Holistic Veterinary Services

2008-08-14T07:26:00.000-07:00

Dr. Yasson's New York City appointment day for September has been moved.

She will be seeing patients on Wednesday, September 17, 2008.

Appointments will be at the following times:
10:00
10:45
11:30
1:15
2:00

Please call HolVet at 845/338-3300 to schedule an appointment.
Please note: A half-hour phone consultation is necessary for any new patient Dr. Yasson sees in New York City, as she will not have time to take a full health history in person.

The Cost of Holistic Vet Care

2008-06-05T07:07:00.000-07:00

When Willy Simone had a near-fatal attack of FUS, I was ready to recommend a cystotomy if I was unable to successfully treat him. This is a surgical procedure that will clear the blockage.

I have always maintained that the cost of keeping a pet in my care is 50-70% less expensive than conventional veterinary care, and this case is a perfect example of how.

A cystotomy is the recommended conventional procedure for urinary blockage in cats. Veterinary hospitals in the Hudson Valley, where I am located, charge about $1,000 for this surgery, after you figure in the hospitalization and anesthesia costs. The same surgery performed on a cat like Willy in New York City, where he lives, costs about $2,400.

My fee, after all was said and done with Willy, was less than half that of my neighbors', and less than 20% of the cost of a reputable veterinary hospital in New York City.

Curing a Cat's Urinary Crisis Over the Phone

2008-05-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

I got the first call about Willy as I was preparing to go to Boston for the marathon. Willy is a ten-year-old male cat, and his owner Ann had seen him straining unsuccessfully on the litter box.
Feline Urological Syndrome, or FUS, is a blockage that prevents a cat from urinating. Left untreated, the cat can become toxic and die, as it is unable to remove waste products from its body.
The Simones live in New York City, two hours' drive on a good day. Had his condition worsened, I would have recommended bringing him in for local care, like a cystotomy - a surgical procedure that effectively straightens out the kinks and clears all the blockages.
However, I also knew that the drive and the surgery would further compromise Willy's immune system by adding stress. Although I was prepared to recommend surgery, I instead treated Willy homeopathically, as well as with a combination of herbs and modifications to his diet.
I spoke with Ann about Willy several times over the weekend, even as my partner competed in the Boston Marathon. By Monday Willy was able to urinate again.
A lot of animals are stressed about cars, and whenever I can take some of that stress off by treating over the phone it's my pleasure.

Herbal Repellents for Fleas, Ticks, and Other External Parasites

2008-05-08T12:29:00.000-07:00

I have two poodles in my family who enjoy spending quite a bit of time outside in this beautiful weather (you can learn a bit more about Bijou and Janvi by taking a peek at my Facebook account, if you're so inclined). Running around in the woods within our invisible fence, they have plenty of opportunity to bring home unwelcome friends, especially ticks. Now I'm a veterinarian, and I know that ticks function very much like slow-acting mosquitoes, but it's still pretty disgusting finding a bunch of those engorged buggers on my boys.
Enter Buck Mountain Botanicals, the formulator of the amazing cancer drug Neoplasene. They have a product called Parasite Dust for Animals, which is a combination of three ingredients (neem herb, yarrow, and diatom flour) and a triple threat for external parasites. As described in the clinical guide:

Yarrow functions as a repellent
Neem heals the wounds created by the parasites
Diatom flour dessicates the bugs

I pulled a few bloated ticks off of my poodle Bijou this morning and Terence poured a small amount of the dust on them as an experiment. Their little legs, which had been slowly wriggling, stopped moving within seconds. I've been told that this product even works on embedded parasites like scabies and mange, and I'm inclined to agree!

New York City Appointments

2008-04-17T07:23:00.000-07:00

Dr. Yasson has scheduled her next several New York City visits at the Heart of Chelsea Animal Hospital:

May 9, 2008
June 13, 2008
July 11, 2008
August 8, 2008

Heart of Chelsea has newly renovated facilities and our clients will see Dr. Yasson in one of their new, state-of-the-art examination rooms.

For more information see our New York City Appointment Information Page.

