Holistic veterinary medicine with heart.
The specialist practice in Thalfang.
News
For our 5-E™ Veterinary Practice, we are looking for a Veterinary Technician starting in January 2026.
Emergency service schedule
To ensure that our patients are well cared for outside of office hours, there is a regional emergency service schedule. Please contact the veterinarian on duty.
Your holistic veterinarian – modern veterinary medicine for dogs and cats
Your animal is the focus of attention—with all its facets, its history, and its needs. At the holistic 5-E™ veterinary practice of veterinarian Thomas Backhaus, Europe's leading veterinary practice for complementary animal medicine, we combine modern veterinary medicine and diagnostics with naturopathy, osteopathy, laser therapy, and traditional Chinese medicine. This means that dogs and cats receive individualized care that not only treats symptoms but also strengthens your pet's health from the ground up.
Understanding animals – not just treating them
Focus areas of our 5-E™ veterinary practice
Genuine care, deep insight, and personalized therapies.
Regulatory medicine
We get to the root of the problem: With the 5-E™ methodology, we identify energetic and physical blockages and treat not only the symptoms, but their underlying causes – individually tailored to dogs and cats.
Vital Blood Analysis
With the dark field method, we gain a unique insight into the internal environment of the blood – often long before conventional laboratory values become abnormal.
Oncological supportive therapy
For tumor diseases, we rely on a holistic therapeutic approach that strengthens the body, mind, and immune system – individualized, honest, and backed by over 40 years of experience.
Gastrointestinal diseases
A healthy gut is the basis for a healthy animal. We treat acute and chronic gastrointestinal diseases with nutrition, intestinal rehabilitation and targeted root cause analysis.
Nutritional medicine
Food is medicine – when it’s done right. We develop individual feeding concepts based on your animal’s constitution, energetic state, medical history and the 5-E™ health principles.
Pain Therapy & Mobility
Whether osteoarthritis, post-operative recovery or blockages within the musculoskeletal system: with laser therapy, osteopathy, manual techniques and fascial work, we support regeneration gently and effectively – for dogs and cats.
Our mission
With heart, knowledge, and time: for veterinary medicine that goes deeper.
“For me, holistic medicine means keeping animals healthy and happy in the long term.” – Veterinarian Thomas Backhaus
Our mission is not only to treat animals, but to truly understand them. Because true health comes when the body, mind, and energy are in balance.
Veterinarian Thomas Backhaus is convinced that successful therapy takes into account both the physical systems and the energetic processes that can underlie any disease. In his work, he combines modern medical knowledge—such as mitochondrial medicine—with alternative, natural healing methods and over 40 years of practical experience.
As a specialist in holistic veterinary medicine, he founded the “Tierärztliche Praxis zur Römischen Villa” veterinary practice in Longuich in 1996. Today, he runs the 5-E™ Tierarztpraxis Thomas Backhaus veterinary practice in Thalfang and the coaching center for integrative veterinary medicine. He oversees product development at “Das Gesunde Tier” from a veterinary perspective and coaches our DGT MEDICAL Vet Team as chief veterinarian. He is an author, international speaker, and shares his knowledge with colleagues at home and abroad.
Whether with laser, PRP, dark field microscopy, or nutritional medicine: we believe in veterinary medicine that takes an honest look, identifies causes, and develops individual solutions. For animals that feel seen—and owners who feel understood.
Our team of experts for your pet
Veterinarian Thomas Backhaus is convinced that successful treatments can only be achieved if the entire organism is considered, with all its systems and energetic connections. That is why our practice combines modern veterinary medicine with natural and alternative healing methods. This holistic approach characterizes the work of our entire team, which cares for your animal's health with expertise and compassion.
What our patients say
Trust you can feel – experiences that touch your heart.
The veterinary assistant was also wonderful in the way she handled my dog.
A truly wonderful practice — Dr. Backhaus is an outstanding veterinarian and handled my dog Pepper with so much care. The veterinary assistant was also fantastic with my dog, even though he was very fidgety during the blood draw. A thousand thanks. So glad you exist!
Read more "The veterinary assistant was also wonderful in the way she handled my dog."
Heinz Peter
Already within the first week, our dog Roxy started to feel better.
After months of struggling with pancreatitis, gallbladder issues, and a spleen dysfunction, we followed the recommendation of our local veterinarian and searched for a specialist — which led us to Dr. Backhaus’ practice. Even though the journey took almost two hours, it was absolutely worth it.
Read more "Already within the first week, our dog Roxy started to feel better."
Jarmila C.
For me, the best veterinarian I have ever had the chance to meet.
For me, the best veterinarian I have ever had the pleasure to meet. I truly admire people who have the courage to see things from a different perspective, to take a new path — and when that results in such a wonderful gift for both humans and animals, it’s a jackpot.
Read more "For me, the best veterinarian I have ever had the chance to meet."
John Müller
This practice and its team are simply incredibly good.
This practice and its team are simply outstanding. Unfortunately, I only discovered them now… but I am truly amazed and grateful. This is exactly how a veterinary practice should be. In just 8 weeks, we’ve come further than in 6 years of struggle.
Read more "This practice and its team are simply incredibly good."
Katja Gleichmann
The environment and the care are excellent.
