This month Dr. Doug talks to Dr. Keith Weingardt:

Dr. Keith Weingardt, DVM, CVA grew up in a suburb of New York City. After completing his Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science at Cornell  University, Dr. Weingardt attended Cornell University College of  Veterinary Medicine. He graduated with distinction in 1999. Needing a break from the cold rain and snow Dr. Weingardt moved to San Diego, California.

After moving to San Diego, Dr. Weingardt completed an internship in  Emergency and Critical Care with rotations in surgery, internal  medicine, ophthalmology and exotic animal medicine. After his internship  he continued to work as an emergency and critical care veterinarian.  During this time, Dr. Weingardt had a very powerful realization.  Conventional western veterinary medicine had significant limitations in  influencing his patient’s care. There were many times where western  diagnostics and treatment had provided all the benefits that they could.  In addition, the drugs and treatments utilized often had limiting side  effects. This point was driven home when Dr. Weingardt’s dog Max fell  ill with a brain tumor. Max was on high doses of steroids and was  developing severe complications (gastrointestinal bleeding). At this  time Dr. Weingardt began to look for other options.

Max saw a holistic veterinarian who counseled Dr. Weingardt regarding  diet and nutritional supplementation, in addition to homeopathy. After  switching to a raw food diet, Max began eating without hesitation, his  GI side effects subsided and his dose of steroids was minimized. Max  lived another six months and left Dr. Weingardt with a legacy that would  influence the rest of his life. This experience would begin a  passionate quest for knowledge to benefit his patients. This dramatic  shift in mindset allowed for Dr. Weingardt to better understand how to  holistically help his patients achieve optimal health.

Dr. Weingardt began studying acupuncture and Traditional Chinese  Medicine and received his acupuncture certification with the  International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 2003. Dr. Weingardt  ravenously began to learn multiple holistic modalities and incorporate  them into the care of his patients. He has studied and become certified  in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, chiropractic care, herbal  medicine, homotoxicology and homeopathy.   In 2005 he and his wife Beth  started the Animal Healing Center. This was a dream come true for Dr.  Weingardt. He was able to practice veterinary medicine from the heart in  a quiet, nurturing environment where compassion and empathy were the  foundations to the care provided. Over the next seven years Dr.  Weingardt was able to share in an amazing and rewarding journey with  many patients and clients.

In 2013, Dr. Weingardt relocated to Portland, Oregon with his wife  Beth, daughter Abigail and several four legged children. After taking a  huge Northwest breath, Dr. Weingardt is happy to be back helping dogs,  cats and their people. Dr. Weingardt and Beth have started Animal  Healing Arts of Portland. They are proud to be providing holistic  veterinary care including acupuncture, herbal medicine  (Chinese/Western), nutrition counseling, Reiki and homeopathy, at their  home-like clinic at 3575 NE Broadway St.