Dr. Carla Castro is back on the podcast with a heart-forward, grounded take on something that can feel overwhelming: AI and technology in veterinary care.
Together, we explore how simple tools—like AI-powered note-taking and voice capture—can lighten the mental load of record-keeping so we can show up fully present for our patients and their families.
We unpack the role of telemedicine as a meaningful complement (not a replacement) to hands-on exams, the rise of pet wearables and real-time health tracking, and how “hybrid care” models can ease clinic stress while offering pet parents quicker answers.
If new tech has ever felt scary to you, this episode offers a calm exploration of how it might be able to help your pet or your vet practice.
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ Why AI is a tool—not a replacement—and how using transcription or scribe support can free vets from endless notes so they can be more present with patients.
✨ How voice-to-text apps can help you capture ideas, notes, and reminders on the go without losing valuable insights.
✨ How telemedicine can complement in-person care by easing clinic pressure, supporting rechecks, and helping pet parents get faster answers.
✨ How hybrid care—combining telehealth, in-clinic visits, and digital documentation—can streamline workflow and reduce decision fatigue.
✨ How pet tech like health-monitoring collars and trackers can empower pet parents with real-time insights while keeping vets in the loop.
✨ Why adaptation is critical in veterinary medicine and how embracing new systems can help clinics thrive.
✨ Why calendar automation tools can reduce stress and decision fatigue by helping you prioritize tasks and protect personal time.
✨ How technology can expand access to veterinary support globally—especially in underserved or bilingual communities.
✨ Why staying curious and open to change will define the next era of compassionate, connected pet care.
RESOURCES:
Interested in AI? Listen to my episode with Ron Sosa on the My Dog Is Better Than Your Dog Podcast 👉 Could AI Be The Secret Tool To Smarter Pet Care
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com
FOLLOW:
Dr.Carla Castro: https://www.drcarlacastro.com/
LinkedIn: Dr. Carla Castro
Instagram: @the.carlacastro
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
Sign up to our newsletter to get more holistic pet care tips.
This week, we’re exploring one of the most fascinating and incredibly helpful truths in pet care—our pets and our pet patients often mirror our own energy, stress, and emotions. I’m joined by veterinarian, coach, and human–animal bond advocate Dr. Carla Castro, who shares practical tools that both pet parents and vets can use to calm the nervous system, support their pet’s health, and create a healing environment at home and in the clinic.
Dr. Carla shares a powerful story about a horse who helped her realize just how deeply our energy affects the animals around us, a moment that shaped how she approaches every pet patient.
You’ll also learn how to prepare for vet visits with less anxiety, what to prioritize in short appointments, and how to build a true partnership with your veterinary team. If you’ve ever wondered why your dog or cat seems to pick up on your stress, or how to make vet visits feel calmer and more connected, this episode gives you simple tools to start 💜
KEY INSIGHTS
✨ How pets often mirror their humans—our stressed, worried, or calm energy directly affects theirs.
✨ How simple breathing techniques like box breathing or the physiological sigh can reset your nervous system in minutes.
✨ How practicing the pause and staying curious, not judgmental, helps you uncover the root of emotions.
✨ How emotions are information, not identity—recognizing this helps both humans and pets heal.
✨ How meditation, sound baths, and PEMF therapy are simple tools that activate your body’s natural healing state.
✨ How pet parents play a vital role in veterinary care and how your questions help your vet find the right plan.
✨ How preparing for appointments with clear priorities reduces stress for you, your pet, and your vet team.
✨ How vets can create calmer clinics by centering themselves first and seeing each visit through the pet’s eyes.
✨ And how you already hold medicine within you: your breath, awareness, and presence are where healing begins.
RESOURCES
For Coaching with Dr. Carla: Email her at carla@drcarlacastro.com
Dr. Carla Castro: https://www.drcarlacastro.com/
FOLLOW
Dr. Carla Castro on IG: @the.carlacastro
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
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This week we’re having a conversation that might stretch how you think about pet loss, in the most compassionate way. I’m joined by artist, photographer, and animal chaplain Sophie Gamand, whose shelter work, including the viral project Pit Bull Flower Power, has helped thousands of people see rescue dogs with fresh eyes 🌸
We talk about honoring grief as sacred, practical ways to create ritual and meaning when a beloved animal dies, and how veterinary teams and shelter volunteers can hold space without burning out. This episode offers gentle, practical support for pet parents too, whether you’re helping someone you love through a loss, or you’re grieving your own companion animal.
This episode is designed to help you feel supported, seen, and a little more held while navigating the “disenfranchised grief” that is pet loss 🤍
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ Why pet loss is often “disenfranchised grief,” and how naming it can help you feel less alone.
✨ How crying can be self-care, and why finding safe people to cry with matters.
✨ How “continued bonds” keep the relationship alive after death, and gentle ways to honor that connection.
✨ Why small rituals (altars, keepsakes, candles) can ground big feelings without needing perfect words.
✨ How everyday creativity—journaling, cooking, walking the old route—can give your love somewhere to go.
✨ Why “holding space” beats fixing, and how to support a grieving friend without minimizing their pain.
✨ How clinics can be grief-aware with simple cues (quiet signals, private exits, chaplain support, 24/7 hotlines).
✨ Why anticipatory grief hits vets and volunteers so hard, and how leaders can model healthy vulnerability.
✨ How meaning-making transforms sorrow into service, from support circles to Sophie’s ceramics as “grief holders.”
✨ Why it’s okay to ask for what you need at euthanasia—music, crystals, keepsakes, time—so goodbye feels true to you.
