Pitcairn Institute of Veterinary HomeopathySaguaro Lake Ranch, Arizona

March 3–6, 2016

Advanced Meeting in Veterinary Homeopathy

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Todd Cooney, DVM, CVHI grew up in Indiana, and graduated from Purdue University

with BS in Wildlife Science (1981), DVM (1986), and MS in Parasitology (1989). After 20 years of private practice experience including mixed large and small animal, military and regulatory work, I began to question the wisdom of conventional medicine, and sought out alternatives. Frustration with my own health problems, and the limits of conventional medicine, triggered this in large part. Homeopathy appealed to me for its precision and ability to restore health in acute and chronic disease. I com-pleted Dr. Richard Pitcairn’s Professional Course in Veterinary Homeopathy in 2009, became certified by the AVH in 2011, and now serve as an instructor for the Pitcairn Institute of Veterinary Homeopathy.

The first case in which I saw the clear effect of homeopathy is still a favorite; a dog suffering heat stroke which fully recovered within 15 minutes of receiving a remedy. Since then I’ve used homeopathy on a variety of species, including hummingbirds, snakes, cattle and horses, along with dogs, cats and exotic pets. My own health is also being restored thanks to homeopathy. I currently own a general veterinary practice in north central Indiana, focus-ing on homeopathy, nutritional consultation, and spay/neuter work for rescue groups.

Tara Timpson DVM, CVHDr. Tara Timpson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science at

Utah State University in 1999 and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. Following graduation Dr. Timpson practiced in a large mixed animal practice in Southern Oregon for a few years and then moved back to Utah to take a position as a staff veterinarian at Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah where she continues to practice.

Best Friends is the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the United States; home to rescued dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, horses, pigs, sheep, goats and a wildlife rehab center. Working in a large shelter setting dramatically illustrated the limitations of conventional medicine, motivating Dr. Timpson to begin seeking out other treatment options.

In 2011 she became certified in Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy (Chiropractic) at The Healing Oasis Wellness Center in Sturtevant Wisconsin It was through mentors and friends she met in chiropractic training that she was introduced to homeopathy and encouraged to look into Dr. Pitcairn’s professional course. She graduated from the Professional Course in Veterinary Homeopathy in 2012 and completed AVH certification in 2013.  Dr. Timpson has been consistently incorporating more and more homeopathy in her treatment of sick and injured rescue animals at Best Friends and is devoted to the continued practice and study of homeopathy.

Speakers

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Sarah Stieg, DVM, MRCVSSarah Stieg completed a Bachelors of Science in Ani-

mal Science at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York in 2001 and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, in 2009. During her senior year of veterinary school, she completed the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy’s qualifying program: Dr. Richard Pitcairn’s Professional Course in Veterinary Homeopathy in Sedona, Arizona.

Dr. Stieg become an assistant instructor for the Profes-sional Course in Veterinary Homeopathy in 2010. She has presented each year at the Annual Meeting in Veterinary Homeopathy since 2012, on topics including: canine mammary cancer, homeopathic practice management, equine sarcoids, laminitis, and chronic thrush; presented at the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy Annual Confer-ence 2014; and has published articles in the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, Integrative Veterinary Journal, and Dogs Naturally.

In January 2013, she became the Director of the Pitcairn Institute of Veterinary Homeopathy. Currently, she is practicing as an integrative veterinarian with a primary emphasis on classical homeopathy and nutri-tion, in her own mobile mixed-animal veterinary practice in North Yorkshire, England.

