WSU veterinarian leads growing field focused on mobility, pain and quality of life

Success for Washington State University veterinarian Dr. Jessica Bunch is often as simple as a senior dog playfully picking up a toy for the first time in years or an old cat feeling secure enough to jump from the floor to join its owner on the bed.

For the past decade, Bunch has been one of the few veterinarians in the Pacific Northwest to focus solely on integrative medicine, a growing area of veterinary care that combines traditional treatment with therapies such as rehabilitation and acupuncture to improve mobility, manage pain and enhance quality of life for patients. During that time, she built the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital's Integrative Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Service from the ground up, and this spring, she became board certified in veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation, making her the only currently practicing veterinarian in Washington with the credential.

"Earning board certification allows me to keep pushing forward and bring new approaches into how we manage pain, mobility and quality of life for our patients," Bunch said. "Ultimately, it's about helping them move more comfortably and stay engaged in their daily lives."

In addition to her specialty board certification, Bunch holds certifications in canine rehabilitation, acupuncture and as a veterinary pain practitioner. Through the Integrative Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Service, she offers physical rehabilitation, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, massage, individualized treatment plans and more designed to improve comfort, function and overall well-being.

Bunch graduated from WSU with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2002 and spent the early part of her career in general veterinary practices in Washington and Idaho. Over time, she developed an interest in pain management and mobility care, and in 2016, she returned to WSU to help launch the new Integrative Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Service.

Bunch and leaders at WSU were initially unsure whether the service would succeed, but it has steadily grown and now operates at full capacity, drawing both self-referred clients and veterinary referrals.

"We're often double booked so we can help more patients," Bunch said. "I might be working with a student on one case while our technicians are running another. It's a team effort."

Bunch sees a wide range of patients, from younger animals recovering from injury to canine athletes returning to competition. But most, she said, are senior or neurologic patients, many with multiple underlying conditions affecting mobility and comfort.

Because she often works with the same patients over time, Bunch builds meaningful relationships with both patients and their owners - something she considers one of the most rewarding parts of her work.

"We see our patients regularly, sometimes for the rest of their lives, and many get excited when they come in," she said. "You build a relationship not just with them, but with their owners, too."

One of those owners is Pullman resident Carmel Travis, who for years was a regular visitor with her two senior dogs, Angel and Ginger, both of whom were dealing with conditions that affected their mobility. While both dogs have since passed, Travis is grateful for the care they received, which helped them remain mobile and comfortable later in life.

"I feel grateful to live in a town that has these services available," Travis said. "Anyone who is able to be cared for by Dr. Bunch and her team is very fortunate. It's all about mobility and quality of life."

I love working with students and being able to pass this on. Most of them won't specialize in this area, but they can take those skills with them and use them in practice to help their patients.

In addition to helping improve the quality of life for many pets, Bunch is also committed to educating future veterinarians. Students in their final year of training can choose to complete a rotation in the service and gain irreplaceable hands-on experience.

"I love working with students and being able to pass this on," she said. "Most of them won't specialize in this area, but they can take those skills with them and use them in practice to help their patients."

Now that she is board certified, Bunch hopes to develop an advanced training program at WSU for interns or residents interested in the specialty. Those trainees would not only help address the shortage of veterinarians in the field but also expand the service's capacity to treat additional patients.

In the long term, Bunch also hopes to grow the service's physical space to allow for additional offerings and increased patient volume, though funding and space constraints within the Veterinary Teaching Hospital present ongoing challenges.

"There aren't many training programs like this yet," she said. "The next step is to be able to train interns or residents so we can continue growing the field and helping more patients."