Aubreen Vets: Holistic Health for Happy Pets

Dr. Caroline Wood is the passionate owner of Aubreen Veterinary Hospital in Collaroy Plateau. Sparked by a personal experience that transformed her approach to animal health, she’s now built a pioneering space for integrative pet care on The Beaches.

Local veterinarian Dr. Caroline Wood has always been passionate about giving animals the best possible care. After graduating in 2011, she took over Collaroy Plateau Vet in 2015, later renaming it Aubreen Veterinary Hospital. Her journey into integrative veterinary medicine was sparked by a deeply personal experience, helping her in-laws’ dog, Johnny, navigate a rare kidney sarcoma.

“The specialist team did an amazing job with his surgery, but there was so much uncertainty about whether the cancer would spread or how long he had. He was on oral chemotherapy, and I started looking into what else we could do to support him,” Caroline recalls. That search led her to integrative veterinary medicine, a growing field that blends conventional treatments with herbal and holistic therapies.

“There’s a solid and growing body of scientific evidence for herbal treatments, and a wealth of anecdotal knowledge from different cultures. If something has the potential to help without causing harm, it’s worth exploring,” she says. At Aubreen Vet, this philosophy is applied to a variety of common conditions, including allergic skin issues, cancer, and epilepsy. The clinic has a team of over 15 professionals, all dedicated to a comprehensive and patient-centred approach.

“Many of my clients already use integrative and naturopathic therapies for themselves, so it’s only natural that they want the same for their pets. There’s no single magic solution for health, and pet owners today are more informed and open to different options,” Caroline explains. The demand for alternative therapies has been rising, and even veterinary specialists are starting to incorporate them. “Herbal joint supplements, milk thistle, and even cannabis oil are being used more widely,” she notes.

Caroline is careful to emphasise that holistic treatments don’t replace conventional medicine but can complement it. “Often, herbal options aren’t a standalone treatment. If a dog comes in with cardiac disease, I will always prescribe conventional medications. But for conditions like chronic kidney disease, where conventional options are limited, having additional tools to improve quality of life is invaluable.”

A Deeper Approach to Wellness

Aubreen Vet’s focus goes beyond just treating symptoms. It’s about uncovering the root causes of health issues, and nutrition plays a big role in that. “Not every disease can be cured with diet, but poor nutrition will make any condition worse. We assess nutrition and microbiome health to ensure we’re addressing underlying causes,” Caroline explains.

Despite the challenges, she remains committed to pushing integrative veterinary medicine forward, seeing obstacles as opportunities for learning and growth. “It still surprises me that this approach is relatively rare, especially here on the Beaches,” she says. “For me, it just makes sense to dig deeper and explore every possible avenue to help an animal, rather than just offering quick fixes.”

Balancing a thriving practice with family life isn’t always easy, especially as a mother of four young children. But she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I’m always popping into the clinic with the kids in tow, and it’s a busy household with three pets, plus Johnny, who’s now eight and still going strong.”

With more pet owners looking for holistic care, Aubreen Vet is helping pave the way for a more well-rounded approach to veterinary medicine. And for local pet owners, having that kind of care close to home is a definite win.

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