Progressive Animal Hospital
Progressive Animal Hospital will open in White Plains on March 1, in the same building that houses Best Friends Pet Care at 110 South Kensico Avenue.
The new office is a second location for veterinarian Dr. Andrew Frishman, who also runs an animal hospital in Somers. Both locations feature a comprehensive approach to pet care that combines the technology of modern medicine with the ancient techniques of Chinese medicine. When appropriate, this may include the use of acupuncture and pulsed signal therapy on pets, which Frishman says can alleviate many chronic disorders.
Frishman’s patients include just about every kind of small animal and pocket pet from dogs to cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, hamsters, gerbils, mice, and rats as well as some exotics.
X-rays, ultrasound and endoscopy are part of the routine services offered, along with vaccinations neutering/spaying, check ups, dental care and wellness care. Frishman says his mission is to offer patients the most cutting edge and up-to-date care at reasonable prices, which is why he keeps his practice personal.
“People can find themselves in the situation where they are making life and death decisions for their pets because they cannot afford something like a $7,000 surgery,” Frishman explained. “ There are other options that can be considered, which many veterinarians do not offer.”
The concept of performing acupuncture on a pet may seem odd and perhaps difficult to do at first, but Frishman says it’s like getting a massage and most of the animals fall asleep during the process. He prefers to use the tools offered by Chinese medicine for chronic illnesses such as arthritis in older dogs, animals with epilepsy and those who suffer from hip dysplasia, incontinence, asthma, or allergies.
Frishman believes that most chronic illnesses are not illnesses at all but rather symptoms of an underlying imbalance. For example in Chinese medicine, the different types of arthritis are symptoms. “You have to get to the root cause,” Frishman explains. For this reason, when an animal comes in for a first-time visit, the questionnaire to be filled out is very in-depth.
“If an animal has a good diet, exercise and healthy lifestyle, that pet will be happy,” says Frishman, adding that modern living can unfortunately cause imbalances.
Frishman has always loved animals, so when he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Behavioral Neuroscience from Lehigh University, he decided to become a veterinarian, earning a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He approaches veterinary medicine from a scientific perspective, scrutinizing the latest developments in veterinary care, and when he’s convinced of their value, he adopts them.
Because of his interest in holistic health, Frishman became a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist by attending the Chi Institute, and earned a Certificate of Proficiency in Western Herbs from the Australian College of Phytotherapy. He also is one of the first veterinarians in Westchester-Putnam to offer Pulsed Signal Therapy to treat osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal disorder as well as genetic testing to identify and prevent disease and chronic age-related illness, particularly in breeds predisposed to specific maladies.
Dr. Frishman says advances in veterinary pharmaceuticals give him more options than ever in curing acute disease, but he believes long-term use of synthetic drugs to treat chronic conditions can have toxic side effects. Therefore, whenever possible, he uses milder, traditional medicines and diet.
The White Plains hospital, located at 110 S. Kensico Avenue, will be open Monday from 4 to 7 p.m.; Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 3p.m.; Wednesday 4 to 6 p.m.; Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; hours available on Saturday and closed on Sunday. Call 914-461-3353 for an appointment and to check hours.
For a comprehensive explanation of Dr. Frishman’s services and methods visit www.progressive-vet.com. A video on the website shows a number of pets receiving acupuncture treatments.
