If you think you might like to have me prescribe for your pet, here is some information that should help you with that decision, as well as specific instructions as to how to proceed, and an explanation of the process.
Please see also:
Our Agreement
Phone Consultation
Most of us have been conditioned to think that a veterinarian must be within driving distance. After all, how can you treat an animal if you don't see him/her in person? With homeopathy, you can.
I have been practicing veterinary homeopathy exclusively since 1985, and have offered phone consultations since near the beginning. Back then, there were so few veterinary homeopaths that, for most of the country, phone consultation was the only way to access veterinary homeopathic treatment. So, for many years now, my practice has been predominantly by phone.
That said, it is very important to have a local veterinarian who can provide physical examination and diagnostic testing such as blood work and radiographs. Local support is also important in case of the need for emergency care.
The most important thing that I need in order to successfully treat your pet homeopathically is for you to be observant, and to report what you are seeing accurately.
So no matter where you live, chances are that I can help you improve your pet's health.
Learning About Homeopathy
If, like many people, you are not especially familiar with homeopathy, I encourage you to read a bit about the basic theory and principles. A very good book on veterinary homeopathy is "Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs" by Don Hamilton, DVM. Alternatively, you can read about the basic theory and principles in any introductory book on homeopathy for people. The principles are exactly the same regardless of the species of the patient. Another alternative is to go to the website: www.beyondflatearth.com, and download the book "Beyond Flat Earth Medicine" by Tim Dooley at no charge.
Getting the Medical History
The next step is to gather as much information as possible on your pet's medical history. Ideally, this should include copies of the medical records (not invoices) from any veterinarians who have seen him/her. You can request that the veterinarians' offices email the record directly to me. (Please do not have medical records sent until we've had a chance to talk, and I've agreed to take the case.)
In addition, it would be helpful for you to write down anything you can think of regarding the medical history that might not be in the veterinarians' records. This might include symptoms that you treated yourself or that were not treated, patterns of symptoms, or emotional factors that have had a lasting impact.
Finally, it would be helpful if you could send a photograph of your pet. I find it helpful to have a visual image of your pet as we're talking about him/her.
Sending the Information
Mailing address:
71 Ashfield Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Phone number: 413-268-3000
I will provide my email address when I agree to take the case.
Scheduling Our Appointment
Once you have sent the historical information, we're ready to schedule an appointment for the initial work-up. Please call the office so we can arrange a mutually convenient time for us to talk. This is usually a one to two hour appointment. I will review all of the historical information in preparation for the work-up.
The initial work-up is a comprehensive review of all current symptoms, relevant aspects of the history, general characteristics and preferences, and behavior and personality. By the end of the work-up, I am nearly always able to prescribe a remedy with no further case study required. Occasionally, with very complex cases, I may need to analyze and/or reflect further on the information I've gathered in order to select the best possible remedy for your pet.
After the Initial Work-up
The purpose of the initial work-up is for me to determine the best remedy with which to begin treatment. Homeopathic treatment, though, is an ongoing course with the goal of improving your pet's health on the deepest possible level. As such, follow-up appointments are necessary at appropriate intervals so that I can interpret your pet's response to the prescribed remedy, and make recommendations regarding ongoing treatment.
Fees
This is a topic about which some folks are uncomfortable asking, but everyone wants to know. So let me broach the subject and spare you having to ask.
The charge for the initial work-up is usually $280 to $360. After the initial work-up, follow-up appointments are billed at a rate of $115 per half hour, prorated to whatever amount of time is spent. Time is measured in 6-minute increments, or tenths of an hour. A typical follow-up appointment would be 0.3 hours ($69) to 0.5 hours ($115).
Payment may be made by check, or applied to a MasterCard or Visa. If you prefer to pay by check, I will send you an invoice by email after our appointment. If you prefer to pay by credit card, I will charge your card after our appointment, and send you a sales receipt by email.