Today we’d like to introduce you to Neely North
Neely , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My family tells me I said I wanted to be a veterinarian starting at was 7 years old. I have to rely on them for the age because for me, I don’t remember a time when I decided that. As I remember it, this was always the case- I was to be a veterinarian someday…. I grew up outside of Nashville, TN, went to both undergrad and veterinary school at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Around 2007, I finally gave in to the feeling that I really wanted to move to the coast, particularly Savannah GA which had grabbed my heart when I first visited in 2005. General veterinary practice was difficult for me in a way that was insidious and difficult to recognize because at the same time I was fulfilling my purpose and really enjoying working as a veterinarian. When my dog, Maverick, got cancer around 2012, something in me shifted. I started really considering and researching the “why” behind a cancer diagnosis. It was as though vet school addressed how to diagnose, prognose and treat it, but I was taught little to nothing about any epigenetic causes of cancer. This experience along with a few instances of practicing medicine by the book and accidentally causing harm really made me question what I was doing! To say the least, this was big. One can already see that I totally identify with this being my purpose so what was I supposed to do? The more research I did and the more I learned, I became really interested in how one might feed human grade food to dogs safely and avoid medications with side effects (or use the lowest dose possible) by integrating TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) and western (traditional, allopathic) medicine. Once I started seeing, treating, and really enjoying treating patients with TCVM, I realized that thus far, I was only halfway involved in my life purpose. My real purpose was to integrate veterinary medicine (combine holistic and traditional approaches) and help pets / people in this manner.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I first wondered if anyone answers this question, “yeah, totally!” It’s as though being human is difficult no matter what…Of course it was not easy. The hardest part was the slow meltdown when I could no longer deny that practicing traditional veterinary medicine alone was not working for me. I guess some would call it an identity crisis or something with the ego but either way, I was terrified and felt like I was trying to defy the law of gravity. Around 2017, I went out on my own to practice TCVM only on a house call basis. I didn’t believe all the way that I would be ok doing this but I had to try. It did work and I loved it. I got the idea to open the same business in my hometown (Nashville) at the end of 2019 and ended up moving there for the past 4 years. The business is successful there as well. The latest thing I have realized is that I truly love Savannah – and just like any true love – this love has lasted and won’t really leave me alone. So, starting in Nov of 2024, I am back to seeing patients on a house call basis in Savannah, the home my heart chooses.
As you know, we’re big fans of Dr Neely North . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I would say that I practice integrative veterinary medicine if we are going to get technical. This means that I still very much value, implement and respect my traditional training in veterinary medicine. Even though I do not practice a hospital doing lab work, xrays and rabies vaccines, I still very much require that my patients have a traditional vet/ general practitioner. If a client wants me to see their animal for TCVM and holistic modalities but they are not up to date with their regular vet, I will not see them until that is so. I require that the pet be worked up (run tests, etc) from a traditional veterinary medical aspect before I will treat them. Western medicine is incredibly valuable and important for us to know and understand what is going on with our non verbal patients. The fact that I no longer actively work in a hospital or clinic has nothing to do with whether or not I value that aspect of vet med. It has to do with the scarcity of veterinarians who practice and are passionate about TCVM in the area. I feel I can do the most good by spending my time practicing TCVM alone and leaving the diagnostics up to general practitioners. I would say the thing that I value most about my business model is the concierge approach I have. Clients seem to value me sitting down with them and spending up to an hour with them going over their old or new lab work, comparing and looking for trends in lab work in order to catch things early; viewing their pet’s Xrays together on my lap top and really teaching them what we are seeing/ what has been diagnosed or ruled out. Once there is an understanding of a diagnosis, then we spend a lot of time in the best ways to manage it using a combo of traditional vet med, acupuncture, herbs, supplements, manual therapy, and food. This along with being able to give quick responses when existing clients contact me is definitely a favorite part of my business model. The more obvious one is watching pets go from surviving to thriving. Even more, hearing the client explain what they have seen as we have “peeled the layers of the onion” with their pet’s health and revealed a truly thriving individual. This usually happens around month 2-3 of working together and most clients cry when they tell me what they are noticing from a before/ after sense. It isn’t every patient but it happens enough that I can talk about it as my favorite part of the way I practice veterinary medicine.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
The veterinarians at UTCVM who first admitted this was a respectable and beneficial way to approach animal care and pain management: Dr Ralph Harvey and Dr Christine Egger (both were boarded anesthesiologists at UTCVM). Dr Huisheng Xie and Dr. Gregg Todd at Chi University;
Dr. DeAnna Douglas and Claudia Cardinal at Berwick Animal Hospital for the original support of getting trained in TCVM- I did this while I was still full time at Berwick and it required some time off, financial support for school and just dealing with someone who was stressed out learning a whole new way of practicing on top of the regular DVM duties at a fully functioning hospital.
Case Veterinary Hospital- they supported me in advertising the way I practice and helping their clients start using integrative veterinary care when I was on staff with them. They also supported me scholastically as I got trained as CVMMP (Certified Veterinary Medical Manipulation Practitioner) while I was practicing vet med at Case Vet. Again with support for a person who is working normal hours AND learning yet another way of practicing veterinary medicine.
Professionals who were particularly supportive: Dr Amy Mathiak/ Mitchell, Kayla Dolphin Greer (Case Vet), Karla Keen Vance, Dayna Kowalczyk, Betty Lewis, Dr Geoff Hall, Dr. Amanda Coleman, Dr. Angela Holcombe, Dr. Katie Hamlet, Dr Tracy Duffner, Dr. Krystal Turner, Dr. Michelle Preston, Dr Karen O’Connor, Melody Drushal, Rebecca Flentge….. friends Kirsten Parent, Sue Finkle, Nicki North Baxley and waaaay too many clients/ pet parents to even mention- that is who really gets the credit. The pet parents who decide to add this form of care for their pets. It’s simple but it’s not easy. It takes time, commitment and some faith to do something different. I will forever be grateful to some of my first patients like Eleanor Rhangos, Joyce Whittal , Dawn Tanis and so many more.
Pricing:
- I usually don’t put pricing in ads if that’s ok
Contact Info:
- Website: https://drneelynorth.com/savannah
- Instagram: @drneelynorth
