Hospice is a special philosophy of care designed to provide comfort, support and dignity to animals and their families during life-limiting illness. Continue…

Thank you for your interest in Dr. Jeff’s practice. He offers both preventive care as well as management of chronic diseases.

This practice emphasizes working through symptoms rather than working against them (e.g. with ANTI-inflammatories). Symptoms are clues that your pets’ bodies give us to help them stay and get well. Homeopathic medicines, optimizing lifestyle and clinical nutrition are the main therapeutic modalities used.

In this practice, symptoms are embraced and will never be suppressed with “routine” drugs or prevented with vaccines. In addition, you will be asked to feed a fresh and unprocessed (not necessarily raw) food to help your pets heal using their natural Vitality.

The best time to begin holistic preventive care is before your pets get sick and ideally when they are puppies or kittens. However, since you may not start until later in life, problems may have already arisen (and been suppressed). These can take longer up to months and years of treatment to make significant progress. Patience and perseverance are directly related to successful treatment outcomes.

Large part of Dr. Jeff’s practice is management of chronic and degenerative disorders, such as recurrent ear and skin “infections”, arthritis, allergies, metabolic/endocrine imbalances and cancer. In these cases, a diagnostic workup may be recommended because appropriate test results can sometimes help quantify the disease process.

Ascertaining the degree of structural pathology (if any) will help me determine a prognosis and treatment plan. Length of treatment will depend upon the duration and depth of the condition and number of and response to prior suppressions. Most acute situations can be properly resolved over a few days or weeks, whereas lifelong problems can take 1-3 years or more.

During treatment, you will be asked to gradually discontinue (when possible) conventional drugs such as antibiotics and steroids. This will help your pet’s body heal naturally. Using any “anti”-drug (e.g. anti-biotic or anti-inflammatory) during homeopathic treatment is like trying to drive your car with the brakes on. If other symptoms appear during treatment (or if older, previous conditions return) you will be expected to contact Dr. Jeff for an appropriate response, rather than use drugs that you may have used before. Dr. Jeff Feinman’s bio is here.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Holistic Actions! membership

The first thing to know is that you may not need a private appointment as many of Dr. Jeff’s practice resources and support are also available to Holistic Actions! (HA!) student-member-clients. Holistic Actions! membership costs $27 per month and includes 1 hour weekly live online group support during Pet Health webinars, one 15min monthly guidance call with Dr. Jeff or other faculty member for an additional cost of $27, unlimited forum support. The usual private hourly rate is $240 so these 4+hours of monthly support would otherwise cost $960.

Private consultations

If you still prefer to individualize your pet privately, initial evaluations typically last 1-2 hours. Older and more complicated cases may need 2-3 hours and Dr. Jeff will help you determine appointment length once he reviews your new client application. Most phone or Skype rechecks last around 20-30 minutes. In office appointments for examination and updates are ~45 minutes.

Appointments are billed in 5 minute increments. A current credit card or valid PayPal address will be kept on file, and payment is expected at the time services are rendered (no billing). Dr. Jeff and Amy work with all of the pet insurance companies, including Pet Plan and Embrace, which are among those that cover veterinary homeopathic treatment.

There is a $25 missed appointment charge if your appointment is not canceled 24 hours in advance. Due to the length of new patient initial evaluations, there is a $50.00 non-refundable deposit that will be applied to your first visit.

You can also prepay part or all of your appointment and they will then be credited to your account.

Healthy-pet routine care costs the same as going to the conventional veterinary clinic and it will save you money. A complete healthy pet annual consultation usually lasts ~30 minutes and are extremely important to maintain your pet’s quality of life and longevity. Maintaining optimal health, prevents serious dis-ease later in life (and dramatically reduces future veterinary costs).

If you have not spoken with Dr. Jeff to “fine-tune” your pet in the past year, you are considered to be a new client of the practice.

If Dr. Jeff’s practice sounds like a good fit for you and your pets, click the button below and follow the steps to sign up.

