How long have you been a vet?
19 years

Why did you want to become a vet?
I loved taking care of my pets as a child and I was fascinated with science.

How did you become interested in complementary medicine?

I found cases with my own dogs and cats that I couldn't fix with my conventional medicine. Adding acupuncture and dietary changes made HUGE differences in their health. My children's allergies led me to discover NAET which also has helped my four-legged patients.

What is your favorite type of animal to work with and why?
I grew up with cats and have always had a special connection with them, but I like working with all types of pets.

What is your most favorite procedure?
Exams- I like to get to know my patients in the exam room. It's fun to see their personalities

Should a pet be fed wet or dry food or a combination? Why or why not?
My experience with my own and other client's pets is that canned is much better to help keep them hydrated and prevent diabetes from all the carbs in dry food. Homemade food is even better than canned as long as it's been balanced by a veterinarian.

Do pets need their teeth cleaned?
Definitely yes- either kept clean by home care or cleaned by ultrasonic dentistry .

Can you give a pet aspirin?
I do not recommend giving aspirin to dogs or cats because of the potential for stomach ulceration. It takes 3 days for cats to process one dose of aspirin. One dose of Tylenol can kill a cat!

Do you recommend a heartworm and flea preventive for pets? Which kind?
I prefer not to use chemicals on cats or dogs unless the are at risk. I like Comfortis for fleas and Interceptor or Sentinel for heartworm prevention.

Do you prefer to give a pet herbs or medication?
This is the beauty of integrated medicine. Herbs add another tool to help certain chronic conditions such as diabetes and renal failure whereas antibiotics can be life saving in severe infections.

What do you think about declawing a cat?
I prefer not to remove their claws- they can be traumatized by the experience and then are less versatile if they need to be allowed outside because of prey drive or people with allergies.

What diseases can you catch from your cat?
Toxoplasmosis, rabies, plague, cat scratch fever

What do you think about pet insurance?
It has been extremely helpful for people faced with unexpected health expenses for their pets. For example trauma, cancer, and chronic conditions.

Can Music Help Animals?
Yes! It has even been shown to help milk production in dairy cattle. :)