As an alternative veterinary practice, simply TOP. We are always happy to make the trip to see Mr. Backhaus with our dogs. The environment and the care are excellent. Our dogs also love coming here and feel completely at ease. The staff are always friendly and helpful. Please stay just the way you are ❤️❤️❤️
Read more "The environment and the care are excellent."
Christina Steffen
Magazine for animal health
Comprehensive insights into health, nutrition, and modern therapies.
The so-called PRP procedure (platelet-rich plasma) in veterinary practice is a modern, biologically based method.
Read more: Activate rather than suppress: How PRP can support the body's own regeneration in dogs
Autologous blood desensitization is a particularly gentle yet deep-acting form of therapy.
Read more: Regulating allergies naturally: How the autologous blood method influences the immune systemFrequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about our practice and therapies.
Our practice combines innovative, modern veterinary medicine with holistic approaches in an integrative concept. We unite conventional medicine with complementary methods, including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), supported by more than 40 years of professional experience.
The 5-E™ Health System, developed by veterinarian Thomas Backhaus, is based on five essential pillars and enables an individual, holistic treatment plan for every animal.
What makes us unique:
- Compassionate, gentle handling of every animal
- Sufficient time for thorough examinations and consultations
- Active involvement of pet owners in the healing process
- Advanced diagnostic and therapeutic methods from modern medicine
- Individual therapies and support – regardless of the animal’s health status
We are the only veterinary practice in Germany following this unique integrative approach. Every animal – no matter how ill – receives a treatment or support plan tailored to its specific needs.
Many illnesses have underlying causes that cannot be treated with medication alone. In veterinary medicine, a standardised approach is often used: problem A automatically leads to solution B – but the body doesn’t work that way.
Our compassionate, integrative veterinary medicine goes beyond treating symptoms. We look at the animal as a whole and consider all influencing factors to identify the true causes of disease and address them sustainably. We also take deliberate time for essential areas such as nutritional medicine and micronutrients – aspects often overlooked in conventional veterinary care.
Benefits of holistic veterinary medicine:
- Holistic identification of root causes instead of pure symptom treatment
- Individual therapy concepts for every animal
- Consideration of nutrition, environmental factors and lifestyle
The 5-E™ Veterinary Practice of Dr. Thomas Backhaus is a specialist clinic for holistic veterinary medicine. We focus on complex, chronic, or previously unsuccessful cases that require in-depth diagnostics and individual therapeutic approaches.
Examples of our core areas:
- Chronic itching or recurring ear infections in dogs
- Gastrointestinal issues such as IBD or sensitive digestion
- Osteoarthritis, joint diseases & specialised surgeries such as hip dysplasia operations
- Integrative oncological support during cancer treatment
- Fitness support & regeneration
- Kidney, liver or pancreatic diseases
What we do not offer:
- Emergency medicine & acute care (e.g., poisoning, severe injuries, emergency surgeries)
- Vaccinations & routine treatments for new patients that your regular veterinarian can perform
(we only provide these for existing patients or puppies) - Treatment of minor injuries (e.g., torn nails)
If your animal needs long-term support for a chronic condition or a holistic assessment of its health problems, you are in the right place with us.
For acute emergencies or routine treatments, we recommend contacting your primary veterinarian or an emergency clinic.
Our practice is specialised in the treatment of dogs and cats.
Our practice offers a comprehensive range of medical services that combines conventional veterinary medicine with innovative, holistic approaches.
Conventional & Holistic Diagnostics
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General veterinary examinations
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Laboratory diagnostics (blood analysis, organ parameters, inflammation markers)
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X-ray, ultrasound, cardiac ultrasound
Surgery & Modern Surgical Techniques
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PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) – regenerative therapy for joints & tendons
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Modern osteoarthritis treatment with laser therapy
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Hip dysplasia surgery (HD surgery) developed by veterinarian Thomas Backhaus – an individual surgical concept
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Tumour removal & surgical procedures for skin and soft-tissue tumours
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Additional surgical procedures on request
Specialised Areas
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Vital blood analysis – holistic blood diagnostics
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Integrative oncological support
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Musculoskeletal system: osteopathy, physiotherapy & pain management
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Gastrointestinal diseases (e.g., IBD) & chronic skin problems (e.g., itching, allergies)
Naturopathic & Integrative Therapy Methods
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Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), bioresonance, ozone therapy & infusions
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Laser and light therapy for pain reduction & cellular regeneration
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Phytotherapy & homeopathy
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Individual nutritional counselling & feeding concepts
As we are a specialist practice and take sufficient time for each patient, we work exclusively with appointments. It is not possible to visit us spontaneously without an appointment.
There are various ways to make an appointment:
- Preparation at home:
Fill out the questionnaire in advance and upload any existing medical findings. - Initial consultation & examination:
Every dog additionally receives the 5-E Energy Scan to identify tension and blockages. - Diagnostics & therapy plan:
If necessary, we perform further diagnostic tests. Afterwards, we create an individual nutrition and therapy plan tailored to your animal.
Please bring: Vaccination record, previous medical reports, current diet and medications.
If online support is desired, this can be provided through DGT MEDICAL.
As a specialist practice, we intentionally take a great deal of time for each patient. At the same time, we value fair pricing and only carry out examinations and treatments that are truly necessary and meaningful.
You are welcome to request a cost estimate before we begin any treatment.
Which payment options are available?
- Payment by debit card (EC card) or invoice on site
- Cash payments are not possible