Jessica Tartof, DVM, GDipVCHM(CIVT), CVA, CVSMT
Jessica Tartof's Credentials
Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Chinese Herbal Medicine, College of Integrative Veterinary Medicine
Certification in Animal Chiropractic, College of Animal Chiropractors, Sturtevant, Wisconsin
Certification in Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy, Healing Oasis Wellness Center, Sturtevant, Wisconsin
Certification in Veterinary Acupuncture, International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, San Antonio, Texas
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, St. Kitts, West Indies, Clinical Year at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine
Bachelor of Arts, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts
About Jessica Tartof
Dr. Jessica Tartof is an Integrative Veterinarian who received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2002 from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She has practiced in both equine and small animal Western and Eastern medicine. She became certified in Veterinary Acupuncture (CVA) through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society.
She earned her certification in Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy (CVSMT) through the College of Animal Chiropractors and the Healing Oasis Center.
A post graduate diploma in Veterinary Chinese Herbal Medicine (CVCHM) was obtained through the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies.
Dr. Tartof pursued training in alternative therapies to get to the root of a problem instead of simply treating the symptoms, which are the warning signs of larger deeper issues. Treating the symptoms, is like cutting the top of weeds instead of digging them up at their root. The symptoms will keep coming back. Alternative therapies allow patients to have more treatment options as “one size fits all” doesn’t work for every patient. She also has a soft spot for working with geriatric and blind patients, improving their quality of life and helping to soothe their aches and pains to keep them moving.
Dr. Tartof has joined many people and their dogs on the cancer journey, and has seen firsthand how integrative therapies can offer high life quality. She is glad to join her DogCancer.com colleagues to help dog lovers find safe alternative veterinary information.
My 
Dog
Piper, aka Piper the Wiggle Butt, was an owner surrender at about four months of age due to loss of vision.
I remember the first time I saw her. She was sitting on an exam table, her eyes were being examined by another veterinarian. I remarked, "what a cute puppy", and was told her situation. She would be in put in the kennel area for a week, and if no one took she would be humanely euthanized.
I tried to talk myself out of it for days, even avoiding the kennel area at work. I had two other dogs and a cat at home who were getting up there in years, and I was gone for most of the day at work.
Well, as you can tell, I decided to take her "as a foster," I told myself. I soon learned the severity of her eye issues, and with round-the-clock medications I decided that she was a permanent part of the family.
The insides of her eyes needed to be removed at about a year of age, resulting in complete blindness. As she learned to navigate her environment, her confidence started to slowly blossom and her social butterfly nature appeared. Wherever we would go, people were drawn to her, and she was all too happy to soak up every bit of attention. She would adjust her activity level depending who was around without anyone saying or doing anything.
She was amazing to watch; how she could sense what people and animals needed and intuitively help them whether it was calming signals to a nervous dog or resting her head on the lap of someone who was upset. She was a natural therapy dog, and after some prodding by friends, I decided we should go through the testing and have her become an official therapy dog.
Her favorite area of work was pediatric outpatient therapy at a hospital. She even appeared in a documentary about volunteer organizations. In her off time, she was a fierce competitor in Rally Obedience, earning the top-level title and being an unofficial ambassador for blind dogs.
In her senior years, her new job was a nanny to twin boys. She would tattle on them when they were doing something naughty and try to keep them out of harm's way which was a full-time job.
Piper was an incredibly patient teacher, and I know she taught them life lessons during those years that I have yet to realize. Piper has been gone over a year but hardly a week goes by where the twins, clients, or friends don't bring her up in conversation.
She was the pure embodiment of love, forgiveness, and compassion. I am forever grateful that she included me on her amazing life journey.
