110 episodes

The Integrative Veterinarian is a series of conversations with Integrative Veterinary Practitioners and how they approach their craft. We talk about things like their history, their veterinary school experience, life in conventional veterinary practice, and what led them to Integrative Veterinary Medicine. We also talk about their current veterinary practice, interests, and self-care practices. This podcast is sponsored by the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies. CIVT provides word-leading education in natural medicine, including three accredited post-graduate qualifications, industry-recognized certifications and a wide range of evidence-based courses and webinars delivered by qualified and experienced practitioners. Learn more at www.civtedu.org.

The Integrative Veterinarian College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies

    • Health & Fitness
    • 5.0 • 20 Ratings

The Integrative Veterinarian is a series of conversations with Integrative Veterinary Practitioners and how they approach their craft. We talk about things like their history, their veterinary school experience, life in conventional veterinary practice, and what led them to Integrative Veterinary Medicine. We also talk about their current veterinary practice, interests, and self-care practices. This podcast is sponsored by the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies. CIVT provides word-leading education in natural medicine, including three accredited post-graduate qualifications, industry-recognized certifications and a wide range of evidence-based courses and webinars delivered by qualified and experienced practitioners. Learn more at www.civtedu.org.

    Dr. Susan Recker

    Dr. Susan Recker

    Dr. Susan Recker was raised in Ames, Iowa. She earned her veterinary degree from Iowa State University in 1997, then practiced small animal medicine in a few offices in Wisconsin and Illinois.
    Looking for more ways to help with her clinical  cases, she earned her certification in Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy from the Healing Oasis Wellness Center.  She also developed an interest in clinical nutrition.
    In 2014, she designed an accredited Veterinary Technician training program for Gateway Technical College in Wisconsin. She was involved in everything from the design and implementation of the educational program as well as having input on the planning of the physical facility.
    After relocating to Arizona, she met Steve Brown and intensified her study of nutrition. She is currently on the staff of the Animal Diet Formulator  and loves to help people get the most out of the ADF software.
    Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Susan Recker as we discuss her childhood, education, practice experience, and current position with ADF.

    • 36 min
    Isabella Pulido

    Isabella Pulido

    Isabella Pulido was raised in Southern California and grew up with a menagerie of pets. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be a Veterinarian. To that end, she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree  in Animal Science with a minor in Spanish from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She was accepted into the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, where she completed her first semester in the Fall of 2023.
    Please enjoy this first installment of interviews with Student Members of CIVT as Izzy and I discuss her childhood, undergraduate education,  veterinary  school application process,  introduction to CIVT and Integrative Medicine, and future career goals.
    Be sure and stay current with Izzy's journey by following her blog, Dogtor-in-training.com.

    • 31 min
    Dr. Kate Millhouse

    Dr. Kate Millhouse

    Dr. Kate Millhouse was raised in various areas of Australia. She had a variety of pets growing up and began riding horses at a young age as well, stirring her interest in veterinary medicine.
    She earned her veterinary degree from Murdoch University in 1998. Afterwards, she spent time in mixed animal practice in Australia and following that, did locum work in the United Kingdom for two years.
    While in the UK, she began her integrative medicine journey by taking a short course in  acupuncture and starting a three year course in Veterinary Homeopathy through the Homeopathic Professional Teaching Group.
    Upon her return to Australia, she took the IVAS acupuncture course, received training in Chinese Herbal Medicine at the Sydney Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and completed the Food Therapy course from Chi University.
    In 2005, she founded her practice, Holistic Paws, where she offers acupuncture, Chinese Herbal medicine, Homeopathy, and Nutrition to her small animal patients.
    Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Kate Millhouse as we discuss her education, practice experience, holistic training, and the practicalities of a solo doctor holistic practice.

    • 37 min
    Dr. Jamie Lines

    Dr. Jamie Lines

    Dr. Jamie Lines was raised on a farm in Victoria,  Australia. He earned his Veterinary Science degree from the University of Melbourne in 1994.
    His first job was in an dairy oriented practice for two years, followed by some locum work in Australia and the UK. He returned to Australia where he and his wife purchased a dairy farm while he continued to work for local veterinary practices.
    He then made a career shift and trained as a mortgage broker, earning a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment. He founded a financial planning business on the Gold Coast, which dissolved during the financial crisis a few years later.
    He found his way back to veterinary medicine, doing locum work and also  traveling in Southeast Asia with his family.
    He and his wife founded a veterinary clinic in Alice Springs, Australia while completing the CIVT course in TCVM and the Introductory Western Herbal course. His latest professional activity has been offering integrative therapies from two small animal clinics on Australia's East Coast.
    Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Jamie Lines as we discuss his childhood, education, career path, and the building blocks that each phase of one's career can provide over time.

