Well, great big bummer. Dr. Bittan has closed his office, another tragedy of the covid shutdown. He was the only vet Joey would tolerate, and the only one who could give him acupuncture. Sigh. read more

Seriously, all of the reviews for Dr. Bittan do not do him justice. He's a DVM that made the move over to a holistic practice. It's the best of both worlds because he comprehends the western and practices and treats with eastern medicine. My dog Ace was first diagnosed by his vet that he had been seeing for his first 10 years, since I adopted him at 3 months old. His health was great, no hiccups, only one small foxtail in the ear problem. Until his 15 yr old black lab cousin, Bella Dioji passed due to old age and then less than 8 months later, his Corgi/Chow sister passed due to stomach cancer. He had what we thought was a seizure after Bella's passing. Took him to the vet and they said, it was isolated so we just have to keep an eye on it. He then had one on the day we were to take Poochie in to put her to sleep. So we took him in to the vet, they ran bloodwork but didn't really think much of it and said they wanted to continue to watch him. Then he had on the next day and the next. Finally, after taking him in one last time, they suggested I take Ace to a neurologist. We had been seeing Dr. Bittan for Poochie's stomach cancer and decided to bring Ace in as well. He assessed him and asked that we see the neurologist as the other vet had recommended as well. Dr. Bittan directed us to the VCA Specialty Hospital in West Los Angeles. I made an appointment, took him in, they assessed him and immediately, the Neurologist said, she can't help him yet, he has a heart issue. 5 mins later, the Cardiologist came in and from there, it was a rollercoaster. They stabilized his condition then the syncopate episodes (which we originally thought were seizures) started happening again. Long story short, Ace had heart surgery, he did great for a week, then his kidneys began to fail due to the western medicine meds he needed to be on. A few days later, he was lethargic, ok, beyond, he was just laying on the floor, almost lifeless. He wasn't urinating or pooping and I decided to leave him overnight on an IV to see if he could flush the toxins out. Dr. Bittan had finally gotten the test results of the surgery and bloodwork and immediately had Max (his awesome assistant) call to tell me to bring him in. I was on the phone calling different places trying to find a vet that would put him to sleep at the beach, his favorite place. Dr. Bittan looked at him, studied his charts and asked me to commit 5 days to him to try to help Ace. I struggled with my decision, Ace was not Ace at the moment and I didn't want him to suffer. I decided to do let Dr. Bittan have his go at it. He gave Ace a shot, and about 8 different drops to give him every hour on the hour that night. I had to go to the post office so my roommate gave Ace is first dose in the car. By this time it had been at least 48 hours since he had pee'd. We arrived home an hour later and I had my roommate put him on the grass to see if he might want to try. He wobbled a bit, he was week, he hadn't been eating as well. Lo and behold, the little boy pee'd, he pee'd for what seemed to be a whole minute! That was the sign that he was fighting and he was going to be ok. Here I am now, writing this review, almost 7 months later, and the boy is alive and kicking AND happy. Our western medicine and eastern medicine docs communicate and work together to keep my boy as healthy as he can be. He has a couple of very serious conditions that have to be address from time to time but the combination of eastern and western meds have been phenomenal. I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Bittan, you won't be sorry. read more

I was really happy overall with my experience at the holistic vet. There's a whole not a whole lot they can do for cancer especially a cancer that affects cats and there is not a lot known about. But the doctor was helpful with sending me home with remedies and advice and was pretty good about reaching out with my questions. I would definitely go back in the future I feel that holistic veterinary is useful before the animal gets sick it is actually good preventative kind of like humans taking their vitamins. read more

I've finally have found the right vet. Dr. Bittan is truly amazing. Thorough consultation, extremely knowledgeable, caring and accretive. My French bulldog was in and out of ER for a dire gastrointestinal condition. I've spent thousands of dollars, and the traditional vets still could not figure out what was wrong and only prescribed expensive drugs and shots that only addressed symptoms. Dr. Bittan was able to diagnose the acute pancreatitis and prescribed a few inexpensive herbs and remedies that healed my dog in 4 days. Max the office manager is so informative, nice and professional. Made my experience with my dog there a very relaxing one. Their office has a very peaceful and healing energy, a pleasant contrast to the usual fear based vet office. I absolutely recommend Dr. Bittan and The Holistic Vet read more

The Holistic Vet aka Dr. Bittan, is as good as it gets... Our dog was a rescue, and she had one health problem after another since day one...We had gone through almost a dozen vets... And worse is that every traditional vet said more pills and more steroids.. But still after years more new issues would arise. Well, luckily we eventually found this vet. What lead us to Dr. Bittan, was our poor little pooch had sores on the inside of her paws. 3 vets said we must soap and wash her paws every time she takes a walk for the rest of her life? Dr. Bittan had us remove a sore and created a solution that cured her in days. While, I can say that when the front office is busy, they can be short with you. I found that was rare. Growing up and living in Los Angeles for over 40 years, I can say it is incredibly difficult to find someone who can embrace both hard science and new alternative medicine without straying too far from the center of grounded reason. When our dog got a cancer tumor removed, the surgeon vet said she had maybe a few months at best... After years of steroids as recommended by the vets who first treated our dog, we felt heart broken. Dr Bittan's health care regimen has kept our dog alive over a year later, chasing squirrels, and enjoying a quality of life that most doctors had written off. Many "New Age" or "Alternative" practitioners leave the hard science behind, in search of new and more profitable treatments. But Dr. Bittan always balanced standard blood tests and diagnostic tests and if necessary surgery with any noninvasive organic alternative remedies. In fact, for every appointment, he would always consider and suggest less treatment if the signs of good health or response to treatment was positive. How many alternative doctors suggest you need less care if healthy than more? My only regret is that we didn't see this doctor earlier. read more