Upcoming Lectures

2008-03-12T06:47:00.001-07:00

We are very excited to announce some upcoming lectures by Dr. Yasson.

Red Hook Rotary Club
On Tuesday, March 25, at 7:30 AM Dr. Yasson will speak before the Red Hook Rotary Club at the Red Hook Inn about holistic pet health.
Contact: Walter Avis, 800/321-4875 for more information.

Nature's Pantry
On Saturday, March 29, at 6:30 PM Dr. Yasson will be at Nature's Pantry in Newburgh, New York to give her lecture Radiant Pet Health 101 (see flyer at right). Questions will be taken and will shape the discussion.
Contact: Nature's Pantry, 845/567-3355, for reservations to this free event.

Book Dr. Yasson for your group or business
We are currently booking Dr. Michele Yasson for speaking engagements in the Hudson Valley and throughout the country.

Dr. Yasson is able to speak on pet nutrition, holistic pet health, alternative cancer treatment, homeopathy for pets, and veterinary acupuncture, among other topics. Demand her presence in your town, or contact us to discuss your needs.

Neoplasene: the Future

2007-12-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

Research is ongoing with Neoplasene, and the protocols and treatment methods are constantly changing. The effects of bloodroot’s active ingredients have not been researched aggressively, because most pharmaceutical companies will not spend money on something that they may not be able to patent, such as a plant. However, there is an astounding study on the effects of bloodroot on cancer from the medical school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, done in 2000. This study was done in vitro with prostate cancer cells and skin cancer cells. The results were so clearly impressive the researchers remarked, “We suggest that sanguinarine could be developed as an anticancer drug.” The clinical case histories from veterinary hospitals throughout the U.S. are now accumulating, and are adding to the profound data of this very promising drug.

Homeopathic Emergency Kits

2007-12-05T07:16:00.000-08:00

Over 80% of all of our appointments are by phone. This is possible because our clients have learned to be observant, take good notes, and are willing to be our partners in maintaining their pets' health. We ship out any appropriate remedies immediately after a telephone consultation, and we work with local, conventional veterinarians to provide services that cannot be offered over the phone.

Many of our longstanding clients find that this relationship is supported by keeping an emergency homeopathic kit at home. We offer one here that includes fifty remedies that we often prescribe. If a client places an emergency call, more often than not the appropriate remedy for the problem is at hand, which prevents the need to go to an emergency clinic for treatment.

These kits are also money-savers for our clients. After only six remedies are given the kits pay for themselves, and they can be used hundreds of times. We don't offer them as a way to make money, we offer them as a way to save animal lives and our clients' wallets.

There are certainly other kits available on the market, and as long as they are used with a homeopathic professional's guidance, they are all a good value. Here's some of the details on the one we offer to our clients:

All remedies are in a 200C strength. Included are arnica, arsenicum, cocculus, drosera, ignatia, lachesis, lycopodium, nux vomica, phosphorus, and rhus tox, among many others. Like all homeopathic remedies, as long as they are kept away from strong sources of heat, light, and electromagnetic radiation, they have an indefinite shelf life.

Treating with Neoplasene

2007-12-05T07:09:00.001-08:00

As I've mentioned in prior posts about how I treat cancer in your pets, the new drug Neoplasene is an amazing addition to my arsenal of homeopathic remedies. I always tell clients that they are critical to my patients' care, for several reasons.

The treatment can be felt. There may be a mild, immediate burn or itch. Cancerous tissue will swell and feel sore once the reaction begins, as the immune system is kickstarted and must process the dying cancer cells. The immune system works through the production of inflammation. This is a natural and very effective process that the body uses to heal most any problem. Often, with surface tumors, there is a reddened ring of healthy skin visible around a thin, grey ring of macerated, or softened, dead tissue which rims the tumor. Additionally, the entire surface of the tumor will likely become grey and macerated as it approaches sloughing. The dying cancer tissue is being rejected by the body.