    • 51 min
    Dr. Colleen Smith- Retail stores as part of Integrative Practice

    Dr. Colleen Smith- Retail stores as part of Integrative Practice

    Dr. Colleen Smith was previously a guest on Episode 26. She is the owner of the Integrative Practice, Chattanooga Holistic Animal Institute, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
    In this episode Dr. Smith and I discuss her decision to utilize some space in her clinic for sales of retail food and supplements. We dive into the thought behind the decision, how it has changed the workload in the practice, how she managed staffing, and her inventory decisions.
    Please enjoy this episode as we explore Dr. Colleen Smith's decision to open the store, Chai Life Pet Nutrition Market, and how a retail operation can provide an income stream for an integrative veterinary practice.

    • 38 min
    Dr. Nichola Spooner

    Dr. Nichola Spooner

    Dr. Nichola Spooner was raised on a beef cattle property in Queensland, Australia, knowing from an early age that she wanted to be a Veterinarian. After graduating from the University of Queensland with first class honors in 2001, she worked in a  mixed animal practice for two years before completing a small animal rotating internship at Queensland Veterinary Specialists and Pet Emergency in 2004. She obtained her membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Small Animal Emergency Medicine and Critical Care in 2005.  After leaving the Emergency practice, she worked in both mixed and small animal private practice.
    Her son's health challenge led her to integrative medicine.  In 2018 she completed  Graduate Diplomas in Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine and Veterinary Acupuncture with CIVT.
    She also earned her Certificate IV in Training and Education and has worked in the field of education for both veterinarians and veterinary nurses for 14 years. Currently, she works part-time in general practice offering integrative medicine consultations for small animal patients and serves as the Registered Training Organization Manager for CIVT.
    Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Nic Spooner as we discuss her childhood, practice experience, training in integrative  medicine, and her suggestions for people interested in learning more about integrative medicine.

    • 38 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
20 Ratings

20 Ratings

LIZDVM ,

Neal is great

I love that Neal has such a diversity of guests. It showcases the vast array of opportunities that the integrative veterinarian has to pursue our love and passion within this profession.
Neal is a master host! He is relaxed and curious. This encourages the guests to be relaxed and open. The conversations are informative, fun, and wide ranging while also having depth and offering powerful life and professional insights.

gritdoc ,

Enjoy this podcast!!

I am a house call holistic veterinarian and listen to podcasts driving between appointments. I found this a while ago, maybe not long after Neil started it and I have learned so much! It is very nice to hear other veterinarian’s stories of how they got started along their paths to where they are now and to realize how much we all have in common, going our own way but also knowing we are not alone. It is encouraging hearing how we can all make a difference in our little parts of the world in service to our patients and their people. Thank you for doing this! Peg LaCombe

Lori Palmieri ,

Pet Mom - animal lover

I came across this podcast and cannot stop listening. My daughter is a pre-vet animal science major. I support alternative treatments beyond traditional western medicine for animals (and people). I love to hear about their careers and how they treat the animals to prevent disease instead of prescribing drugs and surgery. I am a retired (almost) attorney involved in wildlife rescue, rehab and release. I love it all! TY and keep producing these podcasts.

Top Podcasts In Health & Fitness

Huberman Lab
Scicomm Media
ZOE Science & Nutrition
ZOE
The School of Greatness
Lewis Howes
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
iHeartPodcasts
Passion Struck with John R. Miles
John R. Miles
Pursuit of Wellness
Mari Llewellyn

You Might Also Like

pureANIMAL Collective
pureANIMAL Collective
This American Life
This American Life
Fresh Air
NPR
The Cone of Shame Veterinary Podcast
Dr. Andy Roark
VetFolio Voice
Powered by the NAVC
The Derm Vet Podcast
Ashley Bourgeois, DVM, Dip ACVD