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