Recommendations for Full Spectrum Veterinarians
Molly Jacobson is a writer and also the editor of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide, published by Maui Media. A lifelong dog lover and self-professed dog health nerd, she is all too familiar with dog cancer. She has been supporting readers of this blog since the beginning. Molly earned a BA from Tufts University, and after a career in bookselling and book publishing attended The Swedish Institute to become a licensed massage therapist in New York State, licensed by the medical board. Her fascination with health is both personal and global, and she is most proud of how this site and the associated publications have revolutionized not only our approach to dog health, but our own health.
Updated: February 18th, 2022
Summary
Full Spectrum Veterinarians are what we call open-minded vets. They focus on what works, no matter what tradition it comes from.
Who’s your favorite veterinarian? Mine is Dr. Demian Dressler, author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide, who started this site way back in 2008. But not everyone can come all the way to Hawaii to see him. The purpose of this post is to help YOU to find your own full spectrum veterinarian. I’ll need your help on that, in a minute. But first, let me explain what I mean by a full spectrum veterinarian.
Full Spectrum Veterinarians
“Full spectrum” is a term Dr. D uses to describe his approach to cancer care and medicine in general. Basically, it boils down to this: use what works, and forget about whether it’s outside or inside the box, particularly when it comes to cancer treatment.
Looking for calm, well-researched, balanced, non-dogmatic advice? Look no further.
As he says in chapter 10 of his book:
Full Spectrum cancer care is based on the assumption that, no matter how much time you may have left with your dog, you can make the best of it … or, as medical professionals say, optimize it. There are many steps you can take, right now, to help your dog, no matter what stage or type of cancer she has – and a lot of these steps are free. – Demian Dressler, DVM
The goal in full spectrum care is to stop worrying so much about whether treatment was something learned in conventional school. Let’s acknowledge that there are answers found in other traditions. For example, acupuncture looks like hogwash to a lot of western medical minds … but it’s been used in Asia for much longer than our style of medicine has. Why would billions of people do something that doesn’t work? There must be something to it, even if we can’t explain it the way we would like to.
When we first published Dr. Dressler’s book in 2008, we heard from lots of veterinarians who said that the dietary changes he recommends were unnecessary, stupid, or harmful. (And worse.) And now? Everyone basically agrees that a low-carb approach to diet benefits not just dogs with cancer, but most dogs.
Things change. We learn new things. And in full spectrum cancer care, when we learn better, we do better. That’s why there are so many things included in it!
- Chemotherapy is not shunned out of hand … but asking about the real numbers behind the protocols is encouraged.
- Supplements are not pooh-poohed … but not everything, only those that have shown REAL evidence to help fight cancer and/or address symptoms.
- Diet and lifestyle is your first priority, not your last priority. They are the foundation of EVERYTHING. And they can make a big difference, right away!
- The relationship between you and your dog is never, ever neglected.
Do You Have a Full Spectrum Veterinarian to Recommend?
So, do you have a veterinarian who is kind, direct, open-minded, and non-dogmatic? Want to recommend her or him? That would be fabulous because one of the most-asked questions we get is “who can I see in my area who understands what’s in the book??”
Use the comment section below to recommend your veterinarian or health practitioner. Make sure that you name your city and state or city and country, so that other people can find them. We’ll be taking your recommendations and making a sort of directory on this site. That way the hundreds of thousands of visitors every year who are trying to figure out how to optimize their dog’s life quality and longevity can find someone local who might be a good team member.
I recommend listing your vet’s first and last name, the name of their hospital, and the city/state/country.
Believe me, you’ll be doing a real good deed for your fellow dog lovers!
And if you are looking for even more advice on finding a veterinarian, make sure to read this article.
Warmest of Aloha,
Molly
Full Spectrum Veterinarians Recommended by Readers
Information provided by readers, so we apologize if this list contains inaccuracies. Please let us know if a veterinarian has moved or changed hospitals. If you don’t see your Full Spectrum veterinarian in the list, use the comment box below to add them to this list!
