Lee

This is Lee, my 18 year old Siamese beautiful gal. I know they say cats have 9 lives and in Lee’s case this is totally true. And three of those saved lives I give complete credit to Dr Haghighat and his team.

Nine years ago we almost lost her to what we thought was an obstruction. The vets operated on her but only found inflammation. Whatever had been stuck had made its way through but after the surgery she crashed. We thought for sure we were going to lose her. I had been to see Dr. Haghighat with a dog I had and brought Lee along for him to look at the cyst on top of her head so I called him. Turns out cats don’t do well on fluids. He said to take her off them immediately. Once we did, bam, she rallied almost immediately and was back to her old self again.

Five years passed and Lee again wasn’t herself. We made the trip from Collingwood to Newmarket to see if Dr Haghighat could help. It was Lee’s kidneys that were showing signs of kidney disease. I was devastated. I’d lost a cat to kidney disease and knew how horrific it was. However after prescribing a Heel mix for Lee her kidneys bounced back and she was like a kitten again.

Fast forward to now. Lee was losing weight and vomiting. After a local vet did an ultrasound it showed that my sweet we kitty had masses, assumed to be cancer, in her intestines causing two blockages as well as lymphoma. I know she’s 18 but she has so much spunk still. She can jump 3 ft onto our island and otherwise acts like a young cat. Her blood work was that of a much younger cat, kidneys awesome (thanks to the heel mix from Dr H!) So I contacted him again hoping he could help. It was my last effort to save her. He’d mentioned that he had two other patients doing well with the same diagnosis but that they were younger. I didn’t care, I knew by how she’d responded to the kidney Heel mixture that she’d respond (at least I’d hoped so) but felt it was worth a try.

Well that was Oct 21st! This picture was taken today November 12, 2019. She is so alert and eating like a kitten again. She can’t have too much at once or she throws it up so when I take the food away she gives me the stink eye. I’m not sure how much time we will have with her but because of Dr. H I know it’s longer than it would have been! I can’t thank you enough for giving Lee back to us now three times!

If you are considering his care don’t even think twice. I feel so fortunate to have him I just wish he lived closer.

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Shady

I found Dr. Haghighat when my 12-year-old cat, Shady, was diagnosed with diabetes and my conventional vet put him on daily insulin injections. I felt very frustrated with these injections of 2 CCs of insulin, twice a day, along with switching him to a special diabetic food prescribed by the conventional vet. Shady had been having trouble with climbing stairs and jumping up and down from high surfaces, and had even started chewing the fur on his right paw. I had read online that sometimes diabetes can go into remission in cats. So I thought it was worth a try to see if anything else could be done. Under Dr. Haghighat's care, I'm so pleased to say that Shady improved by leaps and bounds!

Over the weeks and months, he became stronger, able once again to jump up onto the kitchen counters from the floor, stairs were once again no problem at all, he lost some weight, his coat became shinier and healthier (he stopped chewing his paw and the fur grew back), and he was once again back to his curious, feisty self! We managed to slowly, slowly reduce his insulin injections, monitoring his blood sugar levels all the while, and now we are only giving him 1 CC of insulin once a week!

I can't tell you how relieved and overjoyed I am to have my dear friend Shady back to full health! I'm so grateful that there are alternative treatments available to what the majority of conventional vets will advise. I feel fortunate to have found Dr. Haghighat during our time of need. I really appreciate the calm environment Dr. Haghighat has created at his clinic and his soft-spoken, calm, patient manner and grounded energy - so different from any other vet clinics I've been to! Keep up the fantastic work and thank you for all your help!

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Nala

Nala is a female 10 year old American bulldog that was presented to us with a walnut sized growth on her right, hind hock with a sudden onset. The growth felt firm and warm under palpation. Due to Nala’s age and sudden onset of appearance of growth, and location Nala was referred to 404 Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital for biopsy and further diagnosis. There Nala was diagnosed with histiocytic sarcoma with the possibility of hock joint involvement. While waiting for the biopsy results two additional growths appeared above and attached to the original growth. The result was further confirmed with an Immuno Histochemical Stain. Due to the aggressiveness of tumor and location it was recommended to do a full leg amputation followed by chemotherapy which is the standard of care with this kind of tumor.