The Holistic Vet - Dr. Bittan Entrance - Holistic Animal Care Near Me - Malibu, California

Dr Bittan is amazing! The best vet in the biz. Super knowledgeable and is very present during the visit. We have been going to him for years. He and his staff are calm and easy to talk to. Nothing is ever an issue and I always feel I understand the protocol of the herbs/supplements of whatever we are doing. Have been to other holistic places and they are not relaxing or organized. Marc is truly the best. I hope he stays in business forever!!!!! read more

Dr. Bittan did an hour consultation with my dog. He seemed very knowledgeable. My dog was very comfortable with him, and in the office in general. Bittan did a thorough exam, which involved asking me a number of detailed questions about my dog's general health and behavior, and looking, touching, and even smelling my dog's mouth, paws, and ears. He prescribed a number of different natural/holistic supplements and treatments, such as a mix of Chinese herbs, a fish oil, and two gemmos. In the two weeks that my dog has been regularly taking these supplements and treatments, his allergy symptoms do seem to have lessened. He doesn't seem itchy in that "Oh My God I'm Going To Spontaneously Combust" kind of way, anymore. However, he is still a bit itchy, and has in the past few days chewed his tail bloody. I understood from the get-go that it might take a couple of tries to hit on the perfect combination of herbs and gemmos to offer my dog total relief. What I didn't understand from the get-go was that Dr. Bittan is "too busy" to ever return client phone calls. Ever. Period. Having just called to find out what to do about 1. Continued Itching, 2. Chewed-up tail, and 3. A minor eye infection that's developed, I was rudely told that I could bring my dog in tomorrow,---maybe---, if Bittan had time, and then I was given the speech (again) that Bittan doesn't always nail the exact right prescription the first time. That's fine--I understood and accepted from the beginning that there might be some trial and error involved in this. Honestly, I just wanted to know how the follow-up process worked, and what to do about immediate concerns (eye infection and tail). The woman on the phone said she could take my phone number...which I took to mean that Bittan would call me back when he had a moment, so that I could explain what my pup's eye looked like, and discuss the response he's had to the initial treatment. WHOA NELLY. Not so fast. Woman on phone quickly cut me off and coldly--and I can't stress how coldly--informed me that "Dr. Bittan doesn't have time to return client calls. You'll be hearing from me. I'll give him the information and get back to you with his answers. If Dr. Bittan returned client calls, he'd never have time to see patients." Wait, what? Are you serious? My mainstream vet sees a TON of patients, constantly, and always makes time to return a call. And how, pray tell, will this woman provide Dr. Bittan with "the information" when she DIDN'T EVEN ASK what my dog's eye looked like, or how his allergy symptoms have changed? I really like the idea of Dr. Bittan's holistic practice, but I don't understand how you can treat your clients--who are paying a LOT of money and working around your very limited schedule--so coldly. It just doesn't make sense. I'm being kind here in giving The Holistic Vet 3 stars. The way I was just treated is definitely not "A-OK." But because he's really one of the only holistic vets in LA, and because I'll most likely bring my dog back to him in the future despite his incredibly unfriendly receptionist and his stance on returning calls, for now I'll be generous, with an eye toward updating later. read more

I COMPLETELY agree with the previous yelper. I can't believe the receptionist had such an attitude, lecturing me about how "Dr. Bittan is way to busy to call back his clients." Wow... This is the first time i ever heard such a thing from a doctor's office. At my initial appointment, I was a bit surprised about the fact he didn't even bother to take a look at my kitty but I did have a good consulting with Dr. Bittan. Unfortunately my kitty has been throwing up a lot since i started giving her the liquid medicine Dr. Bittan prescribed so I do have to call the office to find out whether this is worthy of making another appointment. I am VERY disappointed about Dr. Bittan. I was so glad about the fact that there is a holistic doctor such as Dr. Bittan here in LA but I do feel like it is NOT right for him to deal with his clients/patients this way. Not to mention, he doesn't even work at the office all week. I don't know whether I will go back. It is hard for me to continue a relationship with a doctor who won't even call back his clients. I did find out there is another holistic doctor (Rachel Jones in Marina Del Rey) so I will probably try her. Sigh... read more

Dr. Bittan is wonderful. Our boxer was diagnosed with a very aggressive and terminal cancer in May 2013. He had surgery to remove his spleen and the surgeon immediately wanted to start him on an intense chemo and radiation regimen. I did some research and found that for this particular type of cancer, chemo is not effective. Our dog was miserable so we decided to approach his treatment holistically. I'm so thankful we did. Dr. Bittan was honest with us and gave us realistic expectations. We knew he couldnt cure this cancer and that he realistically would not live more than a few months; but, we could expect our dog to be robust and "healthy" for that time. He spent an hour with us, explaining everything. That is unheard of! The vets that did his surgery spent, like 3 minutes telling me about his diagnosis. We were very grateful for his time and patience during this traumatic time. The Chinese herbs that he gave us changed our dogs life! People would visit and ubiquitously agree that our dog didn't even seem sick. He had so much energy and was so playful until the very end. I would take him for walks and he was so much stronger than he had been in years. Even though our pup is no longer with us, I'm so happy we decided to forego chemo. The last few months with our dog were some of the best and I wouldn't trade any of that for the world. As a side note, Dr. Bittan treats my moms golden retriever for epilepsy (for the past 10 years); he was off phenobarbital within a few days and is on Chinese herbs only- no seizures. He is the best. read more

