For Your Pet to Thrive, Listen to What They're Asking of You
Dr. Jeff Feinman's new book offers scientific rigor and spiritual sensitivity.
Updated February 10, 2026 | Reviewed by Kaja Perina
Just about everyone wants their companion animals (aka pets) to have the best life possible. One way to help your pet thrive in your care is to listen carefully to what they're asking of you. Honor their needs by allowing them to consent to what you ask of them. 1 It's also important to try to take their point of view and to learn about how they negotiate their cosmos . Of course, there are times when this isn't possible, but often compromise is possible and benefits you and the animal—a win-win for all. When I first learned of Dr. Jeff Feinman's new book Path to Pet Wellness: The Holistic Vet’s Guide to Thriving Pets and Empowered Pet Parents I couldn't wait to read it. And I'm glad I did.
The bond between humans and animals transcends mere companionship; it is a sacred covenant that enriches our lives immeasurably. In his book, Jeff invites us into this hallowed space where science meets spirit, where veterinary expertise blends with profound empathy, and where the true needs of our animal companions come into sharp focus. Here's what he had to say about his important contribution to human-animal relationships.
Marc Bekoff: Why did you write Path to Pet Wellness ? Jeff Feinman: I wrote Path to Pet Wellness as a love letter to animals, their guardians, and the hidden intelligence of healing. After decades of integrative veterinary practice, I realized our beloved companions weren’t always being truly seen. Too often, their challenges were treated as problems to be solved rather than messages to be understood. This path guides us to slow down, truly listen, and practice presence and patience; when we do, animals can guide us toward awakening. I also wanted to offer clear, empowering tools that helps guardians support their animals in mind, body, and spirit. This book grew directly out of my own healing journey, where I learned that true wellness is less about fighting dis-ease and more about love, cultivating resilience , vitality, and joy.
MB: How does your book relate to your background and general areas of interest?
JF: Path to Pet Wellness weaves together the main threads of my life: molecular biology, veterinary medicine, homeopathy, conscious awareness, and a deep reverence for nature and spirit. My scientific training taught me to ask questions and look for patterns; my clinical work taught me how to listen to the stories animals tell through behavior and symptoms. Most importantly, my own experiences with chronic illness opened my eyes to how much we can learn from our pets about love, trust, and the body's innate capacity to heal.
MB: Who do you hope to reach?
JF: This book is for anyone who shares life with an animal and wants to deepen that relationship through awareness and compassion. I also wrote it for people who feel stuck between two worlds: conventional medicine and a more intuitive, nature-based approach. Path to Pet Wellness offers a bridge grounded in both science and spirit.
MB: What are some of the topics you consider and what are some of your major messages?
JF: My major message is that love isn’t just something we feel for our animals—love is a healing force we can learn to work with, and it belongs at the center of how we care for them. When we lead with love, we shift out of fear , urgency, and “fix-it” mode. From that love-based foundation, the book introduces two practical lenses, like silent SOSs: SOS #1: The true significance of symptoms–and what they mean. Symptoms are part of a conversation the body is having with us. Through deep listening we connect and begin to understand that what looks “wrong” is often part of a healing process.
SOS #2: The signs of susceptibility—and how to reduce them. We recognize susceptibility to dis-ease as signs that often show up before a crisis. With this clarity, we proactively promote health and resilience . Through this book and Holistic Actions!, I teach how to do that using BEAM—Behavior, Energy, Appetite , and Mood—an easily observed early warning system for internal imbalance.
And here’s the key: when you work with these two SOSs, the result is confident, mindful , fully informed and wise decision-making . Rather than reacting from fear or guessing under pressure, you learn to pause and listen to what your animal is showing you, and integrate that to support vitality, balance, and quality of life. Ultimately, this book is about a mindset shift: moving from fear-based symptom-fighting into a trust-based “re-growth” mindset—where love and science work together to support deeper healing and a better life.
MB: How does your work differ from others that are concerned with some of the same general topics?
JF: The core difference is a paradigm shift: while many approaches start with physical inputs (food, supplements, protocols) as the primary drivers of health, Path to Pet Wellnes s starts with energetic flow and vitality as primary—because without energy there is no life. Modern science expands our knowledge here; as we learn more about mitochondria and cellular energy generation, we’re seeing that resilience and healing depend on how well the body can produce, conserve, and distribute energy in response to stressors.
Practically speaking, that means we’re asking: “What is your animal’s body and behavior saying, where is energy getting stuck, and how can love, presence, and wise observation guide us back into flow?” That’s what makes the approach different and, I hope, deeply empowering. It integrates the healing power of love with a science-informed understanding of vitality, so guardians can soothe symptoms and make calm, confident decisions rooted in the individual animal.
MB: Are you hopeful that as people learn more about these fascinating beings, they will treat them with more respect, compassion, and dignit y?
JF: Absolutely. As people begin to see animals as sentient beings with complex inner lives, treating them with more compassion and dignity becomes natural. My hope is that Path to Pet Wellness helps illuminate this connection and inspires a more joyful, respectful way of living alongside our animal companions.
In conversation with Dr. Jeff Feinman , veterinarian and molecular biologist since 1985, is the founder of Holistic Actions! (HA!) an online platform. HA! is focused on empowering pet parents to help their beloved companions. He does this by helping them connect with spirit by listening to and working with symptoms to make fully informed decisions about their care.
- Dogs Demystified: An A-to-Z Guide to All Things Canine ; Consent Training Shows Dogs We Respect Their Points of View ; Why Dogs Must Consent to What We Ask of Them ; Why Consenting Cats Are Happier Cats ; How Dogs See the World: Some Facts About the Canine Cosmos .
Share this post Facebook Bluesky Linkedin Email
There was a problem adding your email address. Please try again.
By submitting your information you agree to the Psychology Today Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Get the help you need from a therapist near you–a FREE service from Psychology Today.
This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.