Due to Nala’s age and breed, as well as the poor prognosis Nala’s guardian decided to decline the conventional treatment and more so focus on Nala’s quality of life in pursuing alternative treatment. At the time of the diagnosis Nala was already on a raw food diet, which then we gradual modified it to a keto diet meaning lower carb and higher fat. We continued the keto diet for three months and after that every three weeks we introduced more carbs into Nala’s diet to break the ketosis. Also, we started intermittent fasting. During the week Nala was getting combination of herbal supplements and Chinese herbs.

Nala was seen here originally bi-weekly for biopuncture and autosanguis to down regulate inflammation and up regulate the immune system. She was also getting a weekly B12 injection. Two months after the treatment the subsequent growths started to shrink. At the three month mark all three growths shrunk and were unrecognizable. We continued with treating Nala every 6 weeks for immune regulation for 3 more months. At the present moment, we see Nala every 2.5-3 months and are happy to report that Nala is doing great and the tumor is still in remission.

Before:

After:

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Abby

Our 9-month old, Great Dane puppy, Abby, came 

down with an extreme case of the Papilloma virus

in her mouth. Seeking treatment and care, we met

with our veterinary  clinic who expressed that they 

had never encountered such a case, and 

recommended surgery to remove the larger warts. 

We were then informed that the virus would heal 

on its own but would take at least one year. With 

Abby’s immune system so  compromised, she would

need to be isolated from all other dog interactions. 

As her owners, this was upsetting…Puppy years being so formative, this was very concerning for her  social development, not to mention such

invasive treatment of having to undergo surgery.
 

 

   BEFORE - May 17, 2016

We then sought out a second opinion and the guidance of Dr. Sasan Haghighat (Hyatt)

 at North-East Newmarket Veterinary Services - A Holistic Clinic. 

BEFORE - May 17, 2016

Dr. Haghighat was able to provide calming reassurance that Abby’s condition 

could be treated WITHOUT surgery and in a shorter window of time. 

After one month of treatment, we were able to kick-start Abby’s immune system 

and the virus began to heal. The results were pleasantly noticeable and positively 

shocking. After two months of treatment, the warts were gone. 

We will forever be grateful for Dr. Haghighat and his team for their dedication and care.

Truly amazing! 

AFTER HOLISTIC TREATMENT - June 17, 2016

The Timbrell Family – Owner of Abby

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Bentley

Bentley, my Hungarian Vizsla, had been on quite a ride this past year. Bentley was suffering from Discoid Lupus, a severe auto-immune disease that was affecting his nose. We tried several conventional treatments including seeing specialists for over a year without success. Finally, we went to see the amazing people at North East Newmarket Vet! Here you will find his before, during and after photos from his treatment at The Holistic Vet...

BEFORE

Dr. Haghighat started treating Bentley using biopuncture & autosanguis, a procedure which involves using a small amount of Bentley's blood mixed with the appropriate homeopathics for his severe condition. He also went over Bentley's diet and made some recommendations to help reduce the inflammation in his body. He also gave Bentley an acupuncture treatment each visit and sent us home with an oral homeopathic remedy to give to Bentley daily. 

DURING

After only 4 visits each involving acupuncture and Biopuncture & Autosanguis, we were seeing incredible results and Bentley's nose was starting to heal! 

AFTER 4 VISITS

If you have ever considered trying an alternate (or complimentary) approach to your pet's wellbeing, Bentley and I would highly recommend seeking the guidance of Dr. Sasan Haghighat and his team.

We are both so grateful!!

Kim & Bentley

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Rosie

When our dog Rosie was 12.5 years old we were told that her heart was enlarged and that she had a tumor in her chest which would need surgery to be removed. I decided to get a second opinion and had read about Dr. Haghighat in Vitality magazine.
When I arrived at Dr. Haghighat’s office with my x-ray, he immediately told me that her heart was indeed enlarged but he had seen much worse and did not think it was all too abnormal for a dog her age and in his opinion, she did not have a tumor. He recommended a homemade diet and provided instructions, gave her an acupuncture treatment as well as some supplements. Her also recommended an ultrasound.  The ultrasound confirmed exactly what Dr. Haghighat had said, that her heart is enlarged with very mild heart disease but nothing alarming and there was no tumor to be found.

