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.
Our vet Dr. Epperson is with Destin Animal clinic in Destin FL. He helped diagnose our beloved Scout with TCC, gave us many options, even did wellness checks for free. We decided to not go to University of Auburn, GA for chemo and chose Piroxicam instead. Our beloved Bernese Mountain dog lived 1 year, 9 months, and 12 days after diagnosis. We lived the Dog Cancer Survival guide diet and joys of life. Our hearts are broken still, just 3 months along in missing him, and we have definitely learned many things for our next puppy. No one can replace Scout, but we can love the next doggy too. Dr. Epperson has the best staff. His vet tech Morgan also has inoperable brain cancer and is on Piroxicam too. She developed a special bond with our dog. He was larger than life and I believe God creates all life and that Scout will greet us in heaven and show us around♥️ Destin Animal clinic 4003 Commons Dr. Destin, FL 32541 850-837-2931
Dr. Amy Tate
Riverview Animal Clinic
4640 Highway 280 South
Birmingham, Alabama 35242
205-991-9580
riverviewanimalclinic.net
Dr. Dominic Gucciardo, Integrative Veterinary Therapies, Ridge NY 11961
You are definitly missing 4 of California’s Finest Full Spectrum Vets:
Dr Marlene Townsell DVM, MS, DACVIM
Department of Internal Medicine
Access SouthBay
(310) 320-8300
accessanimalhospitals.com
Dr Vincent Baldanza VMD, DACVIM (Oncology)
Associate Veterinarian – Oncology
ACCESS – Pasadena
2570 E. Foothill Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91107
Phone: (626) 993-9600
Dr Carlos Rodriguez Jr., DVM, PhD, DACVIM
VSEC Thousand Oaks
2967 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
and
Dr Lily Chen
Integrative Pet Wellness Center
739 Deep Valley Drive,
Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274
Thank you for the recommendations!
dr. Katie Woodley, the natural pet doctor, fort collins, colorado
I am working with a wonderful Full Spectrum Veterinarian with my best bud Jak who was diagnosed with advanced malignant tumor in small intestine.
Dr. Randy Aronson VMD, CCRT, Paws Veterinary Clinic, Tucson, Arizona
Dr Rebecca Newman
Pittsburgh, Pa
I highly and enthusiastically recommend:
Dr. Steve Nichols, DVM, CVA
The Integrative Veterinary Clinic
504 E. State Road 32
Westfield, Indiana 46074
(317)689-8582
My favorite Vet is Dr Amanda Streuing, she really cares about her patients. She shows love and compassion. Dr Struening is our dogs Angel
We have a few great vets!
Dr Lisa Radwan – Integrative veterinarian trained in TCM
One Medicine Center
W1515 Middle Dr, Pulaski, WI
https://www.onemedicine.center/
Dr Erin Bannink – Integrative Oncologist
Oakland Veterinary Referral Services
Bloomfield Hills Michigan
https://www.ovrs.com/specialty-services/integrative-oncology.html
https://www.mettapets.info/about
Dr Kai Shu – Oncologist
VCA Specialty Center – Middleton Wisconsin
https://vcahospitals.com/veterinary-specialty-center-middleton
He’s more of a traditional oncologist but incredibly knowledgeable, compassionate and open. The entire team at this clinic have been fantastic to work with.