8 months ago my dog collapsed from internal bleeding - a tumor on her spleen had ruptured. Days leading up to it she seemed old (12 yrs) but okay... She had the splenectomy and the tests came back malignant hemangiosarcoma. The oncologist at the VCA said without chemo she would likely live 4-6 weeks but with chemo she might live 6 months. I asked "how many dogs live 6 months?" he said "only 10%" THOSE ARE NOT ODDS I thought and why would I put my dog through chemo when our time together might be so limited. This is a dog who weathered out a hurricane in Mexico with me as a puppy, who I smuggled across the border, and has been my best friend through a lot in 12 years. I wanted our time together to be quality. Thankfully the same VCA oncologist who wanted to sell me chemo gave me Dr. Bittans name when I asked about holistic options. I'm forever grateful that he did... Dr. Bittan made no promises but gave me lots of information that made sense. We agreed no one could predict how long Frankie would live and that our goal was to give her quality of days above all else. He prescribed all natural remedies to combat the cancer, boost her immune system, prevent bleeds (hermangiosarcoma is a blood vessel cancer where tumors grow quickly on blood rich organs and then rupture so prevention of bleeding is what he calls a "band-aid" secondary preventative treatement) and a few others. He educated me on his practice and reasoning. He's as warm and passionate as he is knowledgeable and his staff (Max!) is kind and caring and responsive. Frankie likes visiting there when we go to get refills. Also Dr. Bittan emphasized to me that his practice works in conjunction with and may compliment traditional veterinary medicine - sometimes dogs need surgery but not always. He's shown me photos where a dog with a tumor growing through the pad of his foot was recommended an amputation by the VCA but Dr. Bittan literally dissolved it using a South American herb pack over time and the dog kept his foot. I mean, come on! That's insanely cool and worldly. I love it. This experience has challenged my ability to let go and let be (faith), taught me to slow down and savor good moments, opened my mind to eastern medicine and natural therapies (I wish Dr. Bittan was my doctor too!), and I feel that this time has been so that Frankie could pass on a few more lessons before she goes to the big boneyard in the sky. I truly have Dr. Bittan to thank for Frankie's continued health, and my peace of mind. Thank you for these 8 months with Frankie, Dr. Bittan. And still going strong! read more

My dog had cancer at age 13 and in addition to traditional treatment, I sought Dr. Bittan's advice for a complete medical approach which included holistic medicine. The veterinarian who diagnosed my dog basically told me to let the cancer run its course but I was unwilling to do this without seeking other options, thus my appointment with Dr. Bittan. Dr. Bittan suggested three holistic drops since my dog had melanoma and other skin issues. Interestingly, all her skin bumps (not cancerous) disappeared and her skin improved. After I moved to Northern California I had another issue and I was able to schedule a phone appointment. My dog had Cushings and he suggested a medication called Trilostane which Vets were not using in this area. I consulted with a local vet who worked with me on administering this med. Dr. Bittan is knowledgeable with Holistic and Western medicine. My dog has since passed but she lived until she was 17 and I credit Dr. Bittan for giving me the necessary info to make sound decisions about her health. read more

Dr Bittan is Amazing. He was a regular Vet and became a holistic Vet after many years. He tells you the inside secrets of what would happen to your pet if they went to a regular Bet and then suggests healthy, holistic alternatives. He is not over priced and won't charge you or sell you anything you or your pet doesn't need as a lot of vets would. Highly recommend him!! read more

I have a very active 9year old dog that does tv production work, agility, scent work, and leads an active lifestyle hiking and playing daily. She has 10+ hr days on set. Thank god for Marc! He does such an amazing job on adjusting her so she's performing and feeling her best. We are so grateful! read more

We rescued a Boxer (from a backyard breeder) who had a few issues from the get-go and was treated by 2 other conventional vets who clearly took monetary advantage. The last draw, after countless visits for tests and treatment, was being hospitalized (at vet) for 4-5 days for GI bleeding with no relief just $$$ and recommendations to give her a very dangerous drug. We took her home and decided to look for a holistic approach. We were blessed to find Dr. Bittan. He is the BEST--he is honest, very knowledgeable, thorough, patient, answers ALL of my questions (I have never felt rushed during our appointments), and an excellent bedside manner. Once she was treated by Dr. Bittan, her symptoms were alleviated almost immediately and within 2 days she had no more bleeding and shortly thereafter in perfect health...that was over a year ago. Unfortunately, anyone who owns a Boxer knows that they can develop MCTs and our baby possibly has one. Once again we have taken her to Dr. Bittan and know (without a doubt) that she is in excellent hands! read more