Prior to visiting Dr. Haghighat, Rosie had been going up the stairs to the second floor of our house only about once per month and I had noticed that she was fumbling on the deck stairs in the backyard when we’d go out for her walk. After 3 days on the diet and supplements, Rosie was going up the stairs to the second floor every day and navigated the deck stairs with ease! After about 10 days we noticed that her claws got all crusty and full of fungus and her eyes were weeping fluid. I knew that this was a detox reaction so just let it take its course. After a couple more weeks her claws were all cleared up and the fur on her face was growing in nice and white.

Rosie lived to 15.5 years. She was exceptionally healthy and puppy-like right up until the last few weeks of her life. I am so thankful for the knowledge and care given by Dr. Haghighat. I truly believe that with his help, we not only extended her life, but also gave her an improved quality of life.   

Cindy Bentley (Rosie’s mom)

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Sid

Here is Sid at approximately 39 lbs. He was quite inactive and diabetic requiring 2 injections of 6 units of insulin per day. Through a prescription weight loss diet and insulin, he lost approx. 8 lbs over 1 year, from 2013-2014.

The following picture shows our 4 year old grandson who was significantly lighter than Sid at the time.

Fast forward to 2015, when we realized that Sid had plateaued as no further weight had been lost. It was then we began to seek holistic care, thus discovering The Holistic Vet and Dr. Haghighat. It's been about 6 months since our initial visit and we're so grateful for the warm, loving care and suggested changes to his diet. During his visits at The Holistic Vet, Dr. Haghighat treated Sid with biopuncture (homeopathic injections) as well as acupuncture and an oral homeopathic remedy for Sid to rebalance his system. We are so happy to report that Sid is now completely off of insulin and his weight is down to 21.6 lbs - almost half the size he once was! As a result of the changes, Sid has become very active, even learning to play. He's incredibly loving and wants to be with us all the time. 

He's not big on standing still for the camera, but here is a glimpse at his progress in March 2016!

We are so fortunate to have discovered Dr. Haghighat's healing hands and The Holistic Vet and we are truly grateful for the care that our three cats are receiving!

Brenda & Sid the cat

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Abbey

Last winter I discovered that my yellow lab, Abbey, had blood in her urine.  After x-rays were ordered by Dr. Haghighat, it turned out that she had 2 large bladder stones. He explained that conventionally, what is recommended is surgery to remove the bladder stones. However, in his experience, most dogs do not require bladder surgery and with proper diet and homeopathic and herbal treatment, the bladder stones are able to dissolve on their own. We started immediately a very regimented treatment plan that consisted of feeding a homemade diet with lots of vegetables and added water. We also started Abbey on a homeopathic preparation and two types of herbs and monitored Abbey closely to make sure she was able to urinate at all times. The blood in the urine stopped after only a few days, and Abbey seemed to be much more comfortable. We repeated the x-rays in 3 months and, miraculously, her bladder stones had disappeared with absolutely no sign of them! I can’t tell you how shocked and elated I was with the news. Dr. Haghighat spared my Abbey from surgery and for that I’ve forever grateful to him.

X-RAYS BEFORE TREATMENT

 

X-RAYS AFTER TREATMENT

 

 

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Harley

Harley was 6 when she jumped off our 2' deck and tore her ACL in the Fall of 2014.  We had no idea what was wrong.  Our vet at the time insisted that she'd have to be operated on and that we should talk to the vets at the 404 Emergency Clinic.  She is a great vet but she put so much pressure on us to get the operation done that we felt guilty for having second thoughts.

Two days later we went for an exam (for Harley) and a consultation for us.  They were very thorough (though the exam hurt Harley) and very patient when answering our questions, however they did not give us any alternatives.  They made it clear that as far as they were concerned the operation was the only way.  We were quoted $3500.00 which wasn't bad as it included the pre and post exams, the operation and metal parts, all of the medication, the overnight stay and 5 hydro-therapy treatments.  However, my husband and I really didn't like the idea of them cutting the tibia bone and re-shaping the joint.  Plus the confusion and extra pain that Harley would go through.  Also we thought that this would damage her other leg as the 2 legs would now work differently.

The next day we had a consult with Dr. Sasan at the Holistic Clinic in Newmarket.  Our neighbours had been to see him with their dogs and he'd worked wonders.  We wanted a second opinion and more options.  He gave us the answers we were looking for.  He explained the operation and told us that we were right - the difference after the operation between both legs would mean that her other ACL would tear much more easily, probably in a few months to a year.  He gave us a treatment plan and started with acupuncture and biopuncture and also gave us some herbal supplements to go home with. He also gave us a time estimate of 3-6 months for the joint to heal.