✨ And how community care (support groups, rituals of remembrance) helps us carry what cannot be fixed.
RESOURCES:
Sign up for Sophie’s newsletter on her website 🐶 👉 https://www.sophiegamand.com/newsletter-signup
Support Sophie’s work with shelter dogs 🐶 👉 https://www.patreon.com/SophieGamand
Purchase your own dog talisman lovingly crafted by Sophie 🐶 👉 https://www.sophiegamand.com/shop
FOLLOW:
Sophie Gamand’s website: https://www.sophiegamand.com/
Sophie Gamand on Instagram: @sophiegamand
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
Sign up to our newsletter to get more holistic pet care tips
This week we’re having a conversation that might stretch how you think about life with your dog—in the best way. I’m joined by artist, photographer, and animal advocate Sophie Gamand, whose shelter work, including the viral project Pit Bull Flower Power, has helped thousands of people see rescue dogs with fresh eyes.
We talk about how you can uplevel your pet parenting game even more by truly listening to and honoring what your pet is telling you. Together, we explore how collaborative care and gentle desensitization can transform medical handling, the complicated reality of free-living dogs versus those labeled as “strays,” and what Sophie has witnessed inside shelters across the U.S., from breed stereotypes to the powerful socioeconomic forces that push good pets into cages.
If you’ve ever wondered how to love your dog in a way that celebrates who they are, not just who we hope they’ll be, this episode is for you 💜
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ Why “I love my dog” isn’t always enough, and what a deeper, more respectful bond really looks like.
✨ How to bring consent and choice into everyday moments with your dog.
✨ Why growling is communication, not disobedience, and why you don’t want to train your dog out of it.
✨How collaborative care and gentle handling can change a dog’s medical experience.
✨ Why free-living dogs can teach us about agency, adaptation, and community.
✨ The hidden truths of shelter life and what Sophie discovered after photographing hundreds of dogs across the U.S.
✨ How Sophie’s viral Pit Bull Flower Power project changed the way millions of people see pit bulls forever.
✨ Why large, working breeds struggle in most cities and what that says about our lifestyles.
✨ The emotional cost of volunteering in shelters and what it truly means to give an animal their dignity back.
✨ Why adoption is just one way to help and how each of us have a unique skill that can help a shelter.
✨ And we explore what it truly means to honor who our pets are, not just who we want them to be.
RESOURCES:
Sign up for Sophie’s newsletter on her website (just scroll to the bottom of the page) 🐶 👉 https://www.sophiegamand.com/newsletter-signup
Support Sophie’s work with shelter dogs 🐶 👉 https://www.patreon.com/SophieGamand
Purchase your own dog talisman lovingly crafted by Sophie 🐶 👉 https://www.sophiegamand.com/shop
FOLLOW:
Sophie Gamand’s website: https://www.sophiegamand.com/
Sophie Gamand on Instagram: @sophiegamand
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
Sign up to our newsletter to get more holistic pet care tips
In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Jenn Galvin to talk about something we don’t speak about enough in vet med or pet parenting: grief 💛
We share what it looks like behind the scenes for the vet team when a beloved patient passes… how we somehow hold it together between appointments… and what actually helps when the waves come crashing in later. Jenn opens up about what it means to support families through euthanasia — creating calmer spaces and gentle rituals.
We also talk about anticipatory grief and the simple ways pet parents can ask for the goodbye that feels right for them.
If you’re navigating loss (or holding space for someone who is), this conversation is tender, practical, and full of heart. Tune in, you're not alone in this 🕊️
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ Why grief never really goes away and how it becomes a lasting reminder of love.
✨ How veterinarians and pet parents carry layers of grief that resurface with every loss.
✨ Why guilt often shows up after euthanasia and how to remind yourself you truly did your best.
✨ How to recognize anticipatory grief when you know a pet’s time is near and ways to cope through it.
✨ Why being vulnerable as a leader can strengthen your veterinary team and create deeper trust.
✨ How to support grieving families with rituals, compassion, and permission to take their time.
✨ Why crying isn’t weakness but sacred self-care for both vets and pet parents.
✨ How creating a calm, private space for euthanasia can completely change a client’s experience.
✨ Why it’s important to ask for what you need—whether it’s time, keepsakes, or specific end-of-life rituals.
✨ How loss can inspire new forms of healing, like Dr. Lily’s Kidney Protection Plan in honour of her pet patient Chloe.
✨ And how every goodbye, no matter how painful, deepens our capacity to love, lead, and honor the pets who’ve shaped us.
Resource: Jill Cooper Coaching (end of life / transitional support for people): JillCooper11@gmail.com
FOLLOW:
Jenn Galvin’s practice: https://aac.vet/
Jenn Galvin’s practise on IG: @aacvet
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
Sign up to our newsletter to get more holistic pet care tips
In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Jenn Galvin to talk about her spirited chocolate Lab, Fern, and their uphill battle with chronic GI issues since puppyhood. From endless vet visits to a Helicobacter diagnosis treated with rounds of triple-antibiotic therapy, nothing truly made her better.
So when Jenn asked for my help, we tried something different. We started Fern on microbiome therapy (AKA fecal transplants).
And after 4 weeks of fecal transplants, Fern finally had a normal poop for the first time in years. That one shift sparked a transformation not just for Fern, but for Jenn’s clinic, which now offers microbiome therapy to pets in need 💩✨
If your pet struggles with chronic diarrhea, itchy skin, chronic vomiting, allergies, or any other chronic illness, this episode is filled with hope, practical insights, and a new way forward.
