Dr. Z with Lola and Tony
Dr. Franchesca Zenitsky is a dedicated holistic practitioner whose conventional and holistic veterinary training allow her to evaluate your pet’s health and combine modalities as necessary in the interest of his or her optimal health and well-being. Her focus is on personalized wellness care and disease management through nutritional therapy, herbal medicine, and other safe, effective complementary practices.
Dr. Zenitsky holds degrees in both Veterinary Medicine and Genetics from Iowa State University as well as a degree in Biology / Applied Ecology from Eastern Kentucky University where she conducted endangered species research. She has worked in the environmental consulting field since 1994 and developed a broad range of experience in environmental and biological services. In 2011, Dr. Zenitsky founded an environmental consulting firm that she maintains for clients that wish to utilize her services.
It was her goal early on to pursue a Ph.D. in wildlife / endangered species biological research or a DVM in wildlife medicine, but life’s circumstances rather circumvented those objectives! Still, she continued to honor her core values and, after much research and some experimentation, she began to successfully incorporate holistic modalities into her animal family’s lifestyle. Disturbed, however, by the prevalence of chronic disease in most animals she met and little influence to make a difference, in 2008 she was finally ready and able to leap in with both feet and get on with preparing to practice holistic veterinary medicine.
Dr. Zenitsky established Idyllic Paws in 2013 to provide veterinary care in the Des Moines metro area using both conventional and holistic medical techniques. A housecall-based practice provides the best opportunity for Dr. Zenitsky to truly get to know her patients (and their people), by seeing them in their home environments. She continues her pursuit of lifelong education, advancing her training and ever incorporating new knowledge into her patients’ treatment plans.
In addition to learning more every day, Dr. Zenitsky is devoted to empowering pet owners with knowledge of optimal pet care as well as leading the initiative for a rabies vaccine medical exemption clause to be added to Iowa legislation. She and her brilliant son, Lorenzo, currently live with Harrison, a rescued Anatolian shepherd and best dog ever, and three cool cats – Lava, Bukster-Baxter, and Mr. Pickles. In her spare time she would rather be in the great outdoors and loves to hike, bike, kayak, garden, cook, engage in music and camaraderie, read, cater to her pack, and study holistic medicine.
Dr. Z with Harrison
Her professional veterinary associations and credentials include:
- American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA, licensed in Iowa)
- American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA)
- Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association (VBMA)
- College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies (CIVT)
- World Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (WATCVM)
- American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine (ACVBM)
- Certified in Animal Chiropractic (Options for Animals)
- Certified in Veterinary Chinese Herbal Medicine and Small Animal Natural Nutrition (CIVT)