About

Dr. Barbara Royal graduated with high honors from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995.  Initially, Dr. Royal, like most veterinarians, was skeptical of alternative medicine, but she found conventional medicine to be inadequate to fully meet the needs of her patients.

After witnessing the effectiveness of acupuncture and herbal medicines, Dr. Royal decided to become as competent and confident with alternative medicine as she was with conventional medicine and to incorporate both into her own practice.

To this end, she has completed training in Acupuncture at the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 1998, Western and Chinese Herbal Medicine at Tufts University, and Animal Physical Therapy and Healing Techniques at the University of Tennessee.

This training and her experience as a veterinarian at Family Pet Animal Hospital, as an emergency veterinarian at Animal 911 and Animal Emergency and Critical Care, and as a specialist at The Veterinary Specialty Center have provided her with a unique and comprehensive understanding of the capabilities and synergies of Western and Eastern medicine. Skillfully uniting the art and the science of medicine, she works to bring animals into full function and to provide a foundation to prevent further illness or injury.

Dr. Royal has many years of experience in Western medicine, emergency medicine, surgery and chronic care, which she combines with years of experience as an alternative practitioner in acupuncture, herbal medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation.  She has worked for many years at the Veterinary Specialty Center overseeing cases in TheraPET, the alternative specialty for the Center.

Dr. Royal has been trained to work with many species of animals, including exotics and zoo animals, and she consults with the local zoos for alternative treatments on their animals and lectures nationally and internationally.  She has a strong success record with her patients, and she is as fiercely loyal to them as they are to her.   Most of her patients are referred by word-of-mouth recommendations from other clients. She feels very lucky to do what she loves every day.

Dr. Royal writes a regular Pet Rx column for the Pioneer Press and is a regular contributer to the Greyhound Magazine, The Skinny.

Dr. Royal has been featured in a number of articles and broadcasts including:

190 NORTH (ABC) March 2007

WGN Around Town January 2007, March 2006

The New York Times, Science Times, “Acupuncture Moves Toward the Mainstream,” by Anahad O’Connor. September 28, 2004.

Newsweek, “Animal Acupuncture,” by Pamela Hamer.  December 20, 2004.

Chicago Tribune, “Acupuncture Hits the Spot for Camel,” by William Mullen. September 8, 2004.

Chicago Sun Times, “On the Job She Gets Kicked and Spat On,” by Andrew Herrmann.  September 8, 2004.

Bark Magazine, “Shots heard round the dog world,” by Barbara Royal. February 2007

Living Without, “Animal Crackers, Which Food is the Best Treat for Your Pet,” by Judy Sutton Taylor, Winter 2005.

Time Out Chicago,  featuring “Stella Sutton” in the underwater treadmill