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ How one joyful chocolate Lab named Fern went from eight years of chronic diarrhea to normal, healthy stools and what finally made the difference.
✨ Why repeated antibiotics and “band-aid” treatments weren’t enough to fix her gut and what Jenn and I decided to try instead.
✨ What “microbiome therapy” (aka fecal transplants) really looks like in practice and how gentle and safe the process can be.
✨ The moment Fern’s stool finally normalized after week four and what that milestone revealed about the body’s ability to heal.
✨ How Jenn’s clinic began offering microbiome therapy to other pets and the remarkable early outcomes they’re seeing.
✨ Why addressing emotional stress is just as important as treating the gut itself especially for sensitive dogs like Fern.
✨ How flower essences and environmental enrichment (like walks and swim time) can play a role in restoring your pet’s gut health.
✨ Why prevention matters and how supporting the microbiome in puppies and kittens can help avoid chronic issues later.
✨ What to know about donor screening and safety and why “microbiome restorative therapy” is a better name to share with clients.
✨ And how this one story is inspiring more vets to explore a do-no-harm, science-backed path to true gut healing.
RESOURCES:
Other microbiome and gut health related episodes on the My Dog Is Better Than Your Dog Podcast ✨👇
The Secret World Of Pet Microbes w / Dr. Odette Suter
Homemade Dog Feeding For Busy Pet Parents On A Budget w/ The Doggy Dish
The Best Food For Your Dog w/ Dr. Hilary Woolfe
Microbiome, Mushrooms, And The Ancestral Connection w/ Adored Beast Founder Julie Ann Lee
FOLLOW:
Jenn Galvin’s practice: https://aac.vet/
Jenn Galvin’s practice on IG: @aacvet
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
Sign up to our newsletter to get more holistic pet care tips
Ever walked into a pet store, stood in front of a wall stacked with food, toys, and supplements plastered in labels like “all natural,” “holistic,” and “wellness”… and thought, “Wait—which one's actually the best?”
This week on the podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Toni Shelaske—entrepreneur, holistic pet wellness advocate, former owner of Pittsburgh’s favorite natural pet shops, and host of the Toni Unleashed podcast. Together, we’re pulling back the curtain—sharing our go-to brands and getting real about what’s in your pet’s bowls, toys, and enrichment tools, including hidden toxins like lead that can sometimes sneak into products. 😳
Toni just got back from SuperZoo (one of the biggest pet product conventions in the world!) and she’s bringing us the scoop on what’s new, what’s next, and why shopping small and local could change how you care for your pet forever.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed walking the aisles of a pet store, this episode is your no-nonsense cheat sheet to help you shop with clarity and bring home only the best for your furry family member 🐾
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ How freeze-dried raw, and gently cooked foods are shaping the future of pet nutrition—and why convenience and psychology still drive what we reach for.
✨ Why labels like “natural” and “holistic” can be marketing buzzwords, and the questions to ask for real transparency.
✨ How Toni built the raw food market in Western Pennsylvania and what 25+ years of feeding raw has taught her.
✨ The surprising truth about dog toys and bowls and why some companies follow child-level safety testing.
✨ Specific toy brands and enrichment ideas Toni recommends—like West Paw, Fluff & Tuff, Tall Tails, Soda Pup, and creative DIY snuffle games.
✨ Why bully sticks, yak chews, and coffee wood chews (Canophera sticks) can be great for puppies—and what to watch for with power chewers.
✨ How new tech gadgets (like automatic feeders) and innovative products (like Atomic Bubbles) are shaking up the pet space.
✨ Why independent pet stores offer more passion, product knowledge, and heart than big-box chains—and how they can help you discover hidden-gem brands.
✨ The mushroom supplement boom, CBD trends, and why sourcing, testing, and intentionality matter more than ever.
✨ How Toni is supporting families through The Izzy Fund nonprofit, helping pets stay with their families during medical crises.
✨ Why preventive care, community, and collaboration are the future of pet wellness—and how pet parents like you are leading the way 💛
RESOURCES:
Go listen to those Super Zoo episodes that explore the latest products for pets on Toni’s podcast 👉 Toni Unleashed
Check out Toni’s Pittsburgh-themed dog toys 👉 Yinzer Dog
Learn more about The Izzy Fund, a nonprofit that help cover pet’s medical bills: 👉 TheIzzyFund.org
Pet safe bubble brand 👉 Atomic Bubbles
US made pet toys brand 👉 Cycle Dogs
Some toxins to look out for in dog toys👇
How to find non toxic dog toys
FOLLOW:
Toni’s pet store: @ healthy pet products. Florida
Toni on Instagram on Instagram: @Iknowtoni
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
Sign up to our newsletter to get more holistic pet care tips
What if your vet team could help your pet live a longer, healthier, happier life—not by suppressing symptoms or turning to anti-aging drugs for dogs, but by identifying and correcting imbalances before they become diseases?
That’s exactly what Concierge 2.0 was built for: a membership designed for pet parents who want strategic, high-level integrative care that goes beyond the basics, wherever you live in the world. In this episode you’ll hear:
How silent health threats like toxins, mold, and nutrient deficiencies can be detected early through advanced functional testing
How our Baby Pearls Program helps puppies and kittens bypass common disease triggers and set the stage for lifelong health
How our NEW Crystal Tier brings this proactive care to both local and international pet parents, with virtual support, personalized guidance, and expert-led masterclasses
And you’ll hear Bella's story, a dog diagnosed with terminal cancer and given 3 months to live, who's now thriving, thanks to Dr. Lily’s care
This isn’t just a wellness plan. It’s a new standard of care. Tap play to learn how Concierge 2.0 is helping pets everywhere live longer, healthier, and more vibrant lives.