Good wound management is critical. With this loss of the diseased tissue, there will be an open wound which must be well managed for successful treatment. It must be kept moist with an appropriate wound salve. It is important not to allow a hard scab to form. Be aware that scarring may very well occur as the body works to heal the wound left behind by the vacated tumor. In two to ten days the dead tissue will slough off. If this takes more than five days, there is probably living tumor present, and continued application is called for. The shedding of dying tissue should not be forced. It must be allowed to fall off naturally. Forced removal will often create bleeding and leave bits of surviving tumor behind. Licking, rubbing, chewing and scratching must be prevented, as mentioned above. And, it must be left to heal as an open wound. In our modern medical culture it is not very common to allow large wounds to heal in an open manner. The common urge is to suture the wound closed. Nice, neat, clean. However, it is best not to do so. Continued sloughing and drainage of discharge must be allowed to occur without interference.

Rarely, cancer may reappear long after the treatment series with Neoplasene has ended. This can happen because not all of the diseased tissue was destroyed, or because the conditions that caused the cancer in the first place still exist and can recreate it from scratch. The good news is that there is no evidence of development of resistance by surviving cancer cells.

There's more to say about Neoplasene, but I'll save that for my next post.

Treating Cancer Cases

2007-11-21T06:57:00.000-08:00

So what have I learned about using this amazing new cancer drug, Neoplasene?

Well, there may be surviving cancer cells after the initial application of Neoplasene. This can happen when the medication does not come into contact with all of the mass due to its size or shape. A series of applications may be necessary and would be determined by the needs of each individual case.

There are three treatment options with Neoplasene – topical, injectible, and oral. Any combination of these forms may be used on a patient. And occasionally removal by surgery, or debulking, prior to beginning any Neoplasene treatment may be the optimal approach.

Topical treatment with the ointment form works well for exterior or surface cancers. The mass can be treated all at once, or in sections, depending on various factors. Topical application of the ointment will create a local effect and cause a slight burning sensation on cancerous tissue. Successfully treating with topical Neoplasene depends upon getting a sufficient amount of the drug in contact with the cancerous tissue long enough to trigger apoptosis. This may mean close monitoring, bandaging or using the dreaded E-collar to prevent licking and chewing by the patient. A small price to pay for the wonderful work of the drug.

The injectible form is called NeoplaseneX. It is administered directly into the tumor and can provide the concentration needed to eliminate a mass when it isn’t possible to remove it in other ways. Even though it is applied directly into a mass there is also a generalized effect. This means tumor tissue at distant sites anywhere in the body will also start to die. This reaction must be monitored well.

Giving Neoplasene orally, as a capsule or liquid also has a generalized effect, like the injectible. Cancer cells anywhere in the body will respond with apoptosis. Oral treatment can be used alone, but is usually used as long term continued care in conjunction with initial treatment by injection or topical. It requires a long term commitment by the family for its success. Oral Neoplasene is a somewhat bitter liquid that is usually well accepted when mixed with wet foods, esp. those with in a sauce or gravy. For the very finicky palate the liquid can be put into a capsule. This must be immediately prior to administration as it will start to dissolve the capsule within minutes.

When oral Neoplasene is given, care must be taken to avoid digestive upset. It is best given with a meal. This creates an immediate dilution in the stomach. Once diluted in the circulatory system, it is able to do its work without causing harm to healthy cells. The optimal dosage of the oral form is “to gastric tolerance.” This means that a moderate dosage is initiated and then the dose is increased slowly until the first sign of gastric upset occurs. The maintenance dose for long term aftercare is then set just below this amount for maximal effect with no side effects. The length of this treatment will vary from case to case.

In my next post I'll talk about what else can be expected during treatment.

The Wonder Drug

2007-11-20T09:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I posted about why I'm more confident about cancer cases these days than ever before. It's because of an amazing new drug called Neoplasene.

Neoplasene does not burn tissue like whole bloodroot. Instead it causes cancer cells to die by a process known as apoptosis. This means that instead of cells being attacked and rupturing, they quietly and prematurely come to an immediate end of their life cycle and they die of “old age.” They enter into a self termination process and fold up like a tent, so to speak. The immune system of the patient handles them as they would other dead cells. There are chemotactic factors and inflammation and macrophages that act like the video game Pac Man critters eating up all the little bits.

