Smith Ridge Veterinary Center

Where to begin… I wish there were enough positive words to describe our experience with Dr Jenna at Smith Ridge. We first came to Smith Ridge after using a vet that prescribed to traditional medicine (always resorting immediately to antibiotics, vaccinating without titers, etc) from the beginning we understood that Smith Ridge took a integrative approach to the care of animals. This in fact was why we choose them. Dr Jenna was wonderful sharing with us the approach they took at Smith Ridge and sharing research to support their practice. It was not a lecture, nor did we feel pressure to prescribe to a «new way» of doing things. They gave us information and the rest was left to us. Over the course of our relationship with Dr Jenna, she has positively transformed our dogs lives. She approaches each dog as if they were her own. There is genuine care and concern when we come to her. No question is too small. She always makes you feel like you are the most important client. Most importantly, the dogs respond to her positive care. Our dogs are truly thriving. We have seen our older dogs actually seem to turn back the hands of time, while our younger dogs are off to a great start in life. My husband and I know our dogs are in good hands at Smith Ridge both with Dr Jenna and the caring knowledgeable Vet Tech staff. From the moment you walk into Smith Ridge, the front office treats you with professionalism and helps to make the stay/​visit at Smith Ridge a positive one. We seriously feel very lucky to have found Smith Ridge and Dr Jenna and would highly recommend them to any who ask.

I have been going to Smith Ridge Veterinary Center for over twenty years. During this time I have been afforded the opportunity of working with Dr. Marty and Doctors’ Ruskin, Lenarz and Shase. These Doctors are the «best of the best.» They are not just veterinarians they are individuals who are devoted to the well being, comfort and health of all our four legged friends. Everyone at Smith Ridge make the trip a pleasurable one, the reception staff, back office, the vet assistants; are all genuine, caring individuals. I have recommended them countless times over the years and have always received grateful thank you for those recommendations.
I started practicing a holistic approach to my pups health 20 years ago. On Nov. 4, 2015 I lost one of my friends, Scout, an 18 ½ year old cocker spaniel,. She was the oldest patient in Dr. Marty’s practice and they made sure her last days were comfortable. She passed peacefully in my arms. I know in my heart and mind that her long and healthy life was derived from following the holistic approach which I learned and continue to learn from the doctors at Smith Ridge and especially because of the care afforded her by them. She is survived by her 6 year old Golden retriever sister Bree. Last week I brought her to Smith Ridge for her annual teeth cleaning. I live in New York City and several friends asked «Why drive 2 hours each way, there are plenty of vets here.» My answer was simple, if I had to drive to California to find the care, love, professionalism and security I have at Smith Ridge, I wouldn’t think twice. I am truly blessed to have found them.

My Sienna was diagnosed with a cancerous bleeding stomach tumor by an internal specialist vet 3 months ago. She was originally 18 lbs and was down to 14 lbs. Surgery /​biopsy were not personal options for me as it meant she would have to be put down if cancer was confirmed. I am not in favor of chemo and prefer to give QUALITY of life vs. quantity and did not want to do treatments that would make her sick. I was given meds to keep her comfortable and told to enjoy whatever time she had left.
After calling 2 local holistic vets and 1 cancer specialist, none of which showed any urgency to my situation, a friend of mine told me about Smith Ridge Veterinary Center. I decided to make that call the next heard and felt my urgency and told me to come in the next morning. It was a 2 hour trip up and a 2 hour trip back and it was worth EVERY minute of the drive, including the traffic.
Dr. Jacqueline Ruskin saw and examined her and after reviewing her records, recommended a supplement program after a 3-​day IVC treatment. Sienna’s tumor stopped bleeding and she had clear bright eyes again, her coat was shinier than ever, and she had pep in her step and a bounce in her walk again!!! She was going on very short walks, growling at her brothers and sisters again and climbing the steps which she hasn’t done in awhile. She was so weak right before taking her for the treatments I thought she was going to pass right in the car on the way to Salem that first day for the exam and evaluation. The doctors and staff at Smith Ridge even made a room for me to sit with her for her treatments and their vet tech staff held her for hours on her second day.
I can’t say enough about Smith Ridge and especially Dr. Ruskin. THEY SAVE LIVES AND GIVE QUALITY TO THOSE THAT HAVE NO HOPE. Even if she still had the tumor she had more time. More QUALITY time with me.
Sienna passed on February 2^nd, 2016. She had 3 months to the day of LIFE after her diagnosis. She was pain free, eating, wagging her tail, and loving me until the night before she took her last breath. She passed at home, peacefully surrounded by her family, next to me, pain free, stress free, and ready to fly.
There are no words to thank Dr. Ruskin and the folks at Smith Ridge for those precious 3 months. 99 days…99 times I go to wake up with her, hold her, feed her, snuggle her, tell her I love her and receive her love with had no boundaries for me. I have Dr. Ruskin to thank for that…99 times over. I woke up every day thanking God she was still with me. None of us have guarantees for tomorrow. These 3 months showed me that we need to be thankful not just when our pets get cancer but every day.
99 hugs x 99 times a day, 99 mornings, 99 nights… THANK YOU DR. RUSKIN!