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ Why preventive care has to start in puppyhood and kittenhood, and how early choices shape lifelong health.
✨ How functional testing (vitamins, minerals, heavy metals, mycotoxins) reveals hidden issues conventional vets often miss.
✨ The surprising link between mold exposure and chronic symptoms like lethargy, appetite loss, and respiratory problems.
✨ Why true preventive care means acting when pets seem healthy—before disease shows up.
✨ How integrative approaches are breaking the cycle of “manage but never heal” in pets with chronic allergies and skin issues.
✨ Why conventional hypoallergenic diets may mask symptoms without solving the root cause.
✨ The real financial difference between chasing symptoms with meds vs. investing in root-cause healing.
✨ How the Concierge Membership provides continuity, trust, and the kind of support you can’t get in a rushed 15-minute appointment.
✨ Why community, hope, and mindset are powerful healing tools for both pets and their people.
✨ Bella’s story: how a dog given just 3 months to live with hemangiosarcoma is still thriving 8 months later thanks to holistic therapies.
✨ What makes Concierge 2.0 different—including the new Baby Pearls program for puppies and kittens, and the Crystal Tier designed for international pet parents.
RESOURCES:
Check out the Concierge Membership here 💖👇
FOLLOW:
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen
Sign up to our free newsletter to get more holistic pet care tips
What if oxygen molecules held the power to shrink tumors, clear infections, and offer your pet a second chance at life? In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with the incredible Dr. Jyl Rubin, veterinarian, educator, entrepreneur, and the visionary founder of Regen03one, the first veterinary-owned ozone therapy company. We dive into the fascinating (and often misunderstood) world of ozone therapy—what it is, how it works, and the remarkable healing stories Dr. Jyl has witnessed firsthand. From Carrot the Golden Retriever, who defied his cancer diagnosis, to a tortoise who received a fecal transplant with ozone! We also unpack the science, the skepticism, and the systemic blind spots that have kept ozone therapy on the sidelines for far too long. Whether you’re a curious pet parent or a vet seeking answers, this episode is for you.
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ How a simple oxygen-based therapy is helping pets with cancer, chronic infections, and inflammation heal naturally.
✨ Why Dr. Jyl calls ozone therapy “God’s Breath”—a safe, gentle option used around the world for over 100 years.
✨ The moving story of Carrot the Golden Retriever, given just three months to live who went on to thrive for three more years.
✨ How rectal ozone and fecal transplants work together to clear gut biofilms and restore balance without sedation.
✨ How ozone therapy is so gentle it can be used on senior pets, fragile dogs, and cats with multiple health issues.
✨ The incredible case of a young dog with mammary cancer whose tumor shrank and softened after ozone injections and ozone glycerin therapy.
✨ How ozone can help with ear infections, skin wounds, and itchy hotspots, all without antibiotics.
✨ Why ozone therapy is one of the most compatible integrative treatments, working alongside chemotherapy, surgery, herbs, and more.
✨ How Dr. Jyl created the first ozone machine designed just for animals, making treatments safer and more effective than ever.
✨ And how more pet parents are now learning to use ozone at home (with veterinary guidance) to help with everyday issues like gut health, ear problems, and skin conditions.
RESOURCES:
Pre-order Dr. Jyl’s book👉 A Practical Guide to Veterinary Medical Ozone Therapy Text Book
Pet shower that turns regular water to ozone water 👉 https://www.regeno3onevet.com/product-page/household-water-purifier-wpi0-5-d-for-pet-shower-1
Ozone Shampoo 👉 https://www.regeno3onevet.com/product-page/ozonafoam-pet-shampoo
Natural Flea and Tick Repellent 👉
Pet Parent Ozone Training 👉 https://www.regeno3onevet.com/forpetparents
The Brinkley Package for Pet Parents 👉
https://www.regeno3onevet.com/product-page/the-brinkley-pet-guardian-medical-ozone-package
Ozone therapy training for veterinarians 👉 https://www.regeno3onevet.com/ozonetraining
FOLLOW:
Regen03one Vet: https://www.regeno3onevet.com/
Dr. Jyl Rubin on Instagram: @regeno3one
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
Sign up to our newsletter to get more holistic pet care tips
What happens when “Dr. Google” meets ChatGPT in the vet’s office? In this episode, I sit down with veterinary leader and neuro-inclusive coach Ron Sosa to unpack how artificial intelligence is already reshaping the way pet parents seek answers about their pets’ health. Instead of fighting against it, what if vets helped pet parents to ask their Chat GPT better questions? Ron and I dive into what this shift means for pet parents: from how to prompt ChatGPT so you get helpful (not panic-inducing) answers, to why keeping simple notes on your AI tool at home can make all the difference, to how sharing what’s been “ruled out” can completely change the way you and your vet move forward together. This is a conversation about embracing technology without losing the human touch. If you’ve ever wondered how AI could help you become a more empowered, confident advocate for your pet’s health, this episode is for you.
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ Why ChatGPT is quickly becoming the new “Dr. Google” for pet parents.
✨ How asking clear, detailed prompts (age, breed, sex, symptoms, timing) leads to more accurate answers.
✨ Why vague questions like “why is my dog vomiting?” often bring up scary, unhelpful results.
✨ How AI can save time in the exam room by preparing pet parents with background info.
✨ Why your vet may not know every answer in the moment and why that’s okay.
✨ How AI can lighten the education load so vets have more time for hands-on healing.