Marybeth Minter, DVMI grew up in northwest Wyoming and attended the University of Wyoming, earning a BS in Animal Sci-

ence in 1981. After graduating from the veterinary program at Colorado State University in 1987, I practiced in small and large animal hospitals in the region and in Pennsylvania. I soon became discontented with being a veterinarian, frustrated with the conventional system. I explored other professional avenues, even working in laboratory animal medicine and joining a masters program in public health. During 1999-2001 I completed the CSU veterinary acupuncture and manipulative therapy courses. When I began studying homeopathy in Dr. Richard Pitcairn’s Professional Course in Vet-erinary Homeopathy in 2003 I somehow felt I was “home” and was finally excited about veterinary medicine; I knew that the practice of homeopathy was where I wanted to focus my energy to help my patients. During this same time, I discovered and was surprised to learn more about the legacy on my mother’s side of the family. Six relatives were homeopathic medical doc-tors who attended Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia, including my great grandfather who practiced homeopathy during the 1918 flu epidemic.

I started Mariposa Veterinary Service in Jackson, WY in 1998 as a house call practice. After life changes and long winters, I re-located the practice to Sedona, AZ and continue to offer house call services.

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Carolyn Benson, DVMDr. Carolyn Benson received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree

with distinction from the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, in 1996. After a year of practice experience she was challenged with the serious illness of her own young cat, Benny, who was experiencing a severe persistent fever over 106 F (41 C), thirst, weakness (yet restlessness), blindness, and enlarged lymph nodes. Dr. Benson applied all her veterinary school knowledge and a full course of conventional therapy to no avail and it was apparent that he was dying. As plans for euthanasia were being final-ized she happened to open Dr. Pitcairn’s book which suggested homeopathic remedies for this condition, one of which seemed clearly indicated. Cancel-ing the euthanasia appointment, Dr. Benson instead found a local store and obtained Arsenicum album 6c which she administered to Benny, with him showing clear improvement each day until he fully recovered. This was the impetus to register for the Professional Course in Veterinary Homeopathy, which she com-pleted in 1999, followed by the Advanced Course in Veterinary Homeopathy in 2002. She has continued to study under Dr. Richard Pitcairn since that time. Benny passed away just recently at the ripe age of 17.

Dr. Benson is a long standing member of the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy, and has given lectures on and recently written an article about homeopathy locally. She is currently an associate in a small animal practice in Toronto, Ontario, where she applies a holistic approach to each of her patients, with an emphasis on classical homeopathy and nutritional counseling.

Lisa Melling, DVM, CVHLisa J. Melling received a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Iowa State University in

1999, and graduated from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 with a special interest in animal behavior and emergency medicine. Dr. Melling worked as an associate veterinarian for three years at a small animal practice in southeastern Michigan, followed by several years of emergency medicine. In 2007 Dr. Melling cofounded Best Friends Pet Wellness, a house call practice serving the Ann Arbor area.

Frustrated by the limitations of conventional medicine to cure her patients, Dr. Melling considered alter-native therapies that could heal the animals without the continued use of drugs. Intrigued by the curative approach of homeopathy, Dr. Melling enrolled in Dr. Pitcairn’s Professional Course in Veterinary Homeopa-thy in 2008 despite no previous experience with this medical art.

Her first encounter with a homeopathic prescription was dur-ing the first session, when Dr. Pitcairn found the simillimum for a debilitating headache that anti-inflammatories could not touch. Encouraged by her personal experience with homeopathy as well as the curative results it provided for her patients, Dr. Melling became an instructor for the Professional Course in Veterinary Ho-meopathy in 2010, and was recognized as a Certified Veterinary Homeopath by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy in 2011. In an effort to promote homeopathy to veterinary students, Dr. Melling is a frequent guest lecturer for the Integrative Medicine Club at Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Currently, Dr. Melling’s house call practice provides consultations in classical homeopathy, nutrition, wellness care, and surgery to the Ann Arbor Area.

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Richard Pitcairn, DVM, PhDGraduating in 1965 from the University of California, at Davis,

Dr. Pitcairn first practiced with a variety of animals — livestock, farm animals, circus animals, and pets. After two years he took a position on the faculty at Washington State University. After teaching and operat-ing the Large Animal Clinic for a year, he entered graduate school in the department of microbiology. After seven years, graduating with a PhD in immunology & biochemistry, he again joined the faculty to teach and do research during which time an interest in nutrition developed and led him to re-enter practice to put nutritional therapy to a practical test.