He was right.  It took about 6 months and a few sessions of treatment, but Harley has been back to normal since the spring and she seems healthier than ever.  She knew, as she was healing, what she could and couldn't do and, even now, I find she seems to "think before she leaps" so we are hopeful that her other knee will have no problems.

My husband and I still bring our dog to Dr. Sasan.  She likes this clinic much better and is healthier for her. Before you feel pressured into doing something you're not sure of, it's worth taking a look around and checking out the alternatives.  It will be much better for you and your pet.  We are very grateful for Dr. Sasan and his great staff and we will continue to bring Harley here.

Sandra & Harley

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Phoenix

Phoenix is our lovely 8 year old Portuguese Water Dog. In the fall of 2011 she started developing open red sores around her vulva.  I took her to our vet who thought it was due to licking she was given a cone and some topical antibiotic treatment.  We soon discovered that the cone was not needed as it did not provide results and when the cone was removed she was not attempting to lick the area.  We had on and off episodes of the same problem for the following year.  We then noticed a horrible smell coming from her mouth.  The vet couldn’t figure out what it was and it continued despite brushing her teeth.  I took Phoenix back to a vet I had years ago that was a distance away as she was able to help us with our Sheltie that had lupus.  She immediately discovered that her lip pockets were raw and infected and that was where the smell was coming from.  At the same time her eyes started becoming raw and inflamed.  It was thought that her eye lashes were curling in and that surgery was needed to correct.  When she was under anesthetic the vet was able to fully examine her and discovered that the eye lashes were fine.  We were then sent to veterinary ophthalmologist.  After several visits we really had no further answers but the condition seemed to be manageable.  In the spring of 2013 we again had a flare up of her vulva, lip pocket and eyes.  Our vet thought that Phoenix’s problem was likely allergies.  So she was placed on a strict diet of kangaroo and oats.  She was on that diet for 9 months with no improvement.  We were then sent to a veterinary dermatologist that thought the problem was due to environmental allergies.  We continued on the kangaroo and oat diet with the addition of steroids.   Phoenix improved but we couldn’t seem to reduce the amount of steroids she needed to control her skin issues to an acceptable long term level.  We then did allergy testing and results came back showing Phoenix was allergic to a large number of things including four types of tree pollen, dust, mold and cats.  Thinking this was the answer in May of this year we started Phoenix on allergy shots.  Her condition worsened during the summer.  We were told to increase the steroids which sometimes did help the problem.  However in September, her eyes were so bad that she could hardly open them in the morning.  I couldn’t get the open sores to heal and they were getting bigger and bigger.  I felt every time I was trying to clean the discharge from her eyes so they could be opened that I was torturing her as the sores would be bleeding.  At this time even a drastic increase in steroids did not help.  Both the dermatologist and vet were at a loss as to what to do.   

 

 Thankful I decided to seek alternative treatment and went to see Dr. Sasan Haghighat.  I was immediately impressed by his caring manner as he listened to the long story of what Phoenix had been through.  He thought her case was similar to another patient, Jessie and that Phoenix’s problem was not in fact allergies but rather an immune system problem possibly pemphigus.  We immediately started her on a diet of boiled clean vegetables with some lentils and chick peas.  He gave Phoenix an acupuncture treatment, and she came home with some homeopathic remedies.  Dr. Haghighat thought that it may take up to 6 months to see results.  After one week I thought perhaps her eyes were looking slightly better but didn’t want to get my hopes up.  Upon her two week follow up visit her eyes were noticeably better.  We continued on the same treatment plan and by the following 3 week follow up visit her eyes were almost completely healed.  This was only 5 weeks after we started treatment.  We have continued with same regime and her eyes now 2 weeks later her eyes are completely healed, she has no issues with her lip pocket or vulva and we have completely stopped her steroids for over a month.  Dr. Haghighat has said that she may have a relapse in the process of being completely cured but so far she is doing great.  I have noticed a considerable increase in her energy level.  Despite being 8.5 years old, she is like a puppy again.  I was really so frustrated and concerned trying to figure out how to help Phoenix and can’t thank Dr. Haghighat and his lovely staff enough for figuring out the puzzle of Phoenix that had eluded several vets and two specialists.  He truly worked a miracle on Phoenix! 