✨ How journaling with AI could one day help diagnose conditions like Addison’s more accurately.
✨ How misusing AI for DIY treatments or dosing can be risky, and why your vet must stay involved.
✨ Why future care may depend less on having every answer and more on asking better questions.
✨ And how embracing AI as part of the care team helps both pets and people.
RESOURCES:
🐾 Learn more about the Uncharted Veterinary Conference
🐾 Explore Synap Neuro-Inclusive Leadership
FOLLOW:
Ron Sosa on Instagram: @ron.sosa84
Ron Sosa on Linked In: Ronald Sosa, CVPM, CCFP, PgD-CLD
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com/
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen
Sign up for our newsletter to get more pet health tips and behind-the-scenes insights.
This week, we’re tackling one of the hardest—and most emotional—parts of being a pet parent: the money talk at the vet’s office. I’m joined by Ron Sosa, Executive Director of the Uncharted Veterinary Conference and founder of Synap Neuro-Inclusive Leadership, for a candid conversation about why vet bills feel so stressful and what you can actually do to feel more prepared. We talk about setting a clear budget, asking about follow-ups upfront, and preparing for emergencies—whether that’s with a dedicated credit card, a savings fund, or simply knowing your options. We also explore why choosing a vet who fits your values and communication style makes money talks feel easier. If you’ve ever panicked over an estimate, wondered how to afford care without cutting corners, or wished vet bills felt less overwhelming, this episode is for you.
KEY INSIGHTS:
Why money conversations at the vet are so emotionally charged for pet parents.
The hidden factors behind rising vet costs, from wages to overhead.
How setting a budget upfront helps your vet prioritize care within your means.
The importance of asking about follow-ups so you’re not blindsided later.
Simple ways to prepare for emergencies—like a pet savings fund or a dedicated credit card.
Why choosing a vet who aligns with your values can make all the difference.
How transparency and collaboration can transform stressful conversations into empowering ones.
RESOURCES:
🐾 Learn more about the Uncharted Veterinary Conference
🐾 Explore Synap Neuro-Inclusive Leadership
🐾 Listen to our podcast episode with Vet Billing to learn more about this payment plan option.
Ron Sosa on Instagram: @ron.sosa84
FOLLOW:
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com/
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen
Sign up for our newsletter to get more pet health tips and behind-the-scenes insights.
So many pet parents want to do the right thing and so they vaccinate on schedule, give monthly parasite prevention, and follow the “standard” advice from their vet. But what if those very routines are putting your dog (or cat) at risk?
In this episode, I’m joined by veterinarian Dr. Laurie Coger to unpack the hidden risks of routine care and what’s actually safe for your pup. We talk about vaccines, flea and tick medications, heartworm prevention, and how to make decisions that protect your dog’s long-term health.
This conversation is full of practical takeaways you can use right away, like the questions to ask your vet, when titer testing makes sense, how to know if parasite prevention is really necessary, and why building your dog’s microbiome may be the best defense of all.
If you’ve ever felt confused about what your dog really needs (and what they don’t), this episode will give you clarity and confidence to make the best choices for your pet.
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ The crucial difference between vaccination (giving a shot) and immunization (achieving immunity), and why titer testing matters.
✨ Why protocols are designed for the weakest pets, and how that can mean overdosing the strongest.
✨ The hidden risks of long-acting parasite preventives (and why convenience can sometimes come at a cost).
✨ Safer, smarter ways to approach flea, tick, and heartworm prevention based on region, lifestyle, and your dog’s health history.
✨ How the microbiome is your dog’s first line of defense, and why antibiotics and kibble diets can undermine resilience.
✨ The environmental ripple effects of vaccines and parasite medications we rarely consider.
✨ Why building a veterinary dream team—integrative vets, conventional vets, specialists, and emergency care—is the best way to cover every stage of your dog’s life.
✨ How to approach conversations with your vet with respect, even when you disagree, and find practitioners who align with your values.
RESOURCES:
Vaccines Explained:The Wholistic Vet’s Guide to Vaccinationing Your Dog
FOLLOW:
Dr. Laurie Coger Website: https://healthydogworkshop.com/
Dr. Laurie Coger on Instagram: @healthydogworkshop
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com/
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen
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If you’ve ever wished you could be a fly on the wall for a totally unfiltered, heart-to-heart between a leading pet health educator and an integrative vet… this is your episode. In this conversation with the incredible Rodney Habib, we go deep into what it really means to be a Pet Parent 2.0, one who’s informed, empowered, and unafraid to ask the hard questions about their pet’s health. From over-vaccination to new spay/neuter research, from longevity drugs to nutrition myths, this isn’t a “here’s the protocol, just follow it” kind of talk. It’s a raw, nuanced exchange about evolving science, emotional truths, and how to navigate the overwhelming amount of information out there as a devoted pet parent. We also open up about the moments that changed the trajectory of our lives, the heartbreaks, the mistakes, and the lessons that shape how we care for pets today. If you’re ready to move beyond “basic pet care” and into the next level of advocacy for your pet, this conversation is for you.
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ What it means to be a “Pet Parent 2.0” and why curiosity, openness, and self-advocacy are your superpowers.
✨ Why “over-vaccination” doesn’t mean anti-vaccination — and how to make personalized vaccine decisions with your vet.
✨ The new spay/neuter research pet parents need to know about, including hormone-sparing options and why timing matters.
✨ Why ultra-processed food is still the default in vet med, and how even small changes toward fresh food can have big health impacts.
✨ How to navigate polarizing topics without burning bridges (and why finding a vet you trust matters more than ever).
