A pet’s health is shaped long before it gets sick — it’s in what it eats, how it lives, and the care it receives every day. One veterinarian in Jamaica is taking that approach further, focusing not only on treating illness when it appears but also on supporting an animal’s overall well-being to build resilience from within.

“I have a term that I coined called petmanship. It is like the art of caring for your pets intentionally so your pets live a happier, healthier life while allowing the owner to enjoy the experience they are having with their pets,” said Dr Kristin Moses, veterinary surgeon and founder of The Holistic Vet, a veterinary practice.

Although animals were always part of her life, becoming a veterinarian was not the original plan for Dr Moses. Instead, her early interest led her to pursue a degree in zoology — the study of all life forms — with aspirations of working in conservation.

“I thought I’d end up doing something like conservation biology out in the bush in Africa or Australia, and be one of those wildlife researchers on National Geographic or Discovery Channel,” she shared with the Jamaica Observer.

However, that path did not unfold as expected. Her studies led her into several other careers, exposing her to high-profile environments, while animals remained a constant in the background of her life. Over the years, she adopted many pets, building a quiet but lasting connection to them.

“My friends call my house Animal Farm,” she said jokingly.

The turning point came through one of her own dogs. After discovering that her pet had difficulty digesting commercial dog food, Dr Moses began researching how to prepare a more natural, home-made diet that he could tolerate. At the time, she admitted, many people found the approach unusual. That experience ultimately led her to make a significant shift. She returned to school to pursue veterinary medicine in Trinidad and, five years later, qualified as a veterinarian in her late twenties. After returning to Jamaica she worked at a veterinary clinic for about a year but found that the traditional setting did not align with how she wanted to practise.

“I don’t think the clinic setting made me feel purposeful, to just sit and wait for someone to come in. I felt I needed to be more proactive and to go out, meet people, and be more in charge of my day,” she explained.

That desire was shaped in part by her experience working with larger animals outside of Kingston, where the work felt more hands-on and meaningful. By 2023, with a growing interest in nutrition and overall animal health, Dr Moses began exploring holistic veterinary therapies. She later became certified in natural veterinary nutrition and started integrating those principles into her work, offering a more personalised, concierge-style service to clients. This marked the start of The Holistic Vet, a mobile practice designed to meet animals in their own environments while focusing on both treatment and long-term well-being. From there, the practice began to grow. While Dr Moses maintains confidence in traditional veterinary medicine, including vaccines and antibiotics, she believes animals must also be supported through proper nutrition, lifestyle and immune care to make them more resilient to illness in the first place. This integrated approach forms the foundation of her practice.

“When you hear ‘holistic vet’, it’s not that I don’t do traditional medicine; I do [but] it is integrated so that it covers all aspects of health and well-being in a holistic way,” she told the Sunday Finance.

Starting the business, however, came with its own challenges. Accessing funding and start-up capital proved difficult, but operating as a mobile service helped reduce overhead costs. Building a client base and raising awareness required time. Today, much of The Holistic Vet’s growth has come through recommendations, word of mouth, and trust built with clients. Since launching the practice Dr Moses, who is currently the only veterinarian in Jamaica taking this holistic approach, said she has seen breakthroughs in cases that were previously difficult to treat. She recalled one instance involving a dog that had been struggling with a severe, long-standing skin condition, despite years of treatment from multiple veterinarians. After developing a personalised plan that combined traditional treatments with a fully nutritional diet designed to support the dog’s immune system, with patience and consistency, over time the dog made a full recovery.

“What made me really feel like I was doing something meaningful and different is that her vet, who normally treats the dog before me, actually called me and said to me, ‘I just had to call you and really big you up,’ because he’s been treating the dog for years now and has not been able to clear up the skin condition,” she said.

That recognition from fellow veterinarians, she added, reinforced her confidence that she was moving in the right direction.

Although The Holistic Vet does not operate a traditional clinic space, Dr Moses conducts home visits, which she says allows sick animals to remain in familiar environments, reducing stress and anxiety. However, she acknowledged that her service is not suited for emergencies, noting that some cases still require immediate clinical intervention. While her current clientele primarily consists of small animals, Dr Moses is looking to expand the scope of holistic veterinary care in Jamaica. Her long-term goal is to develop a wellness centre for pets while continuing to offer mobile services, and to focus on treating chronic and complex cases.

Dr Kristin Moses performs laceration repair on a dog following injuries sustained in a dog fight.

DR MOSES… when you hear ‘holistic vet’, it’s not that I don’t do traditional medicine; I do [but] it is integrated so that it covers all aspects of health and well-being in a holistic way.

Ella, pictured on the right, is the dog with a long-standing skin condition that was successfully treated through Dr Kristin Moses’ holistic approach.

Dr Kristin Moses with her dog Panda, a 15-month-old German shepherd, Belgian sheepdog, Akita and Samoyed mix, raised on a fresh raw diet with natural supplements that helped shape her approach to holistic pet care.

The Holistic Vet, Dr Kristin Moses’ mobile veterinary practice focused on holistic pet care.