Alberta, Canada
Dr. Veronica Devall, Calgary Holistic Veterinary Clinic, Calgary
Ontario, Canada
Dr. Ed Beltran, VCA Blair Animal Hospital, Gloucester
Dr. Robert Butler, Guelph Animal Hospital, Guelph
Dr. Tina Hall, Headon Forest Animal Hospital, Burlington
Alaska, USA
Dr. Scott Rapp, Cornerstone Animal Hospital, Anchorage
California, USA
Dr. Vincent Baldanza, Access Specialty Animal Hospital Pasadena, Pasadena
Dr. Signe Beebe, Integrative Veterinary Center, Sacramento
Dr. Lily Chen, Integrative Pet Wellness Center, Rolling Hills Estates
Dr. Michelle Pressel, Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists, Santa Cruz
Dr Carlos Rodriguez Jr., Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center at Thousand Oaks, Thousand Oaks
Dr. Marlene Townsell, Access Specialty Animal Hospital South Bay, Torrance
Dr. Robert Woods, Integrative Veterinary Health Center, Orange
Florida, USA
Dr. Kim Neitzel, Garden Veterinary Clinic, Winter Park
Hawaii, USA
Dr. Demian Dressler, South Shore Veterinary Care, Kihei, Maui
Dr. Fran Miyake, Kapa’a Animal Clinic, Kapa’a, Kaua’i
Illinois, USA
Dr. Barbara Royal (and team), The Royal Treatment Veterinary Center, Chicago
Maine, USA
Dr. Jeff Philibert, Portland Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Care, Portland
Maryland, USA
North Branch Animal Hospital, Cumberland
Michigan, USA
Dr. John Simon, Hartrick Veterinary Clinic, Royal Oak
Minnesota, USA
Dr. Darlene Cook, The Bluffs Pet Clinic, Red Wing
New Jersey, USA
Dr. Stephen Brenn, Oradell Animal Hospital, Paramus
Dr. Kendra Pope, Dr. Kendra Pope, Red Bank
New York, USA
Dr. Karen Johnston, Hampton Veterinary Hospital, Speonk
Ohio, USA
Dr. Jim Carlson, Lifetime Pet Wellness Center, Worthington
Dr. Charles Curie, Geneva Veterinary Clinic, Geneva
Nevada, USA
Dr. Andrew Vaughan, Las Vegas Veterinary Specialist Center, Las Vegas
North Carolina, USA
Dr. Eve Boggs, Harmony Animal Hospital, Apex
Pennsylvania, USA
Dr. Alan Kirmayer, Animal Hospital of Rye, Marysville
Dr. Suzanne Martin, Northern Pike Veterinary Hospital, Monroeville
Dr. Judith Shoemaker, Always Helpful Veterinary Services, Nottingham
Dr. Fiona Tam, Avets, Monroeville
Dr. Sarah Urban, Always Helpful Veterinary Services, Nottingham
Dr. Lisa Whalen, Animal Hospital of Rye, Marysville
Rhode Island, USA
Dr. Sharon Doolittle, Dr. Doolittle’s Holistic Animal Healthcare, Smithfield
South Carolina, USA
Dr. Jeanne Fowler, All About Pets, Travelers Rest
Tennessee, USA
Dr. Shannon Dawkins, Claws and Paws Mobile Veterinary Services, Chattanooga
Texas, USA
Dr. Dan Ahrens, Veterans Memorial Drive Animal Hospital, Houston
Dr. Mary Crist, Veterans Memorial Drive Animal Hospital, Houston
Dr. Elizabeth Pritchard, Rogers Animal Hospital, Corsicana
Washington, USA
Dr. Lena McCullough, Kingdom of Basil, Seattle
Dr. Lisa Parshley, Olympia Veterinary Specialists, Olympia
Molly Jacobson is a writer and also the editor of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide, published by Maui Media. A lifelong dog lover and self-professed dog health nerd, she is all too familiar with dog cancer. She has been supporting readers of this blog since the beginning. Molly earned a BA from Tufts University, and after a career in bookselling and book publishing attended The Swedish Institute to become a licensed massage therapist in New York State, licensed by the medical board. Her fascination with health is both personal and global, and she is most proud of how this site and the associated publications have revolutionized not only our approach to dog health, but our own health.
Dr. Mandi Blackwelder, Healing Arts Animal Care, Beaverton, Oregon
Dr. John Rowe, Aid Animal Hospital, Kansas City, MO (for Full Spectrum vet suggestion)
Dr. Wilber
VCA Brickell Animal Hospital
130 SW 8th Street| Miami, FL 33130| (786) 235 – 7387
Judy Morgan, DVM, Clayton Veterinary Associates, Clayton, NJ
Sheila Kandle, Clayton Veterinary Associates, Clayton, NJ
My wife and I and Milo would like to recommend Doctor Angela Taylor and her team at the Mount Laurel Animal Hospital at 220 Mount Laurel Road, Mount Laurel NJ 08054. When our boy (90 pound Bulloxer) was diagnosed with mast cell cancer we purchased Dr. Dresslers The Dog Cancer Survival Guide and reviewed it over and over again. Milo had his tumor removed and is on his first chemo protocol. Along with the chem protocol we discussed with Doctor Taylor about the additional treatments in the Dog Cancer Survival Guide (i.e. mast cell diet to keep his histamine level down, APOCAPS, K9 Immunity) and she was very open-minded and receptive to help our boy anyway we could. Doctor Taylor, her Oncology Team, Doctor Caroline Garzotto (Milos surgeon) and everyone associated with MLAH are a blessing!!!
Dr Erica Johnson ay Atrium Animal Hospital. All the vets in this office are great. They are full holistic office. They are located in Charlotte, NC. 704-542-2000. I would recommend all the vets and treatment staff.
Dr. Cameron Moorehead, Main Street Veterinarians , Stone Mountain, GA
Dr. Liz Cutright, Healthy Pets Naturally, Downers Grove, IL
Dr. Mark Newkirk, Newkirk Family Veterinarians, Egg Harbor Township
Dr Kendra Pope, Holistic Oncologist
252 Broad St, #3
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Dr Pema Choepel Mallu, Holistic Vet
Holistic Vet Healing
12627 Wisteria Drive, Suite C&D
Germantown, MD 20874
Kindly look into Dr. David Lurie, New South Wales, Australia