✨ The truth about emerging longevity drugs —what’s unknown and the questions to ask before saying yes.
✨ Why the most important thing you can do for your pet’s health is to trust your intuition, even when it goes against the norm.
🐾 Explore the Planet Paws community for pet parents: https://www.planetpaws.ca
🐾 Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Becker’s Dog Cancer Series: https://www.dogcancerseries.com/
Rodney Habib: @rodneyhabib
RESOURCES:
FOLLOW:
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
Sign up for our newsletter to get more pet health tips and behind-the-scenes insights.
In this episode, I sit down with Ruby Balaram, CEO of Real Dog Box and founder of the Feed Real Institute, for a heart-to-heart about one of the most overwhelming—and important—topics in pet care: food. From her start as a paralegal to becoming a bold voice in the fresh food movement, Ruby shares how a deeply personal journey with her partner’s 12 year old dog lit a fire to bring truly nourishing, species-appropriate ancestral food back to dogs’ bowls. We dive into what’s actually in commercial pet food, why you need to read the labels carefully, the biggest debates shaking the industry, and how pet parents can cut through the noise to make feeding choices they feel proud of. If you’ve ever stood in the pet food aisle feeling lost, or felt side-eyed for wanting to feed differently, this is the conversation your heart (and your dog!) needs.
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ How adding even one fresh, whole ingredient can start transforming your dog’s health.
✨ Why ingredient quality matters more than the marketing on the bag (and why “human grade” is a non-negotiable).
✨ The difference between real preventive care and the “wellness” most pets get at annual checkups.
✨ How transparency from pet food companies should look and the red flags when it’s missing.
✨ Why feeding variety is key to a healthy microbiome, nutrient balance, and resilience against disease.
✨ The surprising emotional benefits of mealtime joy for your dog.
✨ How intolerance testing can help take the guesswork out of diet decisions.
✨ Why the raw food bacteria debate is more nuanced than it seems and what the research really says.
✨ How the Feed Real Summit is bringing together pet parents, vets, and industry leaders for practical, immersive learning on canine longevity.
RESOURCES:
🐾 The Feed Real Summit (Oct 11–12, 2025 in San Diego)
DM us on Instagram @integrativepet if you want 20% off your ticket (we have a limited number of coupon codes so come grab yours).
Follow Ruby on Instagram: @realdogbox
Follow the Feed Real Summit: @feedrealsummit
FOLLOW:Follow Dr. Lily: @dr.lilychen
Follow Integrative Pet Wellness Center: @integrativepet
In this week’s episode, I have the absolute joy of chatting with Dr. Madeleine Browne, a fellow integrative veterinarian and sports medicine expert who’s just as passionate as I am about helping our pets thrive at every stage of life. We dive into one of my favorite topics: how to protect your dog’s joints, starting long before you ever see signs of stiffness or pain. Because here’s the truth… the way your pup plays, moves, and exercises from those wiggly puppy days can shape their mobility for years to come. Dr. Browne shares simple, practical steps you can start right away, from gentle play modifications to fun at-home strengthening exercises, all designed to help your dog avoid heartbreaking conditions like arthritis, cruciate ligament tears, and IVDD (herniated discs). If you’ve ever dreamed of your fur baby trotting happily by your side well into their golden years, this episode is filled with the tools to make that dream a reality. Let’s keep those tails wagging for life 🐶
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ Why mobility matters at every age — and how prevention in puppyhood sets the stage for lifelong joint health.
✨ How everyday activities like stairs, zoomies, and jumping off the couch can impact growing joints, and how to make them safer.
✨ Why keeping your dog lean is one of the most powerful ways to prevent arthritis and other mobility problems.
✨ How “prehab” (rehabilitation exercises started before injury) can strengthen your dog’s core, improve coordination, and lower injury risk.
✨ Breed-specific risks you should know — and what to ask your vet about preventing common issues like IVDD or cruciate ligament tears.
✨ Simple at-home strengthening exercises, including the “doggy crunch,” to build core stability and protect the spine.
✨ How to safely prepare puppies for high-impact activities like hiking, jogging, or agility — and why starting too soon can backfire.
✨ And home environment changes (like raised food bowls and non-slip flooring) that can make a big difference for joint protection.
RESOURCES:
Check out Dr. Madeleine’s educational blog posts on her website for more joint health and mobility tips: Balanced Paws Vet
FOLLOW:
Dr. Madeleine Browne: @balancedpawsvet
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: integrativepet.com
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
Sign up to our newsletter to get more holistic pet care tips
When Melissa Boland’s dog Henry Clay was diagnosed with cancer, and then she was diagnosed with cancer as well, her world cracked open. What she discovered next lit a fire in her that would change the grooming industry forever. In this episode, I sit down with her to talk about founding 4-Legger, a USDA-certified organic dog shampoo brand, and we dive into a powerful conversation about what’s really hiding in your pet’s grooming products, and how it could be affecting their long-term health. We talk about everything from misleading marketing terms to hidden carcinogens that never even show up on the label. Melissa breaks down what you really need to know about ingredients like “coconut-based” and why most “natural” dog shampoos… aren’t. If you’ve ever assumed that what you’re putting on your dog’s skin is safe, this episode is a must-listen because your dog’s skin is their largest organ. And what goes on it… goes in it.
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ How Melissa’s deep soul relationship with her heart dog Henry Clay started her on a mission to change the pet shampoo industry.
✨ How companies like 4-Legger that go through the USDA organic program are required to list all their ingredients giving pet parents real transparency.