 

BEFORE PICTURE (October  1, 2015)

 



 

AFTER PICTURE (November 5, 2015)

 

 

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Sugar

Sugar was my 60th birthday present to myself I had always wanted a Silky Terrier so I saved a long time to purchase her. She was only 12 weeks old she would chase her tail in circles at first I thought she was just playing as some dogs do this and it means nothing but as time went on she got more aggressive at doing it and started trying to chew her tail off then she graduated to crying and growling at her tail as she chased it. Took her to my vet at the time and he said it was a sign of pain and she was very sensitive at the base of her spine when he pushed she would scream and try to bite him, we were referred to the Toronto Emergency Hospital for a neurology consult where they did x-rays, an MRI and blood tests to investigate the root cause of Sugar’s problem. Unfortunately, they could not find anything that could point to Sugar’s clinical signs. The possibility of nerve damage, undetectable disc damage or a problem due to bad tail docking practices could not be ruled out. We also started a session of laser therapy that gave Sugar temporary relief. Then, she started having problems with her legs she would just fall and scream in pain and was not able to get up on her hind end. Due to Sugar’s ongoing issues, we were referred back to the Referral and Emergency Hospital for further tests; this time it included a CSF spinal tap with inconclusive findings.  I was beside myself after spending thousands and thousands of dollars and witnessing that Sugar was still suffering with no relief for my dear Sugar. Since there was no relief in sight, I was told by my family vet and the specialty service that I may need to make a hard decision down the road and consider Sugar’s quality of life. I did not want to put Sugar on any strong medication for life without a diagnosis since she was so young. We started researching about alternative treatment and acupuncture. Thanks to my daughter, we found The Holistic Vet clinic in Newmarket and met Dr. Haghighat. After a thorough exam and a couple of sessions of acupuncture and biopuncture and starting on some herbs and homeopathic medicine, Sugar started to show nice improvement and having less and less neurologic episodes. The tail chasing started to decrease to only once or twice a week. After about 9 months, Sugar seems to be almost fully recovered and I am so thankful for the wonderful staff at The Holistic Vet who helped bring Sugar back to health which I will be forever grateful!

Sincerely Mary Mackenzie and Sugar xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

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Scooter

 This is Scooter our beautiful and loving 15 year old Beagle. He was diagnosed with a large cancerous tumour in early spring 2015. Our conventional Vet offered us only two options, send him to Guelph for chemotherapy or take him home for palliative care. We left the office feeling hopeless. We did not even consider chemotherapy, we could never justify putting an animal through that, but the idea of just taking him home to wait for the inevitable was heartbreaking. He had stopped eating his dry dog food as an ultrasound showed the tumour was interfering with his digestive system. We had already been home cooking for our dogs for about half of their meals but knew we could do better in terms of ingredients. We asked our vet for suggestions and she looked unsure, maybe pasta and red meat was her response. That is when we contacted Dr. Haghighat. He was very accommodating, allowing us to communicate via phone as we live 2 hours away from the clinic. He guided us through dietary changes and suggestions for medicinal foods and supplements. Our goal was only to give Scooter the best quality of life we possibly could for his final days with us. His response to the new diet was immediate. Not only did he love the taste and his appetite return but we started to see amazing health benefits. His energy increased along with his activity level, he started wanting to go for walks again and then longer hikes and swimming this past summer. Symptoms associated with his arthritis decreased along with the need for pain medication. One of the most amazing benefits was a complete lack of allergy symptoms this summer. Scooter`s seasonal allergies historically have been so terrible they required the use of steroids which did not even completely alleviate his scratching and chewing at his skin. This season he had no symptoms whatsoever and no medication! We are so thankful to Dr. Haghighat and his team. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude for providing the opportunity to improve Scooter`s health and are so incredibly thankful for the extra time we have been able to spend with him.

 

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Cooper

Dr. Haghighat saved our cat Cooper from a fatal future! Cooper is our 3 year old long haired “personality plus” cat.  We rescued him in December 2013. 

 Cooper always had “kitty breath” with very red and inflamed gums. Changing to different foods did not improve the oral health. But then, in May 2014, he became very fussy about his food. Then in October, he stopped eating and became very lethargic so we rushed him to the Emergency Clinic. At that time, the tentative diagnosis was ulcerative stomatitis although there are many reasons for this cause of stomatitis in young kittens; an overactive immune system was possibly the root cause. He was sent home on a course of antibiotics to control the infection. The antibiotics seemed to work short term.  Our regular veterinarian prescribed 2 more series of antibiotics and mouth wash which helped his oral health, but only for a short duration. When we stopped the antibiotic, the problem re-appeared. Our vet told us that the antibiotic would ultimately stop working and suggested that in this circumstance, she recommends a full mouth tooth extraction which may or may not fix the problem.

