About Dr. Carolina Ikard
Dr. Carolina Ikard is a holistic veterinarian who specializes in end-of-life care for cats and dogs in Phoenix, Arizona. She founded Luna Veterinary Care to provide pets (and their people) with exceptional, in-home veterinary care.
After learning Eastern medicine techniques that could make a difference in pets where traditional medicine couldn’t, she decided to combine the best of both practices and offers integrative veterinary services.
“This job really fills my cup,” says Dr. Ikard. “I get to team up with pet parents and spend as much time with them as needed. It’s so gratifying to help animals feel good, even at the end of their lives. And I also get to help them pass in the most peaceful, gentle way.”
Growing Up
Dr. Ikard was passionate about animals from an early age. She grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, showing and training dogs for conformation and performance events with her mother. Along with dog sports, she also showed horses in Western performance events. Her early experiences and the tight human-animal bonds she formed inspired her to become a veterinarian.
Becoming a Veterinarian
When she was fifteen, Dr. Ikard began working as a veterinary assistant. She continued to work in veterinary clinics throughout high school, college and veterinary school. Dr. Ikard earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from New Mexico State University. She then went on to receive her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Auburn University. After veterinary school, Dr. Ikard held a one-year equine internship. Before starting Luna Veterinary Care, she saw both large and small animals as a mixed-animal veterinarian in Texas.
Integrative Veterinary Services at Home
Through Luna Veterinary Care, Dr. Ikard pursues her passion for helping senior pets and applying alternative therapies as needed. She’s able to use a variety of holistic therapies like acupuncture, herbal remedies and nutrition in addition to medication to help cats and dogs feel better.
Dr. Ikard also enjoys providing in-home veterinary hospice care for Phoenix pets. She gets to see cats and dogs in their natural setting where they’re most at ease. She can recommend ways to make the home environment safer and more comfortable for pets with medical challenges.
And when it’s time to say goodbye and release pets from suffering, she feels honored to be a part of their peaceful passing at home.
Personal Interests
Outside of work, Dr. Ikard spends time with her family and friends hiking, paddleboarding and traveling. She enjoys riding horses, cooking and reading as many books as she can. She’s also an instructor at a local dog agility school and performs agility sports with her own two dogs, Violet and Tru. Her cat Toulouse keeps the couch warm while Dr. Ikard and the dogs are away.