It does all this while sparing healthy, normal cells! That means its effect is selective and exclusively against cancer cells. Research suggests that the distinction is made by way of a bonding affinity for the sugars unique to the cell membranes of cancer cells. This makes it extremely unique and valuable. It knows the difference between cancerous and healthy tissue. It sticks to the bad guys and leaves the good guys alone. Actually, given a high enough dosage over a long enough time, healthy cells would also succumb. However, by adjusting concentration and exposure time the neoplasm is destroyed while normal cells are spared. So, unlike most conventional “chemo” treatments, it’s not toxic at recommended doses.

Furthermore, with all of the information gathered so far, again unlike most conventional chemo treatments, Neoplasene works on any type of cancer! A dog or cat could have two different kinds of tumors or cancer simultaneously, not a rare situation, and the treatment would still be just as effective!

Treatment with Neoplasene must be performed by a veterinarian and has some nuances. In my next post I'll discuss some of the variables.

I Hope He Has Cancer

2007-11-19T12:00:00.000-08:00

“I hope he has cancer.” I said that recently, in reference to little Dash, a two year old Persian. I really said it, and I really meant it. Of course when I caught myself in the thought it was quite the trip. Wow, cancer treatment is a whole new ballgame!

Dash was a small bundle of smoky grey affection. He seemed generally healthy but he had some problems show up in his lab work. Suddenly his choices of diagnosis were FIP (feline infectious peritonitis) or a malignancy. I had more confidence of treating the possible cancer than of treating the possible FIP. That realization was a real shocker for me. The reason for my confidence of choice was a relatively new medicine called Neoplasene®.

Neoplasene® is a relatively new drug approved for veterinary use. It is derived from the perennial herb bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). It is so named because the sap of the root is a reddish color. It has historically been used as a dye, an emetic (induces vomiting) and a wart and tumor treatment, esp. by Native Americans. In cancer it has been used as an escharotic paste called Black Salve, which destroys much or all of the flesh it comes into contact with, whether it is healthy or not. This is indiscriminate necrosis. The revolutionary new drug Neoplasene is not whole bloodroot nor is it Black Salve, anymore than stainless steel is iron ore. It is, in part, an isolate of the active ingredients of bloodroot called benzylisoquinolone alkaloids, with the primary one being sanguinarine. This makes all the difference.

I'll be posting more about Neoplasene, and why I find it so amazing, in future posts.

For Your Pets: HolVet.net

2007-11-08T07:32:00.000-08:00

We are extremely excited to announce the launch of our new website, HolVet.net!

HolVet.net is a resource for pet owners the world over. It includes recommended natural pet diets, information on the dangers of pet vaccination, and details on our approach to health care for pets. Read up on our proprietary line of vitamins for dogs and cats, or learn more about Dr. Yasson herself.

We will continue to add content to this page and make it a more powerful resource for loving pet owners.

New York City Appointments

2007-09-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

Dr. Yasson has set her schedule for in-person appointments in New York City for the upcoming months.

She will be available on the following dates:
Friday, November 9, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Friday, January 11, 2007

Appointments are forty-five minutes and are scheduled from 10AM until 4PM. Please call the office at 845/338-3300 to make an appointment.

New clients are advised that a phone consultation prior to the physical exam will be necessary to take your pet's full history. All new clients must complete a release form prior to the first appointment.

Dear Lifesavers . . .

2007-09-18T07:25:00.000-07:00

From longtime client Heather Bennett

I have been trying to write (now almost a book in size) a note expressing what you guys have done & given to me. I am so thankful for these last 6 years. Six years I would not have if not for you all. No soft tummy to scratch while reading a good book. No big beautiful black eyes peering into the shower and saying what ya doin, mum. No perfect paws asking for a slurp of milk.
You didn't laugh when I sent stupid daily logs or asked silly questions. Just kindness, care and compassion. I truly, with what's left of my broken heart, thank you for every second you gave me. And I will never forget you all.
The little tree was such a thoughtful memorial for Bino. I will take wherever I go. And now the GreenWorld Project owe you too, as my friends think a tree is better than a card.
Maybe my procrastinating this note was an omen, as I have taken in a stray girl (?) we named Pearl, so named because her only marking is a teardrop white spot on her bib. I hope you will never have to get to know her professionally, but I have told her about you.

