How to Find a Truly Holistic Veterinarian or Practitioner

Finding a truly holistic veterinarian for your dog or cat can feel overwhelming, especially as more clinics advertise themselves as “integrative” or “holistic” without actually practicing natural, root-cause medicine. If you’re searching for a genuinely holistic vet for pets, one who understands nutrition, herbs, fungi medicine, and the body’s natural healing ability, this guide will help you know exactly what to look for.

What “Holistic” Really Means

The word holistic comes from the Greek word holos, meaning “whole.”  In medicine, it means treating the entire being; body, mind, and spirit, as one interconnected system.

Today, the term is used everywhere and many are using it as a marketing term. Many veterinarians now call themselves holistic or integrative, but that doesn’t mean they are practicing true holistic veterinary medicine. True holistic care is not about adding herbs to conventional drugs or selling a mushroom powder next to prescription kibble. It is a completely different philosophy of healing.

True holistic care is based on the belief that the body can heal itself when given the right support. It focuses on removing toxins, restoring balance, and using nature’s medicine rather than synthetic substitutes.

The Difference Between Integrative and Holistic Veterinarians

An integrative veterinarian is usually a conventional vet who occasionally incorporates natural tools.

They may still sell prescription diets, promote annual vaccinations, or prescribe pharmaceuticals such as Apoquel, Cytopoint, or antibiotics as first-line solutions. This is not holistic.

A true holistic veterinarian starts with nature and focuses on the root cause instead of suppressing symptoms. They look at the whole animal and address why imbalance occurred in the first place. They consider:

• Diet and nutrition
• Environment and lifestyle
• Emotional well-being
• Stress and toxic exposures

Their goal is to restore harmony through food, herbs, and fungi medicine, not to suppress symptoms with drugs.

Holistic veterinarians also continue their education to learn what they didn’t learn in school: nutrition, homeopathy, herbalism, acupuncture, massage, ozone, the Endocannabinoid System, chiropractic therapies, and more. They often know far more than a conventional doctor when it comes to natural healing modalities.

Conventional doctors follow a Standard of Care, which dictates which prescriptions or procedures to use for each condition, rather than treating each pet as an individual. They prescribe medications with numerous side effects that suppress symptoms rather than address why the issue appeared.

Signs You’re Working With a Holistic Veterinarian

A genuine holistic practitioner:

• Focuses on the root cause of imbalance rather than symptoms
• Understands the Endocannabinoid System and how to support homeostasis naturally
• Recommends fresh or raw diets, not prescription kibble
• Uses whole-plant and whole-fungi medicine rather than isolates or synthetics
• Uses titer testing instead of routine re-vaccination
• Avoids chemical flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives
• Listens, educates, and empowers pet parents rather than rushing or pressuring them
• Follows the principle of Do No Harm

If a practitioner dismisses food as medicine or claims herbal and mushroom medicine is unproven, they are not holistic and they are not following the Veterinarian’s Oath to continually educate themselves.

Signs Your Veterinarian Isn’t Practicing Holistic Care

You are not in a holistic practice if:

• You see posters for pharmaceuticals like Librela, Simparica, Bravecto, or Apoquel
• Prescription diets such as Hill’s, Royal Canin, or Purina are being sold or recommended
• You receive automatic annual vaccine reminder cards
• Chemical preventatives are pushed “just to be safe”
• The vet discourages raw or fresh feeding and insists on kibble or canned diets
• Staff cannot answer your ingredient or sourcing questions for supplements they sell
• Antibiotics or steroids are prescribed “as a precaution” before a diagnosis

If this sounds familiar, it is a conventional practice using the word holistic as marketing.

How to Vet Your Vet (and Confirm They’re Truly Holistic)

If you want to make sure a veterinarian truly aligns with holistic principles, going in prepared with the right questions makes all the difference. Before booking an appointment, review my Do No Harm Holistic Vet Checklist.

This resource helps you ask the right questions, and assess whether a veterinarian:

• Practices root-cause healing rather than symptom suppression
• Understands interconnected systems such as the gut–brain axis and the Endocannabinoid System
• Recommends whole-food, whole-plant, and whole-fungi medicine
• Encourages you to be your pet’s primary advocate

Can’t Find a Holistic Veterinarian?

Finding a truly holistic veterinarian can be challenging, and many pet parents feel discouraged when none are nearby. But distance doesn’t limit your ability to add holistic wellness and natural care into your pet’s life. You can still build a holistic support team, from remote consultations to supportive practitioners in your area:

• A holistic veterinarian or practitioner via Zoom who can review your pet’s records and guide you remotely
• Running diagnostics locally and sharing results with the holistic expert of your choice
• A certified herbalist, homeopath, or pet nutritionist for individualized natural protocols
• A holistic groomer who uses non-toxic products and understands the skin microbiome
• A bodyworker, acupuncturist, chiropractor, or energy practitioner for comfort and balance
• You, as your pet’s primary advocate, helping guide their daily wellness choices

Holistic Care Starts With You

No one knows your pet better than you, and no one cares more about their well-being. Learning how to make informed decisions is the foundation of true holistic pet care. Never give your dog food, medications, or supplements without reading and understanding all ingredients to ensure they’re safe, natural, and free of cheap fillers or synthetics.

True holistic medicine is not about combining pharmaceuticals with herbs. It is about understanding and trusting the body’s ability to heal itself when supported by nature.

It values transparency, balance, and compassion. If your practitioner respects that philosophy and helps you support your pet’s natural healing process, you have found a truly holistic veterinarian.

Want a deeper dive into spotting red flags and choosing truly holistic practitioners? Listen to my full conversation with Kelly Bone on Your Natural Dog: Real Holistic Pet Care: Spotting Red Flags & Taking Control of Your Pet’s Health with Kelly Bone. 

 

About Angela Ardolino

Angela Ardolino, a certified cannabis and fungi clinician, brings over 20 years of expertise to the field of holistic pet wellness. As a graduate of the inaugural Medical Cannabis for Therapeutic Use program at the University of Vermont School of Medicine, she is a passionate advocate for safe, natural, and ethically-grown whole plant and fungi medicine tailored for pets.

Committed to the highest standards, Angela continues to educate and inspire pet parents through her popular podcast, Your Natural Dog, where she hosts experts to discuss holistic pet care, natural remedies, nutrition, and training. Follow Angela Ardolino on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to stay updated on her mission to educate and empower pet parents everywhere.