Since this procedure seemed very invasive to us and there was no guarantee would be cured, we decided to look for an alternative solution. Then, after some google searches, we found the Holistic Vet and decided to take Cooper there. With acupuncture, biopuncture, supplements and an organic diet, Cooper is now eating without pain and the oral health has improved significantly.  He is a vibrant energetic cat who is obviously enjoying his food! During the treatment period, Dr. Haghighat’s office kept in touch with us and genuinely cared about Cooper’s recovery. Cooper will continue to visit Dr. Haghighat periodically to maintain his oral health and ensure the stomatitis does not return.

We are now taking our 13 year old dog, Tucker, to see Dr. Haghighat because we want his final years to be as healthy as possible!

 

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Brandy

"This is Brandy, our smart, loving 7 year old Brittany spaniel.

Brandy was adopted into our family when she was about 1 1/2 years old.  Brandy was adopted from a Dog Rescue (NBran) that is specialized in rescuing abandoned Brittany Spaniels.
Brandy has always been a very active dog, getting exercise daily which included an off-leash run in the forest along with our other dog, Dexter.

In January 2014, we noticed Brandy was limping. At the beginning, we thought it was just a minor sprain and let Brandy rest for a few days and noticed the leg seemed to improve. Then in June, Brandy re-injured her leg. We decided it was time to have Brandy checked by our local veterinarian. After examination, our vet diagnosed Brandy with a torn cruciate ligament and recommended surgery. The surgery, as it was explained to us, involved cutting the tibia bone and attaching a metal plate to change the angle of the knee joint; this would prevent Brandy from limping. Since this procedure seemed to be very invasive to us, our family was very uncomfortable with the idea. We decided to look at an alternative option which led us to the Holistic Vet in Newmarket.

On our first visit, Dr. Haghighat assessed Brandy and immediately began a treatment plan which included injecting homeopathics in the knee area to promote healing. Also, other herbs and supplements were prescribed. Her diet was changed to 100% home cooked meals, with lots of meat and vegetables and no grain. Brandy needed to be on-leash for walks at all times – no more running or jumping for a good 3-4 months.

It’s now 5 months later and Brandy is doing remarkably well! She no longer limps and has lost 10 lbs. Although this treatment route seems to be more time consuming, in our opinion, it is much better and safer than surgery. She is back to her happy, playful self and we are so thankful for the team at The Holistic Vet! We don't regret for a minute taking this course of recovery for Brandy!"

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Molly

"Molly's story started out very complicated, and was happily resolved at the care of Dr. Haghighat and his wonderful team.

At 2.5 years old, my puppy Molly, a yellow Labrador retriever, began losing hair on two symmetrical spots around her hips. It started as a light thinning, then appeared to get worse and was soon gone completely, until there were two fair-sized circles on each side of her back hip area. At times, they looked dry, because the skin was exposed to the weather. I began asking questions to my conventional veterinarian about what it could be - why it was happening - and what could be done to make the hair grow back. I scoured the internet, looking at 900 different things of what it could be, worrying myself endlessly, and never having answers. We tried giving her Melatonin with no success.

On one of Molly’s visits to the conventional vet, I asked again what could be done. She was perfectly healthy, not sick, eating like a horse (true LAB appetite eating everything in sight) and was perplexed at the bald spots. The conventional vet said it was likely allergies and provided a (what I consider a very high) quote, so that they could do a biopsy of the area and see what was going on.

I felt that was extreme. If she were ill, I would have conceded as something below the surface was likely going on. But she was healthy. I did some digging online before making any decisions... sedation is not something to take lightly for dogs... and after review felt that an allergy test didn't make sense. The spots weren't itchy, they weren't red or inflamed. So out of a last ditch approach before going that route or just accepting her life with bald spots, I reached out to a holistic veterinarian for a second opinion.
I should add to this story that I don't see myself as a natural believer in the holistic practices. Or "wasn't." I originally had a hard time accepting an alternative approach as conventional treatments were all I'd known.

