Karen Shaw Becker is the most followed veterinarian in the world, and for good reason. Dr Becker believes in a deliberate, common sense approach to creating and maintaining vibrant health for companion animals and an unconventional, integrative approach to addressing disease and re-establishing wellbeing in ill pets. This refreshing, proactive approach that intentionally focuses on creating or restoring wellbeing has been embraced by millions of pet lovers around the world.

Karen Shaw Becker received her degree in veterinary medicine from the Iowa State School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Becker completed exotic animal internships in California and at the Berlin Zoo, Germany. She is certified in animal acupuncture, homeopathy and rehabilitation (physical therapy for pets). Dr. Becker founded the first proactive animal hospital in the Midwest in 1999, opened an exotic animal clinic in 2006 and a rehabilitation and pain management clinic in 2011. Since then, thousands of patients have benefitted from Dr. Becker’s unique approach to medicine. Her integrative approach to internal medicine and her passion for clinical pathology (tracking disease processes in the body), as well as her array of progressive diagnostics and innovative treatment protocols have earned her recognition as one of Chicago’s Top Vets (according to Chicago Magazine), and a special place in her clients’ hearts.

Dr. Becker is passionate about protecting and preserving wildlife and their natural environment. She became a federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator in 1989. She is also licensed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to rehabilitate injured and orphaned endangered species through her non-profit organization, Covenant Wildlife.

Proactive Veterinary Medicine™ strives to identify and remove lifestyle obstacles before disease occurs. This is a profoundly different approach than the current medical paradigm of waiting until the body breaks from disease or degeneration, then attempt to ameliorate symptoms. Proactive Veterinary Medicine™ evaluates genetic predispositions, stressors, environmental factors, medical history and nutrition to create customized health protocols that strive to prevent disease from occurring. By monitoring an animal’s organ systems, immune status, musculoskeletal health, nutritional status and detoxification mechanisms over time, proactive medicine can reduce overall disease potential and identify subtle changes in health sooner rather than later.

Wellness Veterinary Medicine™ is the intentional creation of health through wise lifestyle choices over the lifetime of your pet. This novel approach to customized lifestyle medicine unlocks an animal’s potential for vibrant health throughout life and dramatically reduces the likelihood of the body degenerating over time. Wellness Veterinary Medicine™ ultimately promotes a higher state of ongoing wellbeing, above average quality of life and above average lifespan.

These are new health concepts in the animal medical space but resonate with millions of pet parents, worldwide. A new generation of animal guardians have emerged, committed to using these strategies to improve the wellbeing of their entire household and have affectionately dubbed her The Common Sense Vet™. Using practical, non-toxic, intentional approaches and protocols to prevent disease from occurring is catching on, worldwide. Dr. Becker lectures internationally and writes incessantly about empowering owners to become knowledgeable advocates for their pets.

She has co-authored the Whole Dog Journal’s Best Homemade Diet Book of All Time award, “Real Food for Healthy Pets.” Dr. Becker consults for a variety of health and wellness companies, and created the the largest pet wellness website on the internet. In her spare time she enjoys formulating fresh pet food recipes for transparent, ethical pet food companies and developing pet health products to improve the wellbeing of companion animals worldwide.

Dr. Becker’s central philosophy revolves around her belief that the foundation of good health and longevity is species-appropriate nutrition. She believes what we feed our pets matters. A lot. Out of desperation, Dr. Becker wrote her first pet food cookbook in 1999 after realizing many people want to feed their pets the best food possible, but are unable to find suitable pet food choices where they live and need a nutritionally balanced recipe (most recipes aren’t!!).

Dr. Becker consults with pet lovers around the world (and yes, the waiting list has grown to maximum capacity as well), and her award winning cookbook has been invaluable not only to pet owners in the U.S., but also to international clients who don’t always have access to integrative vets in their area.

Dr. Becker has also created an online video archive on YouTube, with hundreds of informative videos about addressing disease ailments, proactive living, how to make the best food and lifestyle choices and expert interviews with the top professionals in the animal health and positive training fields. She recently celebrated 100,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel. She also has a daily health and wellness article that over 2 million pet parents enjoy, free of charge.

Dr. Becker is a member of these organizations:

American Veterinary Medical Association
American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association
Association of Avian Veterinarians
Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians
Association of Wildlife Veterinarians
International Veterinary Acupuncture Society
American Association of Veterinary Acupuncturists
Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy
National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care
International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management