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Who we are:
Topics:
- Practice history - The intelligent integration of conventional and complementary veterinary medicine
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We offer the “intelligent integration” of conventional and complementary veterinary medicine…
For over two decades, Smith Ridge Veterinary Center has provided a combination of conventional and complementary veterinary medicine for both healthy and ill animals. Our experience in the “intelligent integration” of the most effective therapies from both worlds offers a unique resource to clients seeking the best possible care for their animal.
The practice was founded in 1984 by internationally famous veterinarian Dr. Martin Goldstein, or Dr. Marty as he is more often called, who pioneered many of the methods used in the care of animals brought to Smith Ridge.
Early in the development of the practice, Dr. Marty recognized that the world of veterinary medicine was dividing into an “either/or” choice for clients.
Pet owners were forced to choose either a conventional approach or one based on alternative therapies. But Dr. Marty realized that a combined approach would offer the strongest path to maintaining good health and promoting healing in animals who were ill. The integrated knowledge and protocols he developed are now used by all of the Smith Ridge veterinarians and support staff for the animals entrusted to our care.
“Intelligent Integration” results in a different but highly effective way to maintain health and heal a sick animal. Smith Ridge practices “appropriate medicine”, so you will see everything from purely holistic treatments to conventional solutions. Mostly you will see a thoughtful approach that incorporates pieces of both. Our recommendations are supported by the best in modern diagnostics. We have on-site ultrasound and digital X-ray and, when indicated, refer you to MRI and CT scan services). At the same time, the foundation of our treatment decisions is based on the Nutritional Blood Test (NBT). Co-pioneered by Dr. Marty, the NBT is a highly specialized blood analysis tool that looks beyond the symptoms to identify the underlying reasons for the illness. You will also see the integrated use of prescription medicines, nutritional therapies, homeopathic remedies, acupuncture, cryosurgery and specialized non-toxic cancer therapies.
The goal is simple and shared. We do everything in our power to return an ailing animal to good health, or maintain on-going wellness for a healthy pet.
An exceptional and caring staff…
All service areas are administered by an exceptional staff that includes veterinarians and technicians specially trained in Smith Ridge methodologies.
The Smith Ridge staff has a true love of animals and we are all gratified by being able to offer a unique therapeutic approach that can maintain extra good health for well pets, restore good quality of life to a declining pet, and sometimes return even seriously sick animals to full health.
What is the Smith Ridge difference?
Right from your first visit you’ll notice:
- The calming atmosphere of the waiting area, and the privacy of the exam rooms with their comfortable benches for you to sit on as your pet is examined. The exam tables have non-slip mats to reduce the stress of the visit for your companion animal by helping him feel more secure.
- A 60-minute initial appointment, and routine office visits which run 30 minutes rather than 15 or 20. This allows you to have unhurried, quality time with our veterinarians to ask questions, explore the options, and make sound decisions on behalf of your companion animal.
- You may not ever have to visit the back room, but if you do, you’ll see it offers natural lighting and a TV in the kennel area. We have found this further reduces stress, because it seems more like home to the animal.
- Pets are served natural bottled spring water because it’s healthier and every animal has a private kennel positioned for privacy and stress reduction. Again, another detail that enhances the healing process.
- Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Smith Ridge is also about our relationship with you. Smith Ridge has CORE values that guide us:
- Collaboration: Smith Ridge does not assume an authoritative, sterile stance between our staff and you. This is not a hospital where doctors barely listen, then issue quick directives, leave the room and expect you to comply. No one knows your pet like you do, and we believe that your pet’s best chance for good health is through an open, understanding and collaborative relationship with you.
- Options: There is no “one right way” to maintain wellness and treat illness. At Smith Ridge, doctors and staff will offer you a variety of options and help you decide among them. They’ll explain the pros and cons of any given path and then help you factor in your personal preferences, financial considerations, and knowledge of your pet. So whether it’s vaccines (none, minimal, conventional), diet (raw, homecooked, high end commercial), cancer treatments (chemotherapy, non-toxic therapies, a combination of both) or flea and tick prevention (all natural, chemical), we’ll sort through the options and help you decide what is best for your pet.
- Respect: At Smith Ridge, we respect your observations and intimate knowledge of your pet and they are crucial to our mutual understanding of what’s happening to your animal. You won’t find us rolling our eyes at your description of behaviors you associate with the medical condition. We also respect the knowledge you bring with you and the research you may have already done into your pet’s condition. And we respect your intelligence and ability to understand treatment options. At Smith Ridge, your animal’s health is a truly collaborative effort based on our respect for you..
- Education: Much of the integrative care we provide at Smith Ridge is new to many of our clients. From diet to standard veterinary care to treatment options for serious disease, our approach is likely to be very different from what you’ve known. So, our responsibility is to educate you, to provide you with the information you need to begin to see health and disease in a new way. Our longer appointment times (60 minutes one on one with the veterinarian for an initial consultation) are designed to accommodate that education process. For those clients coming to us from conventional practices because the treatments your pet received weren’t working, there is no point in us replicating what’s already been done. You’ve come to us for a different approach. So we’ll spend time with you so we can learn about your individual companion, and we’ll share our unique veterinary knowledge with you. Together, as an educated team, we should be able to create the best possible program of care for your pet.
While many of our differences are simple and others not so, in all, they allow us to offer you and your companion animal an exceptional level of skilled care delivered with competency, compassion and respect.
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