditional veterinary medicine.
Dr Albano is a strong believer in unifying alternative and traditional medicine. He finds that alternative and traditional medicines are NOT mutually exclusive, and in fact often can work synergistically to provide a higher level of care than either one is able to do alone. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Holistic Medicine Association (AHVMA).
When not working Dr Albano enjoys cooking, scuba diving, and spending time with his wife and two young daughters.
Dr. Monique Maniet DVM, CVA, CVCH
Born in Brussels, Belgium, Dr. Maniet received her veterinary degree from the University of Liege in 1976 and established a private practice in the Washington, DC area in 1979. She has studied holistic veterinary medicine extensively through lectures and conferences and has been a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Medicine Association (AHVMA) since 1984.
In 1989, Dr. Maniet successfully completed veterinary acupuncture courses through International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS), and was accredited. Subsequently, Dr. Maniet was certified in Quebec, Canada, by CEDH (Centre Etudes et de Documentation Homeopathiques) upon completion of courses in homeopathy in 1990. In 1996, Dr. Maniet continued her study of veterinary homeopathy with Dr. Richard Pitcairn, DVM, and was certified by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy.
She continues to study nutritional therapy on both humans and animals. She has been the subject of countless magazine and newspaper articles and has appeared on television and radio shows to elaborate on the numerous benefits of veterinary holistic medicine. She lives with her French bulldog, Vladimir, her Mastiff, Diego, and a beautiful, feisty calico cat named Eva.
Dr. Pema Choepel Mallu DVM, CVA
Pema Choepel Mallu has practiced veterinary medicine since graduating from Ohio State University in 1977. Since becoming certified through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 1988, she practices Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, and Chinese Herbology. In the 1980’s, Dr. Pema also completed extensive training in Energy healing. In December 2010, she completed a three year Master’s degree in human Acupuncture from Tai Sophia Institute. Dr. Pema is now a licensed human acupuncturist practicing at the Organic Market and Healing Center of Poolesville, www.itsbetter4you.com. To learn more, go to her website www.drpema.com.
Dr. Pema is an ordained Tibetan Buddhist nun and as such lives life with the notion that all creatures are created equal. Her life is dedicated to the relief of suffering. She lives in her home in Germantown with another nun, Ani Megan, their two Peke-Poos, Oilver and Serena and two African Grey parrots, Oscar and Nimh. In addition, Dr. Pema serves as the volunteer veterinarian for the Buddhists’s no kill dog rescue sanctuary, www.tarasbabies.org and volunteers for the parrot sanctuary, www.garudaaviary.org.
Dr. Kitty Raichura DVM, CVA
Dr. Kitty Raichura is a graduate of Tuskegee University, and has practiced veterinary medicine since 1996. She then completed a postdoctoral, intensive internship program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Since 1992, Dr. Raichura has been a member of the American Veterinary Association (AVMA). She recently joined the American Holistic Veterinary Association (AHVMA) and regularly attends continuing education conferences. She began studying Traditional Chinese Medicine, through the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, in 2004 and practices Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, food therapy, and Tui-Na massage therapy.