In 1978, a beginning interest in homeopathy resulted in a dramatic recovery from influenza. Bed-ridden on Thanksgiving Day, Dr. Pitcairn was suffering from a headache, unable to eat, nauseated, and weak, While the family gathered at the table Dr. Pitcairn, as best he could, perused the homeopathic book he had brought with him, reading the remedies for influenza. Recognizing Gelsemium as the appropriate remedy and having a small kit with him, with trembling hand he took a few pellets. Within 15 minutes, with a com-plete restoration of health, he was at the table with the rest of the family enjoying the holiday.

In 1985, a clinic was established in Eugene, Oregon which, for over 20 years, offered only nutritional therapy and homeopathic medicine. With time he began teaching others in this method, establishing a year long post-graduate training program for veterinarians which is still ongoing and has graduated 500 veteri-narians trained in homeopathic practice. In the 1990’s he was one of the founders of the Academy of Veteri-nary Homeopathy, the first veterinary homeopathy professional organization in the United States.

In 1982 Dr. Pitcairn, with his wife Susan, published a book on natural animal care that is still in print, as the third edition, having sold over 400,000 copies. Now retired from practice, Dr. Pitcairn focusses on writ-ing, teaching and research in homeopathy.

Julie Matthews, DVM, CVA, CVHDr. Matthews is a 1989 graduate of the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, first in her class of 72.

Upon graduation she accepted a postdoctoral appointment at Harvard School of Public Health. Practicing part time while studying retroviral disease, she realized her true love was patient care and opened her own hospital, Village Veterinary, Inc, in 1996. In her early years of practice Dr. Matthews found that conven-tional treatments often failed to alleviate pain and suffering in her patients. In her search for other modali-ties to help her patients she discovered acupuncture, completing the IVAS course and becoming certified in veterinary acupuncture in 1995.

In 2007 Dr. Matthews developed adult onset asthma and tried homeopathy in her search for an alternative to conventional treat-ments. Within 3 months all her asthma symptoms were gone. Encouraged by this rapid cure, she began her study of homeopa-thy. In 2012 she completed the Professional Course in Veterinary Homeopathy, becoming certified in veterinary homeopathy in 2013. In her quest to help her younger son, Tyson, with Asperger’s syndrome, she attended the Baylight School of Homeopathy in Portland, Maine, graduating from the four year program in 2013.

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When he was 12 years old, Tyson was released from his IEP in the York school system, cured of his Asperg-er’s symptoms with homeopathy, a far cry from the autistic fugue he developed at the age of 15 months after routine vaccinations.

Today Dr. Matthews lives in York, Maine with her husband of 30 years, their two teenage sons and her Border terrier, Willie. Her private practice is now 20 years old, a fully integrative practice combining con-ventional and alternative therapies and, increasingly, homeopathy. Dr. Matthews embraces homeopathy in her practice and her personal life. On a daily basis she prescribes remedies for her patients, friends, and staff members with acute illness, chronic disease, and to alleviate pain and speed healing postoperatively.

Doug Yearout, DVMDoug Yearout, D.V.M. received his BS in Wildlife Biol-

ogy in 1974, and his DVM degree in 1980 from Washington State University. He spent time in Uncle Sam’s Army and was a paramedic for many years before vet school. In Dr. Yearout’s words:

I have spent my whole career in Washington in the Everett area, in a solo small animal practice, with special emphasis on birds, exotics, zoo, and wildlife species. After practicing allopathy for 16 befuddled years, and desperately looking for an alternative to a very frustrating paradigm, 1 shifted to a completely holistic/nutritional way of practicing. It started in 1996 with some human lectures here and there in homeopathy before joining the 1998 Professional Course in Homeopathy and there I became known as the hedgehog expert. I complet-ed the Advanced Course in 2000, and have attended most of the meetings ever since then, as well as speaking at various lo-cal meetings, to the Washington State University Holistic Club, and for 8 years taught at Earthwalk School of Energy Healing in Homeopathy. I also wrote a weekly column in the Everett Herald newspaper for over a year on a variety of subjects including a 13 week mini primer to Homeopathy.