On Molly's first visit, Dr. Haghighat gave us his undivided attention, and heard my concerns about her bald spots and her history. He believed she had Alopecia X due to hormonal imbalances, an often undiagnosed condition. He prepared a homeopathic mixture to be given orally to Molly, and told us we would have the hair grow back in six months.
I'm happy to tell you that four months in, the bald spots are gone - it worked. It continues to work, I should say. We're not at 100% fur retention, but we're darn-near close, and I couldn't be happier.
Important to also mention was Dr. Haghighat's advice for Molly's coat overall. A little coconut oil on the dry patches helped the fur grow in without irritation, and the addition of fish oil to her diet has made her coat revert back to puppy-like conditions -- she's SOFT!

I couldn't be more grateful that I took a leap of faith into the holistic side of the veterinary world, and that I trusted my little pup to the care of this clinic."

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Newton

"We first went to see Dr. Haghighat last year when my puppy Newton, who is a mini dachshund, was suffering from gastroenteritis.  After a visit to the emergency vet hospital in Toronto his symptoms seemed to improve after a round of antibiotics and IV hydration.  However his symptoms would not go away entirely, every week we would have at least one bout of bloody vomit and stool. My vet in Toronto put him on a special medical gastro food and said that he may have to be on antibiotics for the rest of his life.  None of this sat well with me especially since Newton was a puppy and not even a year old!  This is when we went to see Dr. Haghighat on the referral of a friend.  With his help and through the use of natural remedies and a home cooked diet Newton got stronger and stronger.  It was a long road but definitely worth it and I knew we were building up my dog’s immune system instead of destroying it with antibiotics. 

We just recently had another scare with Newton last month where he had a very high fever.  It was late in the evening and so our only choice was to take him to the emergency vet hospital again. I just wanted to know how to handle the high fever until I could contact Dr. Haghighat in the morning.  At the hospital they wanted to keep him overnight but we did not want to leave him.  Instead they gave him some fluids, did some blood work and told us to keep him in front of a fan throughout the evening.  In the morning the vet from the hospital called and said that Newton had no white blood cell counts and that he may have bone marrow cancer.  She immediately referred us to the Internal Medicine specialist at the hospital.  When we saw the specialist the following day, he retested Newton’s blood and his white blood cell count had not improved. He gave us 5 possible diagnoses; one of which was bone marrow cancer.  He suggested doing a bone marrow biopsy that day to rule out cancer. This would require putting Newton under while they removed a piece of his shoulder bone.  It made no sense to me to put a sick dog under anesthetic for an invasive procedure and I certainly was not going to do this without Dr. Haghighat assessing him beforehand. The doctor and I agreed to wait a couple of days to redo his blood work and reassess at that point. He sent us away with 2 very strong antibiotics for Newton to take.

In the meantime, I went up to see Dr. Haghighat who was wonderful as usual.  He told me not to panic and said that he did not believe that Newton had bone marrow cancer. He felt that Newton had caught a really bad virus and we needed to support his body to fight it.  He did a homeopathic blood transfusion where he took some of Newton's blood mixed it with a homeopathic remedy and then injected back it into Newton.  All of this was easy and not at all bothersome to my dog.  Newton immediately perked up!  He sent us home with some remedies and had us rub Castor oil on Newton's paws and cook some bone broth for him, all of which helps restore white blood cell counts. He also said that we could discontinue the antibiotics.  I was a little nervous about this because the other doctor had scared me so much so Dr. Haghighat gave me a homeopathic equivalent to give him while we got through this intense phase.

 When we did Newton's blood work at the hospital a couple of days later, his white blood cell count still had not gone up.  The specialist at the VEC was a bit concerned and recommended we do a biopsy.  When I called Dr. Haghighat to tell him the news he again reassured me and since Newton is otherwise doing great, eating and drinking normally and has good energy, told me not to panic and to give Newton's body time to heal.  He said to continue with the remedies and to wait a couple of weeks before we tested his blood again.  During that time he was completely available to me for any questions or concerns I had.  He supported me every step of the way.  When we did test Newton's blood a couple of weeks later it was perfect!  I know that if it were not for Dr. Haghighat I would have simply agreed to everything the emergency vet had suggested out of fear and panic and I think my dog would have died in the hospital during or after the bone marrow biopsy.  I am eternally grateful to Dr. Haghighat and his wonderful team (Jennifer and Nicole are wonderful as well!)  at The Holistic Vet. I cannot recommend him enough!"

 

 

 

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