Get to know us
Holistic Veterinary Care in Jupiter, FL
Dr. Matt and Kara are here for your pet.
Animal Healer: a medical professional who should be observing the Hippocratic Oath of “First, Do No Harm.” We ensure that whatever we are doing to help the patient is not causing future harm to the patient.
Holistic Veterinary Care Provided By Holistic Veterinary Professionals.
Acupuncture was Dr. Matt Parker’s first real introduction to non-Conventional Medicine (everything NOT included in Modern Western Medicine), but the instructors and mentors at the Chi Institute and Healing Oasis Wellness Center introduced him to so much more! His approach is now truly Holistic in that it is not just acupuncture or Chinese Medicine, it’s also whole foods nutrition, chiropractic and bodywork, massage & rehabilitation, exercise, lifestyle, past physical & medical & emotional trauma, and much more. We must incorporate every aspect to have the best chance at helping your pet heal… And to be truly Holistic means that we cannot completely ignore Modern Western Medicine. Dr. Matt & Kara understand the limitations of Conventional or Western Medicine (what regular Veterinarians do), and they also understand the limitations of “Holistic” or “Alternative” Traditional Medicines (what they do!).
Matt Parker, DVM CVA CVMMP VMRT
Veterinarian
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Ross University School of Vet Med, 2009)
- Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (Chi Institute, 2015)
- Certified Veterinary Medical Manipulation Practitioner (IVMI, 2016)
- Veterinary Massage and Rehabilitation Therapist (Healing Oasis, 2020)
- (US Army Active 1993-1998)
Dr. Matt Parker grew up in Roanoke, Virginia. But as of 2021, he has traded the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains that he calls ‘home’ for the clear blue warm sunny skies of Florida!
He practiced the Conventional (what many think of as Western or ‘regular’) veterinary medicine that is taught in Veterinary School for several years before he started seeking out non-conventional (alternative) medicine.
Like so many veterinarians and pet owners, Dr. Parker was becoming more and more frustrated by ongoing allergy cases, skin problems, pet obesity, and many other ailments that couldn’t be resolved or explained by the Conventional Western medicine that we are taught in vet school. Like you and your vet, he tried all the steroids and antibiotics and super-high-tech prescription foods to help his patients with allergies and auto-immune problems. But more often than not it didn’t work well enough, or it didn’t work at all.
As Dr. Parker started reading more about human health and nutrition he began to understand that processed foods are a big part of OUR (human) health problems. He began looking for more natural nutrition and treatment options for himself and his patients. Christopher McDougall’s 2009 book Born To Run is what really prompted Dr. Parker to make significant lifestyle changes.
As Dr. Parker started to discover the vast realm of non-Conventional (alternative) therapies that are available he realized that he was no longer just seeking knowledge, but that he was now seeking understanding and acceptance of some things that defy our modern reductionist scientific process. The most important concept that is consistent overall ‘Holistic’ theories is that all illness & disease is due to an imbalance in the body or the intimate or far-reaching environment that we live in.
Dr. Parker has adopted a truly Holistic approach to animal and human health that explores biologically-appropriate nutrition, lifestyle & exercise & social interactions, emotional & physiological issues from the past, chemical & environmental toxicities and accumulations, herbs & glandular supplements, acupuncture, chiropractic, while not forgetting that modern Western medicine also has great value when used properly.
To be able to solve problems and treat our pets to improve their health, and to be able to “fix” chronic problems that affect the quality-of-life of the pet and the pet’s caretaker—these are the reasons that made most veterinarians suffer through so much schooling in the first place. Dr. Parker is thrilled to be able to provide such a wonderful service for our animals!
Kara Spangler, LMT
- Certified Yoga Teacher Training, 2018
- Licensed Massage Therapist, 2020
Kara has always been drawn to caring for and healing animals and people. She works alongside Dr. Parker and specializes in canine massage.
She became a certified pet groomer in 1998 and eventually became a veterinary technician. She loved working with animals so much that she moved into the house across the street from the old-school one-doctor country vet!
Being a natural-born Empath and very much in tune with nature, animals tend to become calm and trusting in Kara’s presence.
Kara loves the healing energy of horses and has volunteered with local therapeutic riding programs.
Kara has many years of experience in the herbal supplement industry where she provided customer education and attended many continuing education conferences including an eco–educational tour of Finca Luna Nueva, a biodynamic farm in Costa Rica.
After decades of tropical dreaming, she has finally made it to Florida, where she can shine! She is happy to be a part of helping your pets heal!