A New “Whole-istic” Model for Pet Wellness

Living in The World

Our animal chaplain talks with Dr. Jeff Feinman, holistic veterinarian, educator, and author of Path to Pet Wellness: The Holistic Vet’s Guide to Thriving Pets and Empowered Pet Parents.

If there’s one thing I can say for sure about most people’s relationships with their animal companions, it’s that they want to provide a home in which their pet thrives. We seek new outlets for knowledge, from traditional veterinary medicine to animal Reiki and holistic pet diets, in order to support our animal companions’ best life.

We spend a substantial amount of money on these efforts, too. The American Pet Products Association (APPA) reports that in the United States alone, pet-related expenditures reached approximately $152 billion in 2024, with veterinary care and product sales accounting for nearly $40 billion of that total—underscoring the vast investment owners make in keeping their companions healthy and well.

We also spend a lot of time exploring creative options. As a writer for Spirituality & Health: A Unity Publication, I’ve researched how learning a dog’s Ayurvedic dosha (mind-body personality type) can help humans create environments that promote balance for their pooch. I’ve also looked at the use of plant medicines, such as flower essences, and how they may promote healing for animals. On the flip side, I’ve cautioned how incense smoke contains a complex mixture of potentially harmful substances for the cats and dogs we live with. I’ve shared my surprise to learn that certain cat-focused playlists can help chill out feline nervous systems.

It makes sense that we humans exert energy toward helping Fluffy and Fido live well. Loving animals comes with a responsibility to participate in optimizing their health. Being in relationship with my feline roommates means continuing to keep my eyes open for new sources of information, like the BEAM model proposed by holistic veterinarian Dr. Jeff Feinman, whose mission is to help animals live with “vitality, balance, and happiness.” Mixing modern science with ancient wisdom, Feinman explores a novel path to pet wellness in which animal guardians keep track of a pet’s behavior, energy, appetite, and mood (BEAM). According to Feinman, this can help us optimize each animal’s quality of life and recognize early signs of susceptibility to illness.

The BEAM model draws significantly on intuitive and spiritual aspects of interspecies relationships, suggesting that animals themselves have natural healing mechanisms that humans are often unaware of or ignore. Dr. Feinman details these in his new book, Path to Pet Wellness: The Holistic Vet’s Guide to Thriving Pets and Empowered Pet Parents.

I recently caught up with him to dig into my most curious questions about his view of animal well-being. Here’s what I learned:

Sarah Bowen: You describe your view of pet wellness as “whole-istic.” I love this nuanced spelling. What do you mean by it?

Dr. Jeff Feinman: “Whole-istic” means seeing an animal as more than a body with symptoms. It’s honoring the complete being—behavior, energy, emotions, relationships, environment, ancestry, and spirit. True wellness emerges from the harmony of all these parts. Instead of trying to “fix” isolated problems, we support the whole animal’s vitality and joy so the body can naturally move toward balance.

SB: I’ve heard you say “pets are like snowflakes” to refer to how cohabitating animals can respond to the same home or environment differently. Cognitively, this makes a lot of sense. In practice, it can sometimes be frustrating! For example, I live in a household that includes two humans and two cats (Deacon and Bubba-ji). Changing one thing in an effort to make things better for Bubba-ji can have impacts that Deacon dislikes. How do you recommend balancing animal needs?

JF: Every being—even those we call “inanimate”—has a unique inner world: a dynamic equilibrium of molecular activity that deserves deep respect. Balance reflects the smoothness of each individual’s energy flow, guided by a (currently) invisible vital force. Depending on the individual susceptibility, almost anything we do “to” an animal or her environment can affect that balance. Balance begins with listening, observing responses, making gradual changes, and respecting choices to support each animal’s BEAM and quality of life.

Here’s an example: During a recent discussion, I learned of a home where one of the two cats—let’s call her Fluffy—was urinating all around the house and no longer using the litter box. It turns out that the cats’ guardians had made recent changes. The other kitty in the home—who was usually super active—had seemed to be bored, so they installed new climbing shelves and starting using new puzzle feeders. Within days, Fluffy’s BEAM shifted—she stopped using the litter box and started hiding more. She rebalanced and restarted using the litter box as soon as the guardians removed some of the new environmental overstimulation, restored predictable routines, and created her a quiet refuge.

SB: That’s a great example! I often find that there are so many trial-and-error types of challenges with animal companions, especially as they age. Frankly, it can lead to decision fatigue. You tackle this phenomenon in your book. What is decision fatigue? And how can we take care of ourselves while caring for our animal companions?

JF: Decision fatigue happens when constant choices—what food to use, which symptom matters, whether to call the vet—accumulate and drain mental energy and clarity. Caregivers can support themselves by simplifying routines, “pawsing” before responding, and focusing on what truly matters: their animal’s quality of life. Permission to rest, breathe, and ask for help is essential. A centered guardian makes better decisions to benefit animals.

One practical tip for caregivers who struggle to rest is to engage with your pet for their health and happiness, perhaps on a therapeutic sniff walk, playing a favorite game, or even just spending time with them while petting and praising. Or mirror your animal’s nervous system by sitting quietly with them. Place one hand on your pet, noticing their breathing, posture, and BEAM. Let your body match their rhythm for just two minutes. Framing rest as “supporting my animal’s balance” often makes it feel permissible—and both of you benefit.

SB: That’s a great tip! Bub often purrs on my chest, which chills me out. Deacon doesn’t like to be touched, but when he sits on my legs, he seems to vibrate. When I feel this, I just melt into the sofa. I learn so many lessons from cats. Last question: While it is unfair to ask for just one, perhaps, what is an essential tip you’d like everyone to know about developing or deepening a path to pet wellness in their home?

JF: Slow down and connect. Just a few minutes of undistracted presence—soft eyes, relaxed breath, open heart—shifts both you and your animal into a state where healing and understanding naturally arise. From that place, choices become clearer, symptoms make more sense, and our shared love and bond becomes powerful medicine.

• by  Sarah Bowen