Andreas Lanzilotti is an integrative animal therapist working with dogs and cats in a veterinary practice near Bern, Switzerland. It took him a long time to find this profession—he likes to joke that he first completed some very extensive “preclinical studies.” After working in several different professions and managing health challenges of his own, he began an internship in a veterinary practice at the age of 53. This marked the beginning of a completely new career. More than 25 years ago, he adopted his first own dog—a decision that became a major turning point. Since then, he has shared his life with five dogs, caring for them through chronic illness, aggression and other behavioural challenges, old age and loss. In many ways, dogs have been lifesavers for him, as well as some of his most important teachers. Andreas has trained in canine osteopathy, fascial therapy, acupuncture for pain relief, and animal nutrition. His continuing education combines classical TCVM approaches with acupuncture systems originally developed for human medicine, including the Balance Method, Master Tung acupuncture, and Neoclassical Acupuncture, which he is exploring for use in animals. He has also completed numerous webinars and short courses through CIVT and other continuing education providers to strengthen his foundations while broadening his therapeutic range through herbal medicine, medicinal mushrooms and other integrative methods. He is particularly interested in practical, structured methods that provide clear feedback and can be adapted to each animal. For him, integrative medicine is not simply a collection of techniques, but a broader philosophy of care: a way of looking at the whole animal, its history, its environment and its relationship with the owner. For Andreas, therapeutic depth comes not from accumulating knowledge alone, but from combining it with real-life experience, curiosity, empathy and careful observation.