My first review of Dr. Bittan was back in 2015. I am updating as now my babies time has come to an end, but I feel it is my duty to report on the absolutely wonderful acts Dr. Bittan has done to help my little Annabelle through her life. When all other vets gave up on Annabelle, Dr. Bittan kept her going. She was diagnosed back in 2015 with luxating patella on both back legs, and while all other vets told me that she needed surgery, he helped me find alternative methods to help her and it WORKED! For the remainder of her life she was limp-free from the holistic meds and laser therapy he performed on her. I would also pop her knee back into place myself from time to time when it got really bad. She also suffered from bad skin which Dr. Bittan had her on a great medicated shampoo that helped a lot. And in the end, when she was diagnosed with lung cancer, collapsing trachea, and heart disease, Dr. Bittan got her on vitamins and herbs that helped elevate some of her pain. In the very last days, he believed in her and fought to keep her alive, even while other vets were telling me to euthanize. What Dr. Bittan has done for our family is priceless. If you are a dog owner, you need to have Dr. Bittan as one of your vets as well. You won't regret it. read more

Words can't express how grateful we are to have found Dr. Bittan and his unbelievably dedicated, over the top caring, incredible (every other positive adjective) office manager Max. We had just started chemotherapy with our 8 yr old Weimaraner for very aggressive hemangiosarcoma. He had a VERY GRIM outlook and without their care, he wouldn't have made it as long as he did. Every time there was an issue or complication, there was never a doubt that there was something to try. Dr Bittan never runs from reality and faces things head on while unfortunately some of the bigger places only have a couple options as far as treatment plans. We currently have our other dog under his care as well for maintenance and general well being and will always take our dogs here. He is far more knowledgeable than one would imagine and he understands western medicine while treating in an eastern format. I simply cannot possibly recommend a place more highly!! Please don't miss out. read more

Six years ago my beloved 15 year-old Cocker Spaniel was diagnosed with Cancer and my traditional vet referred me to a veterinary oncologist who proceeded to tell me that without radiation and chemo my dog would be dead in two months. Not wanting to put my dog through that, I asked some friends about alternatives and one of them led me to Dr. Bittan. I had a consultation at his office where I brought in all my dog's vet records, test results, etc. Dr. Bittan first put my dog on a raw food diet explaining that traditional pet foods simply don't provide enough nutrition, particularly to ward off disease. He further prescribed many vitamins, minerals and a homeopathic regimen that had me giving my dog shots of a homeopathic remedy twice a day (at home). Dr. Bittan taught me how to give the shots and told me that any improvements if there were to be any would be seen in a couple of weeks. The treatments were expensive. And I waited patiently to see if my dog started to feel better - less lethargic, etc. Didn't notice much. THEN. Three weeks into the treatments, my 15 year-old dog, who hadn't been able to jump on the couch (due to old age) in about three years, JUMPED on the sofa to get some kisses and love. In shock, I looked at him and noticed immediately that his eyes were bright, and his nose (which was previously dry and crusty) was black and shiny. I was elated. From that point forward, my dog acted like a puppy for a full year. The Cancer was not curable, but what I can tell you is that Dr. Bittan's recommended homeopathic treatment, nutrition and diet change, gave my dog the best last year of his life I could have imagined. He was a happy, healthy acting dog who once again enjoyed his walks, loved his food, and acted like a much more youthful dog than he was. I was very happy with Dr. Bittan's treatment of both me and my animal. I have read the other Yelpers' reviews, and I will agree that while the Dr. didn't call me back when I had questions, his receptionist/assistant DID and that was fine by me as long as my questions were answered. That's the way his practice works and if he can make my animals feel as good as my Cocker did after getting on his program, then I'm all for it. read more

BEWARE!! I booked an appointment for my dog who had leg fracture but based on advice from another vet, found that I would not require The Holistic Vet's services. I called to cancel the appt and left a voicemail outside of business hours (giving more than 24 hours notice) and later discovered that they charged my credit card a $150 cancelled appointment fee anyway. I called the office and spoke with the secretary -- an absolute nightmare of a woman -- and was forced to open a dispute with MasterCard. Despite them not articulating OR publishing a cancellation policy on their website AND being given 24 hours notice of a cancellation, they would not reverse the charge. $150 -- for what????? These people are thieves and liars. I can't speak to how they are as veterinarians but how they behave as human beings is enough to avoid them in every respect. read more

I am sooo grateful for Dr. Marc Bittan's help and would HIGHLY recommend him to anyone. My cat was diagnosed with cancer and I took her to several vets including City of Angels cancer center before going to Dr. Bittan. The type of cancer she had was terminal and there were really no options for a cure. I could have done radiation treatments through City of Angeles but that cost well over $8,000 and still wouldn't have extended her life much as well as causing horrible pain with no guarantees it would even work. My primary vet ended up recommending I take her to Dr. Marc Bittan to look into Chinese medicine treatments and I did. I can not say enough about how wonderful Dr. Bittan was. While 3 other vets said she only had a MAX of 1-2 months to live, Dr. Bittan said it was possible with proper alternative medicine that she could live more than 6 months. He actually met with me for a full hour to sit down and talk! He explained all the aspects of this particular type of cancer, what all of the traditional and alternative treatment options are, how they affect the cancer, what would happen as the cancer progressed and even gave me some helpful caring advice on how to prepare for it emotionally. He provided me with more through information than many human doctors I have encountered. I had no prior experience with Chinese medicine but I figured in this case I had nothing to loose and it was worth trying if it could slow the cancer down and extend her quality of life. WELL IT WORKED!!!! My kitty ended up enjoying life for 9 months after her diagnosis!!!! And she was happy, enjoying her kitty life right up until the end. I took a chance and it payed off and gave me many precious extra months with my best friend. I will truly be forever grateful to Dr. Bittan for his help with extending my cat's life far beyond what anyone else said was possible. When I finally had to put her to sleep, the vet that did the euthanasia said she was absolutely shocked and amazed that Onyx had lived so long. She said "Cats with this type of cancer do not live this long so what ever Dr. Bittan gave her absolutely helped to extend her life a great deal/" What else can I say but I would highly recommend anyone to take your animal to Dr. Bittan. Western medicine is not the only or best option for every case. read more