Before I had a phone consultation with Dr. Goldstein, I’d been through a lot with a dozen of holistic vets across the country. Just like anything else, there’s good one, better one & the best in any profession. No doubt, Dr. Goldstein is the best in the country, I’m sure he is the best in the world too. Not just my babies (6 cats) better health, he changed my idea of «being healthy» too. I’m very grateful.

My little dachshund Blue was diagnosed with Cushings back in January 2008. I consulted with several vets, all of whom told me the same thing: that my only hope was to give my dog a medicine that contained DDT, for the rest of his life — and that I would have to wear gloves to give it to him! I was so upset! I had Dr Marty Goldstein’s book so I called him up. He has such a great perspective on natural healing for pets and was truly inspirational whenever I spoke with him. He put Blue on natural supplements and even though Cushings is a chronic disease, he remained stable and off any pharmaceutical products for the rest of his life. I can’t say enough about Dr Marty — I trusted him so much and everything that he said that I wish he were my doctor!!! (And I would love it if he would bring back his radio show!!!) THANK YOU AGAIN Dr Marty and Smith Ridge!!! I will see you again!

We have seen Dr Ruskin on a few occasions now. Lacey is a Maltipoo who has had reactions to her vaccinations twice now. The original vets plan was to continue with all shots while using large doses of benadryl to help lessen the allergic reaction. Without any other options we did that once and it did not work, she swelled up and had a reaction. This is when I found Smith Ridge. Dr. Ruskin thoroughly explained the purpose of each vaccination, which ones they feel only titers should be checked for and which ones where the risk of an allergic reaction and effect on the immune system outweighed the benefit. From years of experience she knew that Laceys titers would be fine as they find most small dogs are protected for years after shots given as puppies. The only shot we had to give was rabies, they put her on a protocol of a homeopathic for a week before and after, gave her a thimerosal free version and without any benadryl Lacey was fine. Dr. Ruskin even took the time to call that evening to see how her patient was doing. If you have a loved one that is having an issue with vaccinations from our experience I would highly recommend this office.

I met Dr. Goldstein in the early 80’s when he had a smaller practice just up the road. He was «holistic» when holistic wasn’t mainstream and my initial experience with him was outstanding. My dog had a strange skin condition that nobody could figure out, but one look and he knew exactly what it was and prescribed thyroid medication. I had rescued the little Cairn from a vet whose previous owners had brought her down to be put to sleep because of the skin condition. He instead allowed me to take her home. I have gone to other vets over the years due to geographic convenience, and while they were all good, the vets here speak my language, so I find that even though the prices might be a bit higher, in the end, I’m spending the same or less because I get right to the source of the issue. They don’t look at me sideways when I don’t want to give steroids or tons of vaccinations and instead want try natural remedies. Dr. Goldstein is semi-​retired, so now I work with Dr. Seo, who is wonderful also.

$ 230 to walk in the door for the Vet to «meet» your dog the 1^st time. Ludicrous and it’s sad because it’s taking advantage of the love people have for their animals to charge such an outrageous amount of money.

While I agree that this vet practice is expensive, I feel like my pet cat received tremendous care from Dr. Ruskin that was worth the price. Her (and the practice’s) approach to animal care takes the whole animal into consideration.
She gave me an additional two wonderful years with my cat and I’ll be forever grateful.
The difference in superior level of care has been astonishing. Highly recommend.
I only wish they had a 24 hour emergency clinic, but that is only because I don’t want to ever have to take my pets to another clinic.

Initial Reaction: I’m surprised there aren’t more reviews on this place. I took my puppy there for a routine check up, he saw Dr. Ruskin and was completely comfortable, she answered every question I had and even took time for my puppy to play and comfort my pup before she started the exam. They take a very moderate approach to medicine which is exactly what I was looking for.
Disclaimer: Prices… You get exactly what you pay for! Being a poor student myself I did feel a slight twinge when I heard the price and dutifully handed over my credit card, BUT the staff and doctors were so amazing I realized it was more important to spend money on great health care than toys, fancy treats, and other unnecessary things.
Conclusion: If you want the best for your pet, there is no doubt in my mind that Smith Ridge is it. After all, I am willing to drive and hour to get there!

This is a review for Martin Goldstein and his stellar team of vets at Smith Ridge. When my golden retriever Tipper was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer, «Dr. Marty» and his team were highly recommended by several people, so I took her up there.
The fees are wildly expensive, but with a comprehensive program of holistic meds and phone consultations, we were able to prolong Tipper’s life two years, and most of the time she appeared to be happy and healthy. We actually didn’t have to travel up there much at all, and had her monitored by our vet in the city. We dealt with another of the associates, and in truth I don’t think I ever actually met Martin Goldstein at all.
Dr. Marty is also «veterinarian to the stars,» including John Travolta, if that matters to you. His book «The Nature of Animal Healing»
is a wonderful handbook for caring for your little monsters.