Staff Intro - Terence Ward

2007-09-17T05:14:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Terence Ward, and I am proud to have joined this HolVet team this summer. My job is to take care of the little details that are necessary for running a business so Dr. Yasson can do what she does best - find cures for sick animals. So you'll find me answering the phone, ordering supplies, shipping out vitamins and remedies . . . whatever it takes to keep the place running.

Here on the blog I'm going to be adding things that don't require a lot of veterinary expertise but can really help our readers understand what a holistic vet like Michele Yasson is all about. For instance, I'm going to be including selections from our mail bag. We get a lot of heartfelt thank-you letters from our clients that are really touching, and Dr. Yasson agreed to let me put some of them here. I may also update things like the doctor's upcoming speaking events schedule or new places that are carrying the VetScripts™ line of pet supplements.

As for me personally, I have spent many years in office administration. My family and I have four cats, and I have had another four cats and a dog in my life up until now. Dr. Yasson's poodles Janvier and Bijou give me their tails of approval.

Speaking of the poodles, did you know that you can add them as friends on Facebook? Yep, some clever guy made an application called Dogbook that allows you to make profiles for your pets. If you have or would like to make a Facebook account, you can add both Dr. Yasson and her animals as friends, for you or your pets.

Maybe it should go without saying, but if you have any questions about HolVet, you can always give us a call at 845/338-3300. Or, if you prefer the computer, just leave a comment on any of the posts here. I look forward to working with you!

Ask Me Anything!

2007-09-10T08:13:00.000-07:00

I take a holistic approach to veterinary medicine, and this means that my methods are often very different than those of conventional vets. Because homeopathy and holistic medicine is so new to many people, I am more than happy to spend fifteen minutes on the phone with any new client, answering questions about my practice in general, or your pet in particular.

Simply call my offices at 845/338-3300 and let my staff know you learned about my free consultation offer from my blog. They will be happy to set you up with an appointment.

Vitamin Samples

2007-09-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

I understand that people who don't know me might not be willing to assume that my proprietary line of pet vitamins is better or worse than any other product - or nothing at all, for that matter. That's why I'm always happy to give a free sample to any new customer who asks.

Trick is, you have to pay the postage.

So if you would like a free sample of my VetScripts™ canine or feline pet vitamin, mail a self-addressed envelope with two first-class stamps to:

HolVet
286 Binnewater Road
Kingston, NY 12401
Attn: Supplement Request

Include your name, address, and email address, as well as which vitamin you'd like to try for your pet - canine or feline.

Pets and Nutrition

2007-09-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

One thing I've discovered in twenty years of holistic veterinary practice is that 9 out of 10 patients that walk through my door are getting suboptimal nutrition. How well would you do if all your food came dehydrated or canned? (If this does describe your diet, call me. We need to talk.)

I've seen many supplement fads come and go. I've tried many, debunked most. With over 50% of my work being with cancer and diabetes patients, I can't afford to use a supplement that doesn't work. Then I finally found the best combination of ingredients and dosages for consistent and impressive results.

Of course, I had to develop it myself, because it was nowhere on the market.

Here's what I have seen using my VetScripts™ supplements with my patients:

Kidney Failure and Cancer patients start eating and gain weight again.
Diabetic patients' blood sugar decrease by as much as 30-40%.
Hospice patients find the strength to get out of bed.
Less severely ill pets become strong, energetic, and develop beautiful coats.

They're also a breeze to give to your pet - having dogs and cats of my own, I know what the challenges are! No premixing, no special handling, no fighting with pills or games of hide-and-seek while wrapping the pill in something tasty. VetScripts™ is tasty! It's a win-win situation!

VetScripts™ Feline and VetScripts™ Canine are among the lowest priced multivitamins per gram of active ingredients (don't be fooled by the many cheaply priced products that are mostly filler). Isn't that what you want for your four-legged loved ones?