If I could give this incredible angel of a Doctor ten stars I would! I have a 14 year old Shih Tzu, Eka. Over the past 3 months I noticed a few things going wrong at the same time, her left eye was getting more and more foggy, this led to loss of confidence in moving around and stumbling into walls etc.. She started pacing back and forth constantly and then suddenly stoping, like she had forgotten what she was doing. She also seemed to have trouble gripping the floor and when eating her back paws would slide far apart, looked like she was doing the splits. I upped her supplements and monitored her, these all seemed like natural signs of aging and I was trying to come to terms with all this, however about a week 1/2 ago however, I noticed a growth on the inside of her leg, right above her paw pad. She is about 13 pounds and this growth was about half the size of a golf ball. What alarmed me was how quickly it came on. I immediately scheduled an appointment with my local vet to get her checked out. I was told it could very well be cancer and to be sure that the bump should be cut off, but to do so my baby would need to be put under. Something in my gut told me I wanted another opinion. Eka is 14 years old and putting her under would be a big strain on her body. I didn't want to jump the gun and make that decision. I researched holistic vets in Los Angeles and decided to go see Dr. Bittan. This man is a real angel, from the second he started examining Eka, I could see how big his heart is and that he truly cares for the animals he is treating. He had a look at the bump and said its definitely not cancer, and that it is a fatty deposit. I was so relieved! He said to leave it be and that it will go away on its own. He spent a full hour with Eka doing further checks. Dr. Bittan sent me home with 2 herbs for her immune system and brain function as well as elk horn extract (all three of these things are human grade supplements) I gave Eka her supplements everyday and in a weeks time the bump shrunk half in size, she stopped sliding on the floor, back straightened out. She got her curiosity/spunky energy back and over all seems as thought the clock has turned back 5 years! I cant say thank Dr. Bittan enough! WOW! I highly recommend paying a visit! I will never go see another vet again! read more

This review is LONG OVERDUE because Dr. Bittan is a LIFE SAVER!!! 2 years ago one of our dogs, a 9-10 year old Yorkie Silky, was having a terrible time with his allergies. We tried the conventional route of steroids; from weekly shots to pills, the symptoms never went away & we ended up with a "zombie" dog whose spirit was so broken by the side effects. He gained weight, had the droopy belly, could barely walk down the stairs; we had to test his blood every 6 weeks to make sure he wasn't getting Diabetes...it was not a fun experience but unfortunately those were the only options...until I found Dr. Bittan!!! I was in Chicago visiting my family & did research on Holistic Vets; thank goodness I found Dr. Bittan. As soon as I got back from my trip, we took Maddox (our Yorkie Silky) in for a consultation. Dr. Bittan was VERY informative & knowledgeable; he explained the treatment plan he had in mind for Maddox & mentioned that although the allergies might not completely go away, he expects that this would relieve most of the problems Maddox was experiencing. We started the treatments which included herbal tablets, pro-biotics & an AMAZING allergy symptomatic liquid formula that Dr. Bittan mixes himself. Well, immediately we noticed a difference; Maddox wasn't licking as much & his skin went from dry & irritated to "normal" within weeks. We are still on the same protocol 2 years later & are very happy with the results. Just recently, like last week...we had another experience with Maddox. This time it had to do with Maddox, all of a sudden, waking up in the middle of the night; he was barking, panting, really anxious & wouldn't calm down until we took him outside for a walk. This started on a Saturday & continued through Monday night. Thankfully Dr. Bittan was available the following morning on Tuesday; we called his office & luckily got in the same day. Right away, Dr. Bittan addressed all the possible scenarios & spent quite a bit of time examining Maddox; other than the peculiar episodes the previous 3-4 nights, Maddox seemed OK but was most likely experiencing anxiety. Dr. Bittan suggested we put him on some natural stress & anxiety remedies; an herbal tablet & a liquid stress/anxiety formula which we give him about 10 drops per night as needed. Well, once again...Dr. Bittan is a LIFE SAVER. That very same night, with just one herbal tablet & 10 drops of the anxiety/stress formula (which we gave him twice that night; 2 times, 10 drops each time before bed) Maddox slept through the night; didn't disrupt our household for the first time in 4 nights...we all got sleep that night & it's all thanks to Dr. Bittan. I can't recommend him enough; in fact, I recommend him to EVERYONE I know that might be dealing with ongoing health related pet issues. On our last visit we met a 19 (!!!) year old Yorkie who Dr. Bittan is also taking care of...and a beautiful chocolate lab who, per her owner, was diagnosed with incurable cancer 6 years ago...well, thanks to Dr. Bittan, that doggie is doing just fine without all the horrible side-effects from chemo & radiation; in fact, I believe she's alive because of Dr. Bittan & his amazing treatments. I know there are a lot of skeptics out there who don't believe homeopathic or holistic treatments work, well, Maddox's "daddy" was ONE of those people...until he saw first-hand the results we got after seeing Dr. Bittan. Do yourself a favor; if your pet is diagnosed with a serious illness or has a chronic health problem (including allergies or anxiety, as in our case), call Dr. Bittan. I can't thank him enough for taking such great care of Maddox & also for giving ME peace of mind. Whenever I can skip conventional meds & the side effects, there's no question it's worth discussing with Dr. Bittan. He is THE best! read more

