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