When it comes to our loyal furry friends, nothing is more heartbreaking or more frustrating than when they don’t feel well.
Article By Lisa Moretti
Take a deep breath!
A hidden gem is waiting for you at 431 Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach. Meet Dr. Tiffany Rimar, part pet whisperer, part dedicated scientist, but 100% caring with a unique bag of tools to help you care for your pet.
Finally – Some Answers!
Though she is very humble, her staff will quietly tell you – Doctor Tiffany Rimar is part of an elite group of top Chinese Veterinary Medical Practitioners/Acupuncturists in the country. In fact, she literally helped write the textbooks used to train other Veterinarians at one of the country’s top schools (the Chi Institute of Chinese Veterinary Medicine) and at the University of Florida.
Doctor Rimar provides both natural and conventional medical care at her clinic, Veterinary Healing Arts. While “Dr. Tiff”, as her clients lovingly call her, is a great resource for holistic medicine, she also provides conventional services such as annual checkups, well-pet and puppy exams, vaccinations, routine blood work and heartworm tests, deworming, as well as flea and heartworm prevention. She is also the go-to resource when everyone has given up on their pet.
Dr. Rimar is also able to work with specialists as well as your conventional Veterinarian to help create the best possible treatment plan for the well-being of your pet. When needed, Dr. Rimar can also help with a comfortable end-of-life plan or ceremony for your beloved animal.
Do They Really LIKE Acupuncture?
Yes they do! Most animals love acupuncture — often they literally pull their owners in and some even don’t want to leave. For example, Abby, an Aussie Shepherd had been gnawing at her leg from paw to elbow for over eight years – the whole leg was an open wound – and the owner had even been counseled to remove her leg.
Dr. Rimar treated her for nerve pain stemming from her neck which no one else had diagnosed. After one complete session with a Tui-Na adjustment, Acupuncture, Aqua-acupuncture and topical treatments, Abby stopped chewing her foot that day. With continued treatments her leg healed completely and she returned to a pain-free life.
“I use a totally different approach to medicine.” Dr. Rimar explains.
“We use Chinese Medicine to evaluate five systems in the body to get to the root of the problem and not just treat symptoms. When someone calls me and asks if I can help with a condition, I have to explain that the problem could be coming from five different sources or even a combination of them.”
After examining your pet, Dr. Rimar devises a treatment plan using both Eastern and Western medicines as needed as if your pet was her own. One of Dr. Rimar’s staff reviews the plan with you and then you determine what you would like to do. Dr. Rimar notes, “We see you for only a small window of time, you live with your pet every day. Our treatment plan is based on team work WITH you.”
In some cases Acupuncture is the only thing that works. For example, Maggie and Buffalo’s owners are great believers in Dr. Rimar. Both families were facing the death of their loved pets because of different autoimmune diseases. With the use of pharmaceuticals and Chinese Medical therapies, both animals recovered completely. With their owners’ careful oversight following Dr. Rimar’s treatment plans, each family continues to lead healthy, happy, tail-wagging lives today.
Dr. Rimar is also well-versed in dealing with chronic and degenerative conditions like kidney disease and cancer giving animals months and even years with great quality of life. Other animals carried in the door unable to walk on their own have walked and wagged out under their own power…with tears of joy from their owners. Animals who had practically been given up for dead are playing and enjoying life for years thanks to good teamwork from Dr. Rimar and their owners.
Even the editors of Paradise NEWS have found their cat Princess, who is 18 years old, is returning to her playful, graceful self when they thought she was close to death.
The Rimar Family Legacy!
This local girl grew up in St. Pete Beach where both her parents have had successful businesses for over 40 years… but she is joyfully paving her own way. After graduating from high school, Dr. Rimar received a BS in Marine Biology from the UNC -Wilmington and did post-baccalaureate work in Farm Animal & Food Animal Science as well as Pathology at the University of Florida (UF) College of Veterinary Medicine. It was at that time she was introduced to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM.)
After she received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Ross University, Dr. Rimar returned to the UF College of Veterinary Medicine to help create and establish their highly regarded Acupuncture program that is now a model for many other colleges around the world. Dr. Rimar was the first intern in TCVM in the world at an American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA) accredited school. Dr. Rimar continued to teach at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine and the Chi Institute of TCVM for over 10 years. She helped establish the American Association of Veterinary Acupuncture (AAVA) and helped establish and is still a contributing author for the American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine as well as many other scholarly journals.
Ready for Something New?
Is it the spa-like atmosphere, the personal attention, or the organic treats that keep animals begging for more? Does it matter?! If you are ready for something new for your pet, call for
an appointment time or for more information at 727-360-5700 and mention that you read about Dr. Rimar in Paradise NEWS. You can also find Veterinary Healing Arts on Facebook to keep track of events at the clinic like Anesthesia-free dental clinics and meditation talks/classes with a local Buddhist monk. Dr. Rimar will soon have a new web site at www.MyZenVet.com or email her office at MyZenVet@gmail.com.