I found Dr Bittan on the internet, looking for a holistic opinion on the information gleaned from a battery of tests that my cat had been through for about 2 months. I lean heavily towards holistic and natural solutions in my own health and that's why I made an appt. with Dr Bittan, but I was more than half expecting a wacked out nature freak whom I could relate to very little. I can't tell you how pleasantly surprised I was to find Dr Bittan to be just a 'normal' guy, if you know what I mean and thoroughly knowledgeable about anatomy, science, etc etc. He's just not a by-the-book western medicine doc who thinks everything can be solved with a huge dose of drugs. He sat with me for over an hour, and we thoroughly discussed everything that was going on with my cat and possible treatments. He has the wonderful quality of not presuming to know your pet better than you do based on the short time he sees them. For me, if I am ever with a doctor who responds to a question with "I'm the doctor (I know better than you)" I run the other way. It's a collaboration. Don't get me wrong, Dr Bittan is infinitely more knowledgeable about animals than I will ever be, and he is very specific and thorough about his opinion. Anyway, he suggested a plan for my cat which included a very moderate dose of a conventional drug, along with some homeopathic supplements to a)counteract the side effects of the drug (weakening the immune system) and b)promote health to the problem areas in my cat. All of it was backed up by science and logic and I was already thrilled with my choice to come see this vet. The results in my cat (2 months into treatment) are very positive and measurable, so thus far I could not be more happy with Dr Bittan and having this resource which provides me with a great alternative to conventional vets, lovely people though they may be also. If you think he might be right for you, please try him out, and I would almost guarantee you will not be disappointed. I am going to go ahead and give him 5 stars, because that is my experience, HOWEVER, I have not tried to call or get a call back from him personally. If it is true that he will not call you back (as some other reviewers have said), that would be disappointing, as I have gotten calls from every other vet/specialist along the way. I also probably paid each one of them a lot more so maybe that comes with the territory. (and trust me I expected those calls for the cash I was laying out for the tests) One other positive I will add is that I am pretty frugal and an avid online shopper. I checked into the prices of the supplements that I am giving my cat, in anticipation of restocking, and lo and behold, what he charged me was the same as I could get online at discount places (so actually cheaper without the shipping). I was pretty shocked because that is never the case for anything I've ever checked into like that. read more

Called to make an appointment and the lady answering the phone was exceptionally rude. If the staff is rude at this early in the stage then probably best to avoid this establishment. read more

I took my dog for a consultation because of allergies. He was given the different pills and the vet said he could not guarantee those pills will help my dog but we could try them. After paying for the expensive vet visit and pills, my dog did not benefit at all. Just save your money and try a different vet. read more

When my beloved 8-year old Tibetan Terrier, Willy, was diagnosed with a rare incurable stomach cancer, and would probably die within weeks, but that Chemo MIGHT help. I instinctively balked at inflicting any additional suffering on him, and sought out Dr. Bittan. He treated Willy with homeopathic shots, which I learned to administer myself. My sweet Tibetan began to eat and feel good again, and lived a health and happy16 monthsy until the stomach cancer took him fast and painlessly. I'll be forever grateful for Dr. Bittan's kind, gentle and learned care. Sandy D., Los Angeles read more

I can's say enough praise for Dr. Bittan! Our collie was in a world of hurt with chronic, severe allergies. Many vets ( traditional and alternative med) quickly directed us to steroids, antibiotics and cyclosporine as if there would be no ill effects for continued non stop use.... AND he was just getting worse and worse. We are so happy with the intelligent way Dr Bittan approaches healing. Our dog is currently working with isotherapy, homeopathic and diet - a drug free happy furry 4 yer old with lots of great healthy years ahead of him. My dog loves visiting the office. He never once has been flopped on his back the way the others have- there is a genuine respect for animals and their power to heal. read more

Dr Bittan is hands down the best vet in LA. And he saved my dog's life. My dog was diagnosed with a crippling autoimmune disease. With nutritional changes, Chinese herbs, homeopathy, and isotherapy - my dog bounced back to health - and five years later she is still in remission and going strong! Dr. Bittan is kind, compassionate, was always available to speak with me, and his office assistant, Judy, is helpful and wonderfully kind. I can't recommend this practice high enough for any pet owner who wants a caring, knowledgeable, holistic practitioner. read more