✨ How the toxins found in a lot of conventional shampoos build up in our pets bodies and over time can contribute to liver or kidney failure.
✨ Are pets with seizures being chronically exposed to neurotoxins through shampoos?
✨ The rescue dog whose hair grew back after he got many many therapeutic baths with 4-Legger healing shampoos.
✨ How the pet grooming industry is shockingly unregulated and what that means for your dog.
✨ What terms like “coconut-derived” or “natural surfactant” really mean (and why they’re a red flag).
✨ How a single fragrance on the label can contain up to 500 undisclosed chemicals.
✨ How conventional ingredients like formaldehyde-releasing preservatives can accumulate in your dog’s body over time..
✨ How 4-Legger peppermint and tea tree oil shampoo can sometimes be used as a natural alternative to medicated shampoos.
✨ And Melissa tells us all about the Pet Shampoo Ingredient Database she created.
RESOURCES:
✨Check out the Pet Shampoo Ingredient Database by 4-Legger 👇
✨ Download our FREE holistic pet care guides 👇
FOLLOW:
4-Legger: https://www.4-legger.com/
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com/
4-Legger: @4leggerz
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen: @dr.lilychen
💌 Sign up for our newsletter to get holistic pet care tips straight to your inbox
In this episode, Shari, a cherished Concierge Member and founder of the Shari's Daycare, and I explore what it really looks like to offer the highest level of care. Shari shares how her daycare model flipped the script on what a day care can be. Think luxury concierge-style services, individualized enrichment, personalized meals, and even a pickup school bus for dogs. Basically it’s like a kindergarten for pets! Shari takes the happiness of each dog seriously—carefully observing their needs, guiding social play, and making sure every pup is an energy match with their friends so everyone’s having a good time. But Shari and I also go deeper into what happens behind the scenes when caretakers are running on empty. We both think back to our experience with a corporate vet practice model that lacked compassion and how we saw firsthand how so many brilliant vet professionals are undervalued. This episode is a beautiful reminder that raising the standard for pets starts by raising our standard for self-care and team care 💫
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ How Shari’s concierge-style daycare model creates emotional safety through individualized support, personalized meals, and carefully curated playgroups.
✨ How delivering high-level care means charging in a way that honors the team's time, energy, and expertise.
✨ The importance of guiding social play and watching for energy matches—so every dog feels safe and genuinely happy.
✨ What both Shari and Lily witnessed working in corporate vet clinics that made them realize something had to change.
✨ And how filling up your own cup and taking a proper break is essential for anyone in a caregiving role.
RESOURCES:
If you’d like to apply to join Shari’s amazing dog care in South Bay, Los Angeles, just send her an email sharidaycare@icloud.com
Please note: The Integrative Pet Wellness Center does offer payment plans through Vet Billing 💸
INTRODUCING THE EXCLUSIVE CONCIERGE MEMBERSHIP WITH DR. LILY AND VET TECH DIANNE
Are you a pet parent who expects nothing less than exceptional care for your fur baby? Do you want to keep them healthy rather than waiting for them to get sick?And is having access to advanced integrative treatments and both western and holistic options a non-negotiable for you?
If that sounds like you, you're exactly who this membership was designed for 💖
Doors are now open. Apply to join: https://www.theunicornvet.com/Concierge ✨
FOLLOW:
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen
Sign up for our newsletter to get pet health care tips & updates
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Katie Woodley—aka The Natural Pet Doctor—for a heart-opening, science-rich chat on gut health, food sensitivities, chronic skin issues (because the skin always tells a deeper story), and what to do if your dog keeps having diarrhea. Dr. Katie's shift from conventional vet med to holistic gut expert began when her husband was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, and she realized just how much was missing from the traditional toolbox. That moment sparked a deep dive into holistic healing, and today, she's one of the most sought-after gut health vets in the field. Together, we explore how true healing begins with restoring the gut terrain before big diet changes and how functional testing can finally offer the deeper answers you’ve been searching for (the ones we just can't find with conventional testing alone). So if your pet has been struggling with itchy skin, chronic vomiting, or ongoing diarrhea, and you've tried different diets and supplements and seen multiple vets, and your pup still isn't getting better then this heartfelt, practical episode is for you.
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ Why some pets react to even the best fresh food diets—and what that reveals about the underlying gut terrain.
✨ The exact tests Dr. Katie runs in every chronic diarrhea or itchy skin case.
✨ Why functional medicine testing speeds up healing and helps avoid burnout from trying the wrong things in the wrong order.
✨ How a study showed puppies fed fresh food early had a lower risk of allergies and itchy skin later in life.
✨ Why digestive enzymes are often the key first step for pets with poor digestion.
✨ How herbs like slippery elm and marshmallow root soothe an inflamed gut and reduce food reactivity.
✨ What “binders” are and how they help detox gently without stressing the body.
✨ Why detoxing too early can backfire when drainage pathways aren’t open—and how to know if your pet is ready.
✨ How to rotate food in a way that strengthens the gut when your pet is ready.
✨ The connection between chronic gut and skin symptoms and deeper issues like heavy metals, mycotoxins (aka mold), and leaky gut.
✨ Why prescription diets weren’t meant to be long-term and how they can lead to nutrient deficiencies.
✨ What it really means to “restore instead of strip” the body and how this flips conventional veterinary thinking.
✨ Why things haven’t worked in the past and how understanding your pet’s gut terrain can change everything.
✨ How emotional stress in humans impacts pets and why you soothing your nervous system is part of their healing too.
✨ And the power of community and support when navigating chronic illness because you don’t have to do this alone.
