About Us

~Our practice philosophy~

While you will hear the term “holistic” used often, there is a misconception about what it actually means. Holistic literally means “all, whole, or entire.” In medical terms, holistic health has come to mean treating a patient as a whole entity, rather than as a sum of their parts. It upholds that all aspects of a patient’s needs – psychological, physical, and social – should be taken into account when addressing a health concern. A true holistic practitioner assesses their patient from all of these angles, and chooses treatment methods that best help them to achieve a state of health. Some of these treatments may be traditional, such as antibiotics or anti-inflammatories. Others may involve the use of herbs, food therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, or behavioral therapy.

Here at the Wellness Center, we do not limit our treatments to either strictly traditional or strictly “alternative” methods. Dr. Hoffer prefers to use an integrated approach, melding Eastern and Western medicine to arrive at a truly holistic treatment plan for her patients. Your pet has access to a full range of health care options, therefore optimizing our ability to effectively treat their health concerns.

It is important to understand that while the body naturally tends towards balance and health, many health conditions, especially in older animals, are the result of many years of gradual decline. While we have become accustomed to a “quick fix” from modern-day medicines, realigning the body’s balance naturally takes time. Just like you cannot expect to gain 25 pounds over 5 years, and lose it all (safely) in 2 months, most holistic approaches take more than just a few days before results are noticed. However, unlike the “band-aid” effect that many modern medicines provide, treating the root of the problem allows for a complete and lasting cure. When the underlying imbalance is resolved and the body is allowed to heal itself, patients feel better and are subjected to minimal risk of side effects from prescription medications. Believe it or not, the body and mind possess an inherent power to heal, and naturally tend towards health rather than disease. By knowing when to help, and when to get out of the way and allow the body to do what it does best, we can help our pets live long, happy, healthy lives!

~Meet our Staff~

Seychelle Hoffer, DVM, CVA

Dr. Seychelle Hoffer is a native of Massachusetts, and a 2001 graduate of Tufts Veterinary School. She is certified in acupuncture through the Chi Institute, and has received training in the use of Chinese and Western herbs as well as Chinese food therapy. Dr. Hoffer is a member of the AVMA, AAVA, AHVMA, and AATCVM.

Dr. Hoffer has been with Atlantic Animal Hospital since 2008. She bought the practice in 2010, and has made holistic care the focus of the new Wellness Center. The hospital is highly involved in the southern RI community, sponsoring local events and working closely with nearby shelters and rescue groups. Past events have included the Nail-Trim-A-Thon fundraiser for the RI Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the annual holiday food/supplies drive for local animal shelters.

Aside from her passion for keeping animals healthy, Dr. Hoffer enjoys yoga, horseback riding, hiking, reading, swimming, and cooking yummy vegetarian meals. She hangs her stethoscope in south county with her husband Dave, daughter Rowan, and an ever-expanding family of animals including dogs, cats, horses and goats!

Sharro 

Sharro has been a veterinary technician since 1992, and has been with Atlantic since 2013. Sharro earned her RN from the CCRI Nursing program in 2013, but says that being a veterinary technician is her true calling!  She is an awesome mother of 4 (3 boys and 1 girl), and happily married to her best friend Warren.  A true animal lover, Sharro shares her home with an ever-growing menagerie of cats and dogs!

Beth 

Beth has worked in the veterinary field since 1997. She knew by the age of two that she wanted to work with animals – when she was bitten in the face by a dog, she decided to make it her life’s work to “fix angry doggies.” Born and raised in South Kingstown, Beth graduated from URI in 2001 with a BS in veterinary science, and has attended numerous canine behavior seminars.

Beth is a positive-reinforcement dog trainer, acting as a canine behavior translator. She enjoys helping enrich the relationships between animals and their guardians using gentle, science-based methods. In her spare time, Beth loves working with shelter animals, painting, surfing, and kayaking.

Diane 

Diane grew up near New Haven, CT, and has always had a love for animals. She is currently taking the veterinary technician course through Penn Foster. She lives in Charlestown with her husband, cat Toby, and dogs Simba and Hope. Her interests include soccer and knitting. She also sells a non-toxic line of personal and household products that she loves to be asked about!

Rebecca, CVT

Rebecca came to us as an intern after a 20 year career in marine science. While working alongside the veterinary team at a public aquarium as a “vet tech for fish” she discovered an interest in veterinary medicine and returned to school to study veterinary technology.
She shares her home with two amazing cats – Barney and Andre!