Dr. Bittan is amazing! My dog had a horrible seizure that left her without the ability to walk and completely lethargic. I took her to two different vets who refused to give her medication for just one seizure and instead referred me to a neurologist. When I called the neurologist, I was told that the estimated cost for an MRI and to have her analyzed would be of approximately $2,000. In the meantime. she had a second seizure and I felt completely helpless. As I watched my poor dog suffer, I considered putting her to sleep. However, I decided to look for a third and last opinion. I stumbled upon Dr. Bittan on the internet. (I read all reviews on Yelp). I was truly impressed by Dr. Bittan's honesty and knowledge. But beyond those great qualities, he is a miracle worker... with a combination of herbal and western medicine, my dog started walking within a couple of hours after the visit, within a day she was acting completely normal. It was incredible to watch this transformation. Dr. Bittan has been quite accessible since our visit. We spoke on the phone and again when I went back to get some additional medication. It has been almost a month since that visit and my dog has not shown any signs of sickness. I hope she continues to be healthy for many years to come! And I am so thankful to have found Dr. Bittan. read more

When my German Shepherd, Rave, was diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy ("DM") we were told it was an incurable disease and that he probably had 6 more months to live. Rave was dragging his left foot at the time and I had him wearing a harness so that I could assist him to walk. One day, when I was getting in my car in the Bed, Bath and Beyond parking lot, a woman noticed Rave in my car and asked how old he was and how he was doing. At that time Rave was 12 and I told her that he was recently diagnosed with "DM". She said that she too had German Shepherds, and had been through what I was experiencing. It was she who suggested I contacted Mark Bittan, whom she said prolonged her dogs life by 2 years. That's all I had to hear. I immediately followed up with Dr Bittan. In short, with the help of Dr Bittan, who we took Rave to for acupuncture and Chinese herbs, Rave lived until he was 15. That is 2 1/2 years longer than expected. I will say, that you have to be willing to do the work. If Dr Bittan said that Rave should see him once a week for acupuncture, we did so. If he said that Rave should get Chinese herbs 3x a day, we did so. If he said, make sure Rave gets outside to exercise (walk) every day, we did so. If he said Rave should avoid going up and down stairs, we did so. If we had to do it all over again, we would do exactly the same thing. Dr Bittan exceeded our expectations and for that we will always be extremely grateful. read more

Upon looking the Yelp Website regarding Dr. Marc Bittan's comments, I saw one letter in particular that referred to Dr. Bittan's Isotherapy that had not worked. I have used that therapy on a couple of my cats with great success. My daughter did the therapy on her cat who suffered from Chronic Asthma. The cat was completely cured. Dr. Bittan is amazing. He has cured so many of my rescued animals when no one else could. There are always those out there that will never be pleased. One letter I saw on the Site was absolutely hateful. But I'll say it again, Dr. Bittan is brilliant and I recommend him highly. J. Sachs Los Angeles read more

I met Dr. Bittan in or about 1996 shortly after my regular veterinarian had passed away. His knowledge, intuition and bedside manner made him my new veterinarian. He has lived up to my expectations and then some by giving my dogs over the years the utmost care and not only considerably prolonging their lives but giving their lives good quality. I now have the good fortune to be employed by him and to continually witness the amazing results of his treatments. Judy Castro read more

I really wanted to like this holistic vet, but he was very short with me and said that he could not check my cat's heart rate because she was growling. It's hardly unusual for a cat to be unhappy at the vet's office and I was quite put off by his cavalier attitude. This was close to my house and I wanted it to work, but I can't put my dear girl's health in the hands of someone who is too lazy or uninterested to check vital signs. read more

Doctor Bittan is literally a life saver. I was referred to Malibu Holistic Healthcare and Dr Bittan by a close friend who raved about what he had done for her dog. He saved her from a $4,000.00 surgery and all that goes along with surgery. At the time I was desperate and in dire need of a miracle and he has delivered that miracle. My 6 pound yorkie was diagnosed with CIL Canine Intestinal Lymphangectasia and IBD in mid March. We nearly lost him. He lost a pound and was having labored breathing and retaining fluid in pockets around his heart and lungs. My regular vet sent me to VCA which was a horrendous experience. We saw a cardiologist and internist and had a series of ultrasounds. At around $3500.00 I stopped the testing and declined a $3000.00 endoscopy. My dog's condition was guarded and touch and go. I was advised to keep him on the same diet he'd been eating and give large amounts of medication. I knew this wasn't right, and researched the disease and changed his diet immediately with the help of a nutritionist. He started to improve a little. Once we found Malibu Holistic Healthcare Dr Bittan put Ziggy on homeopathic remedies and supplements and spent over an hour with us explaining everything. The VCA spent maybe 5 minutes with me and told me to go home and research the disease. This man is a genius and knows health better than anyone I've ever come in contact with. I finally felt hope, like I hadn't been given a death sentence. Now 8 weeks later Ziggy is spunkier than he's been in years. We're still on the protocol and will be for life, but I've gotten my dog back! I have no doubt that he would have died already had I just listened to the advice of the internist and not sought alternative treatment as well. Dr Bittan is about "Quality of Life" I can not recommend him highly enough and am forever grateful to him for being the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm hopeful that I'll have Ziggy not only alive, but thriving for years to come. read more