RESOURCES:
Dr. Katie’s Gut & Skin Healing Program 👇
FREE Masterclass with Dr. Katie 👇
Transform Your Pet's Health Naturally: The Blueprint to End Chronic Gut and Skin Issues
FOLLOW:
Dr. Katie Woodley: https://www.thenaturalpetdoctor.com/
Dr. Katie’s YouTube: The Natural Pet Doctor
Dr. Katie Woodley Instagram: @thenaturalpetdoctor
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: integrativepet.com
Integrative Pet Wellness Center Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
It’s our 1-year podcast anniversary! 🎉 And what better way to celebrate than with a real, unfiltered Q&A answering the exact questions pet parents are asking right now. In this special episode, I’m joined by two amazing guests and Concierge Members—Janet and Shari—who open up about their journeys with chronic pet conditions, shifting from a conventional to integrative vet model, and the healing breakthroughs they’ve experienced through holistic care. From cysts that closed without surgery to UTIs resolved without antibiotics to cancer that dissolved without chemo, this episode is filled with the kind of stories that remind you healing is possible. We cover some of the most important questions I hear in practice and online—from flea meds to senior care to vaccine protocols to yeast infections, and whether rectal ozone therapy is really worth the drive (spoiler: it is). Whether you're brand new to holistic care or just want to go deeper, this episode is packed with practical insight, lived experience, and a whole lot of heart.
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨Why I started this podcast and what shifted for me along the way.
✨What holistic medicine actually means and why it’s rooted in science.
✨What rectal ozone therapy is, how it works, and why I recommend it weekly.
✨How a senior dog healed her cancer without surgery or chemo.
✨How a chihuahua, Jinju’s, chronic UTIs cleared up naturally without antibiotics.
✨What to do if your pet has Giardia or tapeworms and why you sometimes want to avoid dewormers.
✨The rise of parasite resistance and why conventional flea meds might be doing more harm than good.
✨Safer, holistic flea prevention strategies that actually work.
✨Is once-a-day feeding ideal for large dogs?
✨When GI issues mimic Addison’s disease and how to avoid misdiagnosis.
✨What it means when your dog has chronic diarrhea but all their tests are “normal”.
✨Why yeast overgrowth is often a gut problem, not just a skin issue.
✨How I handle rabies vaccine laws, titer testing, and exemption requests.
✨How to prioritize care for your senior pet when you’re on a tight budget.
✨Why preventative care is more powerful than treating symptoms after the fact.
RESOURCES:
Ozone therapy, microbiome testing, natural flea treatments, and holistic UTI care:
✨ Learn more at Integrative Pet Wellness Center
Toppers & fresh food brands I trust:
✨Susan Thixton’s The List (a curated list comparing the top pet food brands)
INTRODUCING THE EXCLUSIVE CONCIERGE MEMBERSHIP WITH DR. LILY AND VET TECH DIANNE
Are you a pet parent who expects nothing less than exceptional care for your fur baby? Do you want to keep them healthy rather than waiting for them to get sick? And is having access to advanced integrative treatments and both western and holistic options a non-negotiable for you? If that sounds like you, you're exactly who this membership was designed for 💖
Doors are now open. Apply to join ✨👇
https://www.theunicornvet.com/Concierge
FOLLOW:
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
Sign up for our newsletter to get pet health care tips & updates
This week’s guest is someone I absolutely adore, Shari! 💜 She’s a longtime client, a rockstar in our Concierge Membership, and one of the most open-hearted learners I know. Shari’s story is a reminder that when you stay curious and say yes to growth, amazing things can happen. She started her journey in vet med in the 80s as a kennel assistant. From there? She soaked up everything she could—learning lab work, radiology, even assisting with dentals—and eventually became a veterinary technician, then a beloved practice manager known for her leadership and compassion. But it wasn’t until her dad got sick that she discovered the world of holistic healing. That experience opened her eyes… and later, her heart, to integrative care for pets too. Now she runs a thriving doggy daycare, is deeply committed to her own cat’s preventative care, and brings so much wisdom to everything she does. We talk about the power of saying yes to the next right step, how integrative medicine found her when she was ready, and why being a lifelong learner might be the most magical trait of all. This episode will leave you feeling hopeful, inspired, and totally in love with Shari’s story 💫
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ Why taking care of your vet team is the real secret to a thriving practice and how Shari’s leadership style led to a standing ovation from a roundtable of vets.
✨ The moment she realized conventional protocols weren’t enough for her own pet, and why she started searching for deeper answers.
✨ How our pets mirror our own physical and emotional health more than we realize.
✨ A few ways vet practices can take care of their teams at a deeper level and create a culture of kindness and belonging.
✨ Why meditation and stress reduction is so powerful for healing.
✨ And how the Concierge Membership inspired Shari not only to support Miley’s health on another level... but start prioritizing her own well-being too.
RESOURCES:
If you’d like to apply to join Shari’s amazing dog care in South Bay, Los Angeles, just send her an email sharidaycare@icloud.com
INTRODUCING THE EXCLUSIVE CONCIERGE MEMBERSHIP WITH DR. LILY AND VET TECH DIANNE
Are you a pet parent who expects nothing less than exceptional care for your fur baby? Do you want to keep them healthy rather than waiting for them to get sick? And is having access to advanced integrative treatments and both western and holistic options a non-negotiable for you? If that sounds like you, you're exactly who this membership was designed for 💖
Doors are now open. Apply to join ✨👇
https://www.theunicornvet.com/Concierge
FOLLOW:
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
Sign up for our newsletter to get pet health care tips & updates