What some clients have to say

“Thank you for being such an extraordinary doctor and person. If all doctors of people and animals were as dedicated as you, there would be a great deal less suffering in the world and a whole lot more happiness.”
K.K., Wilton, CT

“I have visited numerous veterinarians over the years and I have never met anyone quite like you.  You not only calm my animals but you also calm me as well.  Medically speaking you are unsurpassed.”
D.M., Westport, CT

“The fact that Rosie actually enjoyed going to see you is a testament to your loving care, your kindness and gentleness. We know that the quality of her life was the best it could ever be thanks to gentle homeopathic care.”
V & J.S., Easton, CT

“We have noticed a marked improvement in our dog’s energy level, alertness and mood. You have taken such good care of him for the past 14 years, and I have no doubt that he’s made it to 15 with a wonderful quality of life – in no small part – because of your skill, knowledge and humanity. We will be forever grateful.”

C & T.Q., Westport, CT

“We have had several veterinarians prior to you, and not once have we experienced the wonderful services and care that you offer.”
R.V., Westport, CT

“Thank you for the excellent care you gave to my dog throughout his life. You always made sure that you were available and reachable during all of his crises.  This sets you apart…”
D.A., Bridgeport, CT

“You are everything we hoped for in a vet. Your willingness to research, try and your patience and skill are what we want for our dogs.”
L.S., Greenwich, CT & Belgium

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Every extra day has been an absolute gift. Its especially satisfying to not have destroyed his body or quality of life in the process of keeping him alive.”
J.B., Milford, CT

“Thanks for your incredibly professional and expert care.  I am very fortunate that my dog has such a fantastic holistic doctor who not only helps him but also cares for his family.”
V.F., New Canaan, CT

“You are the best vet anyone could ask for. Your gentle manner, patient explanations, accessibility and responsiveness have provided a lot of reassurance over the years.”
V.G., Westport, CT

What Should I Do If My Pet Is Diagnosed With Cancer? Continue…

Services offered by Dr. Jeff:

• Homeopathic treatment of acute and chronic diseases

• Puppy and kitten wellness care

• Scientifically-based vaccination decisions

• Nutritional counseling with emphasis on species-appropriate fresh food feeding

• Nutritional supplementation

• Physical Examination and evaluation

• Phone and internet-based consultation with pet owners and veterinarians

• Evidence-based integrative medicine

• Infectious disease prevention and treatment

• “Senior” pet care

• Care for the arthritic pet

• Care for the itchy pet

• Treatment of internal diseases

• Palliative and cancer care

• Pain Management

• Educational resources and seminars

Optimal health – health that gives one the greatest chance for a long, active, vital life – is much more than simply the absence of disease. It means being the very best you can be. It means not being incapacitated or wasting away physically, physiologically, emotionally or mentally. Continue…

If you’re not quite ready to jump whole-hog into the home-prepared diet or you have several large dogs, these recipes offer a convenient way to provide many of the benefits of fresh foods and nutritious supplements while maintaining nutritional balance. Continue…

This is an excerpt from Dr. Chambreau’s wonderful “Healthy Animal’s Journal”.  It is a great way to learn how to keep a medical journal for your pet (which I also advise):

You have improved the diet and still your animal is not as healthy as you would like.  You are ready to find some approaches different from the conventional ones used so far.  As in the field of human health, there are many different approaches for healing.  Conventional medicine predominates in the Western world and is taught in most of the veterinary and medical schools.  More than 50% of people are now seeking holistic treatment options for themselves and now for themselves as well.

A Longer Excerpt From The Journal (which you can buy directly from Dr. Chambreau by e-mailing her at the above link):

Feeding tubes save lives and are not used as often as they should be for anorexic patients.

Unfortunately, when most people hear the term “feeding tube”, they tend to panic – feeling like this is the end of the road for their cat.  However, feeding tubes should not necessarily  be viewed as a doom and gloom ‘last ditch effort’ or as a ‘heroic measure’.  

 I often hear people say “oh, I would never put my cat through that!”  Unfortunately, these folks are not recognizing the tremendous value of feeding tubes to support ill patients while they heal from a temporary illness or injury.  Most cats are not bothered by the tubes at all!  The human is the one who is bothered by it as the cat just goes about its daily routine.

Anyone who has ever tried to syringe-feed an ill cat for very long recognizes the stress that is involved for both the cat and the human.  Not only is it very time-consuming, but the critical issue is that it is often very difficult to meet the caloric and hydration (water) needs of the cat with this method.

Feeding tubes are not right for every situation and case selection requires thoughtful consideration – keeping the patient’s best interest in mind – not the human’s.  For cats that are suffering from a chronic, terminal illness such as renal failure or cancer, it is my feeling that a feeding tube is not necessarily appropriate to use in these cases.  It is a matter of personal choice  to prolong the inevitable in our pets and caregivers need to think long and hard before they put a feeding tube in a patient with a terminal illness when euthanasia may be a much more humane and loving decision to make.