This is truly just feedback...theres no emotion behind this review, I preface that because I'm sure some reviews are inflated in a good or bad way based on how the reviewer's pet is doing. I visited the vet in mid December shortly after my dog was diagnosed with cancer and here's my experience. I also stopped by the office in February to pick up refills. The good: - The Dr. seems to know his stuff about holistic car and I appreciate he respects both Western and Eastern medicine and recommends both The bad: - During our appointment, he didn't interact with my dog at all, didn't feel the bump on her face, didn't look in her mouth - he didn't even greet her or pet her - He gave me several drops and herbs to give her - which I have done religiously 3x a day as he instructed - but as she was almost out of her drops I called to get them refilled - it took him 5 business days to do so and by then she was completely out. Really? If these drops were so beneficial wouldn't continuity matter? Also I requested a refill of the drops AND the herbs. When I went in to pick up the medicine, they only had the drops ready for me and no herbs. At that point I just said FORGET IT in my head, knowing I'd seek out another holistic vet after this experience. - The front desk is dismissive, abrupt and not helpful at all - I think she forgot that they work as a service to the public. - I was curious as to the ingredients in the drops he gave my dog - I asked the front desk if I could email the Dr (he was busy with a patient when I was there) and she said...and I quote..... "my computer is not set up for email." ummmmmm..... again just shook my head... Needless to say, we found another vet. read more

I cannot recommend Dr. Marc Bittan high enough. My Parsons Russell Terrier, Hugo, 2 years old, had bitten huge chunks of hair off himself for severe allergies. Other vets wanted to put him on courses of steroids to which I was opposed. I found Dr. Bittan thru recommendations and we began a course of treatment which took 3 years, but totally cured Hugo of all his allergic reactions. He is now 13 years old. He now has severe back problems, which Dr. Bittan is treating with acupuncture, which keeps Hugo pretty lively for an old guy. I have the utmost confidence in Dr. Bittan and am so grateful to have found him. read more

I have never been here but was calling around different vets, some holistic, some not because I switched my yorkie from a cooked diet to raw and saw she was not feeling well after 2 weeks. Looked like she had nausea and wanted to throw up all the time. All the other places I called, did not want to say anything unless I come in. I was so frantic and just wanted a simple answer and a lady answered this line and was super friendly and basically advised that switching a dog from cooked to raw food that quickly will cause them to get sick - voila!! I got my answer and I at least felt relief like someone who knows what they are talking about gave me a straight answer. I went home and fed my dog cooked food and she is back to normal. So I wanted to say THANK YOU to giving me some simple free advice. My puppy is doing well and I am thankful to whoever answered and helped me without a hassle. :-) read more

Dr. Bittan has been a miracle worker!!! My now 12 year old mini Dachshund has had recurring spinal issues. The first time he had a crisis, about 4 years ago, he was not walking or urinating on his own. He had no sensation in the rear paws. Our regular vet recommended a neurologist, "Dr X". The diagnosis given by Dr. X was bleak- our doggy would need a very expensive spine surgery (almost 8k), with a terrible recovery period and uncertain results-- Dr.X also suggested we give up our pup for adoption, given how much care he would need. That awful statement caused me to quickly exit that office. Then I found Dr. Bittan,Holistic Veterinary. In the first visit, I carried my doggie into Dr. Bittan's office (then in WLA) and he treated him with acupuncture. He was also so helpful and kind and assured me our doggy would be fine, despite his diagnosis. Our doggy hobbled out that day!!! We had a few more treatments and he has recovered as promised! Each time our pup has a flare up, which is normal given his degenerative condition, Dr. Bittan brings him back with a few sessions of acupuncture. The time between flare ups was almost two years. This last time, Dr. Bittan also gave a laser treatment in addition to acupuncture. The results were incredible-- improved mobility, reversal of droopy paw, less discomfort. I hope this review gives hope to people and pets with disk disease. There are alternatives in treatment and I highly recommend Dr. Bittan for his expertise, skill and kindness. read more

I have never seen my dog actually excited and happy to see a Vet before. Dr Bittan is one of a kind. He is both a regular DVM and also an alternative healer so you get the best of both worlds! After I previously spent thousands of dollars on X-Rays, MRIs, visits to other veterinary practices and extensive pain medications and steroids - I decided to try alternative therapy before more drastic measures. I am so glad I did. The Holistic Vet used a laser therapy device called a K-laser on my dog Mollie and the pain relief was almost instantaneous. I literally watched her relax and the pain dissipate from her little face. It was amazing to see. After several treatments as well as a combination of regular western medication and holistic herbal medication Mollie has healed and is close to normal again. Without needing surgery! After the initial consultation / assessment, the laser therapy appointments are very affordable and very effective. This review is the bare minimum I can do to express my gratitude to Dr. Bittan. What a wonderful man. Please take your dog to see him. read more

Upon looking on the yelp website I noted letters regarding Dr.Marc Bittan , Holistic Vet. I have been taking my rescue and companion animals to Dr Bittan for years and I find him to be extraordinary. When other vets told me that there was nothing more they could do, Dr Bittan came through with a miracle. he saved so many animal lives, including what was described as " incurable cancer" One reviewer has complained about Dr Bittan being " short" with her. MOST important is the care and well being of our companion animals. I wish all of our wonderful animals the very best of care and the best is Dr. Marc Bittan....!! read more

Dr. Bittan is amazing! He prescribed some Chinese herbs for my longhair cat who has very frequent hairballs, and the hairballs have decreased dramatically. He has fantastic bedside manner and is very knowledgeable and informative. Great Vet! read more