My first great acute case in the 3rd session of the homeopathy course was an old Blue Tic hound who came in with a temp of 106, and with 7 just birthed pups in tow. She was as sick as any dog I’d ever seen, the pups were dying and nursing curdled dam’s milk from hard inflamed mammaries. There was a very mal-odorous green discharge from the vulva. I remembered something about a remedy from class called Cau-lophyllum being for female troubles and birthing issues, tired uterus, etc., so I opened my new kit and put some pellets in the dogs mouth, went to get a B12 injection, and came back in 2 minutes to find a necrotic placenta, and 2 liters of fluid all over the exam room floor. The dam recovered over the next 6 hours, back to a normal temperature, and the pups eagerly went back to work feeding and thriving. I was awestruck and amazed at what simple power and efficiency these magic little sugar beads had within them after only one minimum dose, and I never looked back.

I have a special interest in emergency medicine and acute therapeutics and homeopathy has rarely failed in that endeavor. Homeopathy is also very effective in wildlife and exotics work as soon as you can figure out what normal is, and how to transpose, and read the symptom pictures in their own unique languages. Truly, Homeopathy is my life, and it floats my boat and professional intrigue.

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Susan Pitcairn, MSSusan Pitcairn is co-author of Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to

Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, a Rodale Press best seller since 1981. Responsible for formulating and analyzing the book’s home-prepared recipes to more than meet AAFCO standards, she also researched and wrote about the many environmental and healthy living issues raised in this classic guide. From 1985 to 2005 she actively assisted Dr. Richard Pitcairn in the administration and management of the Animal Natural Health Center’s Professional Course in Veterinary Homeopathy.

Encompassing and yet reaching beyond that, she has had a lifelong interest in understanding, synthesizing and addressing major social and environmental issues of our time.

In recent years she has been an activist and blogger on cutting edge contemporary issues as pollution from wireless radiation and plastics, as well as the challenges to democracy and society posed by rising corporatism, resource depletion and the potential impact of encountering extraterrestrial civilizations.

Increasingly, her attention has gone to “green living” tours, articles and potlucks focussed on what indi-viduals can do at home and work to meet these global challenges, including recycling, organic gardening, reducing plastics and toxins, installing solar energy, rainwater and grey water harvesting, gardening organi-cally, reducing plastics and other toxics, recycling and more.

At one such gathering, several participants urged the group to watch the 2014 documentary, “Cowspi-racy: The Sustainability Secret.” Ethical vegetarians for some 45 years, the Pitcairns and others were inspired to adopt and recommend to others a widespread transition to whole food plant based eating in response to its urgent and compelling message about the huge destructive impact of animal agriculture on the survival of Earth’s oceans, aquifers, soils, rainforests and remaining wildlife.

Coming full circle, she and Richard are now addressing the implications of these findings on the keeping and feeding of companion animals in the 21st century. Can dogs and cats, for example, be healthfully main-tained on carefully formulated all plant diets, as advocated by some caretakers and veterinarians? Just what is the impact of pet keeping on the planet’s dwindling resources? What should be the role of veterinarians and those who love animals in encouraging the development of a compassionate attitude toward all animals, including those raised for consumption?

Off and on through her life, Pitcairn has also expressed her love of nature through the medium of land-scape painting, and since moving to Sedona Arizona in 2006 has established a regional reputation as an award-winning professional artist and poet of the Southwest, participating in plein air festivals and teaching privately and at the Sedona Arts Center. In 2012 she published “Spirit of the Earth,” a volume of paintings and poems reflecting her lifetime of artistic accomplishment. Her artwork, poetry and blogs are found at www.susanpitcairn.com.