Please Read More About Using Feeding Tubes In Cats:

Straining unproductively can be a symptom of either constipation or large intestinal diarrhea. Continue…

Nutritional Requirements of Dogs and Cats with Cancer

Any illness, be it cancer or a benign disease, will have an impact on the patient’s metabolism. During disease, there are many changes in the way the body uses proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. It is important to realize that, for the most part, these are adaptations that are geared toward survival. In effect, the body is prioritizing its available nutrients for purposes like wound healing and maintaining the immune system. Sometimes, these metabolic changes can become exaggerated or prolonged to the point that they are harmful rather than beneficial to the patient. Significant weight loss and muscle wasting can occur rapidly and can be difficult or even impossible to reverse.

Please Read More From the University of Pennsylvania:
 

NB-When your pet has cancer it is especially critical to feed a fresh food diet.  S/he needs all of the nutrients and vitality of real food.  Avoid carbohydrates as they are the favorite nutrient of cancer cells.  NO KIBBLE!  Fats and protein is most important.  Palatability of a raw meat diet can be increased by lightly searing the meats and adding immune-enhancing spices like cayenne and tumeric (if your pet likes and can tolerate them).  Fish oils, antioxidants, etc. are all helpful.  These are the supplements that I use for cancer patients in my practice: –Dr. Jeff

The goal of cancer treatment in the veterinary patient is to prolong good quality of life for as long as possible. Continue…

Cancer represents a unique state whereby the body’s healing system fails to eliminate cells with damaged or altered DNA.

This allows these cells to escape the normal regulatory signals leading to uncontrolled cell growth. While most auto-immune diseases represent a failure of the healing system from an over-active immune system, cancer represents the extreme opposite, whereby the immune system is hypoactive (at least in regard to the tumor). On the other hand, both chronic immune diseases and cancer probably represent outcomes from the failure of the healing system brought about by living within a polluted environment, coupled with the genetic make-up of the dog.

While we are beginning to unravel the complex biochemistry of cancer development and have begun to understand how DNA is damaged and repaired, we still have a long way to go before the cure for cancer will be found. Spontaneous healing of cancer has been documented many times in human beings and animals, suggesting that a cure is possible. On the other hand, there is a great deal of information about the potential for preventing many forms of cancer. Most of these techniques involve the use of diet and dietary supplements. We can not control the air we breath, unless we do this as a whole. Using alternative means of transportation, car-pooling and clean energy production are good for the environment and for those living in it. It does pay to fool Mother Nature, she will get even in the end. We can, however, control the food our pets eat and the water they drink; thereby, reducing their pollution load. We can provide our pets with anti-oxidants and bioflavonoids, compounds which help protect DNA and the healing system. We can give them sufficient fiber in there diets to support digestion and protect the gi tract from cellular damage.

Treatment of cancer with traditional Western medicine involves surgery (to remove or de-bulk the tumor mass), ionizing radiation (to expose the tumor to lethal doses radiation, minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue), and chemotherapy (to poison the rapidly growing cancer cells without poisoning the rest of the body). One or all of these methods may be employed in a given patient in an attempt to delay or prevent further cancer growth. On average, the success of Western approaches to cancer provides 1 to 18 months of relief from the cancer. While longer survival times are seen with certain forms of cancer, the long term prognosis for even the best forms of “systemic” cancer is poor to grave. The best chance for a good prognosis is for localized cancer (particularly benign lesions) which can be removed completely with surgery. When surgical removal of the cancer is not possible, or when the cancer has already spread to other organs (metastasized), control of the tumor may not be possible by conventional means and the owner must make difficult choices about the continued care of their pet. Some of these choices are very expensive. Traditional Western diagnostic methods have advanced dramatically in the last few years and provide the best chance to discover the natural of the tumor and to predict its clinical course. Advanced imaging techniques like diagnostic ultrasound, computer-assisted tomography (CAT scans) and magnetic resonance image (MRI scans) have vastly improve tumor diagnosis. Fine-needle aspirates or “true-cut” biopsies of tumors (sometimes performed in conjunction with an imaging technique) can provide cytological confirmation or histological diagnosis of the tumor type, leading to better therapeutic recommendations.

Please Read More About Integrative Pet Cancer Therapies: