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
Could this be what’s been missing in your pet’s healing journey? Okay, pet parents… this might be the most unexpectedly fascinating episode we’ve ever recorded. Yes, we’re talking about poop 💩. But not just any poop. We're talking about fecal microbiota transplants (FMT), a powerful healing therapy that’s helping pets recover from chronic disease, regulate their immune system, and even change their behavior. If your dog struggles with chronic vomiting, diarrhea, allergies, or itching and nothing seems to work this episode might open a whole new door. In this episode, I sit down with our incredible vet assistant Mickie for part two of our candid conversation on holistic healing. We dive deep into how I got started with fecal transplants and where we think this is going. Imagine a future where we can select specific strains of bacteria to target specific diseases. Where you can personalize a transplant like you would a supplement blend, mixing and matching strains to target a specific health challenge. Come along as we explore where the fascinating world of microbiome healing is heading, because this might just be the future of medicine, and your pet deserves to be at the forefront of it.
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ How a pet parent’s research led to Dr. Lily’s very first fecal transplant and the results that blew her mind.
✨ The origin of Dr. Lily’s now-trademarked Balanced Biome protocol (hint: it involved a lot of trial and error).
✨ Why poop from the right donor can reset a pet’s immune system, behavior, and digestion.
✨ The real reason fresh poop works better than powder and how we're thinking of building our own poop bank of super-donors.
✨ What the future of microbiome therapy could look like: personalized blends of specific strains to treat disease.
✨ And why you shouldn’t wait until your pet is sick—microbiome therapy is a powerful preventive tool too.
Download any of our free resources:
The Preventative Testing Guide That Can Help Your Pet Live (Almost) Forever
The Step-By-Step Pet Detox Guide
FOLLOW:
Mickie's IG: @mickiecurtice
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 one of our incredible vet assistants, Mickie, for a fun and refreshingly candid conversation about what it really looks like to go from total skeptic to full on believer in holistic medicine. When Mickie first joined us as an extern, she didn’t hold back—she was questioning everything from acupuncture to fecal transplants to crystals (especially the unicorn one 😅). But what she experienced behind the scenes changed everything. Mickie opens up about the pet patient that cracked her heart wide open and why she now believes that we’ve been conditioned to trust pharmaceuticals without questioning side effects—while dismissing holistic care that’s been used for thousands of years. This episode is about unlearning what we’ve been taught. About realizing that suppressing symptoms isn’t the same as healing. And about the power of keeping an open mind—because when we do, we just might witness something miraculous. This is a must-listen for any pet parent who’s been curious about holistic medicine but isn’t sure what to believe.
✨ Why Mickie was completely against holistic medicine at first and what finally changed her mind.
✨ What happened when she watched a dog with Cushings fully heal with microbiome therapy, nanolight therapy, and acupuncture.
✨ Why she thought acupuncture was nonsense… until she saw it work.
✨ How we can use a pendulum to figure out where an animal is holding pain is when we can’t pick it up on an exam.
✨ What conventional vet training gets wrong about healing, and why so many good techs and vets feel stuck in a system that doesn’t fix the root cause.
✨ The emotional toll of working in veterinary care and how our team culture at Integrative Pet Wellness Centre helps us show up with empathy and presence.
✨ What pet parents should look for when choosing a veterinary team and why team dynamic matters more than you think.
✨ Why individualized care will always create greater results than “standard” protocols (even the “gold standard” ones).
Download any of our free resources:
The Preventative Testing Guide That Can Help Your Pet Live (Almost) Forever
The Step-By-Step Pet Detox Guide
FOLLOW:
Mickie's IG: @mickiecurtice
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, I’m joined by Dr. Tina Hansen (aka the Purple Vet), an integrative veterinarian from Norway with a global perspective and a huge heart for real nutrition. She’s worked with animals all over the world, from the UK to South Africa to the Caribbean to Argentina to Zimbabwe, and what she’s seen will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about pet food. In this episode, we dive into why some of the healthiest animals she’s treated aren’t eating premium kibble at all… and why ultra-processed food may be contributing to the chronic issues we see in pets today. Tina breaks down how to start feeding fresh without overwhelm, when raw food makes sense (and when it might not), and how nutrition can literally transform allergy, autoimmune, and gut cases…sometimes when nothing else has worked. This conversation is packed with insights that simplify pet care. Let’s jump in!
KEY INSIGHTS:
Dr. Tina shares her incredible experiences treating pets and wildlife across the globe from South Africa to Argentina to remote Caribbean islands.
Why chronic disease was practically nonexistent in certain parts of lower income countries where kibble prices were super high.
Why feeding fresh food (even scraps!) often creates better health outcomes than expensive ultra-processed diets.
How pets might have a harder time absorbing synthetic vitamins in kibble than nutrients from whole food.
Why medications like steroids and antibiotics should be a last resort not the first line of care and how it makes it much harder for the pet to heal in the long term.
How nutrition can be the single most powerful healing tool (when used correctly!)
How raw feeding can be done safely and simply even for beginners.
Why we need to rethink the “standard of care” in conventional vet medicine and how ignoring the root cause can cause more harm than good.
How a hair mineral analysis can give you deeper insight into your pet’s health.
Why early nutrition and lifestyle support can prevent years of struggle.
And a gentle reminder: Vets are under huge pressure to do it all and they really are trying their best.
RESOURCES:
You can access Dr. Tina (aka the Purple Vet’s) amazing free resources and courses for pet parents 💜👇
FOLLOW:
Dr. Tina: @purple.vet
Purple Vet: https://www.purple.vet/
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 Dr. Edward Bassingthwaighte, aka The Healing Vet, to explore one of the most fascinating (and sometimes misunderstood) topics in animal care: energy healing. Dr. Edward shares his deeply personal journey from working in conventional vet hospitals to creating his own method of intuitive bodywork and energy healing to being forced to heal himself from Lyme disease and chronic fatigue when western medicine failed. We talk about how therapeutic touch helped him relieve pain and trauma in animals, and why your emotional state directly affects your pet’s well-being, something I know many of us have felt in our bones. He opens up about telepathic communication with animals (yep, it's a thing), what it’s like to connect with pets across the globe via Zoom, and how every single one of us can tap into our own healing abilities to help our pets. If you've ever wondered if your pet would benefit from energy healing or body work this episode is for you.
KEY INSIGHTS:
How Dr. Edward’s own health crisis led him to develop the Whole Energy Body Balance Method.
How animals taught him how to heal with touch.
How you can support your pet with anxiety, trauma, or pain through bodywork.
A wild story about a rescue dog who kept running away… until one energy healing session changed everything.
The truth about pets “mirroring” your emotions (and how to help them by healing yourself).
The one daily grounding practice every pet parent should do, for their sake and their pets.
How Dr. Edward learnt a technique to help horses who are lame walk again.
How to spot common signs of stress in your cat or dog.
What it means if your pet doesn’t seem to have the ability to learn.
And how you can take Dr. Edward’s course and learn to do energy work on your own pet.
RESOURCES:
Want to learn Dr. Edward’s healing techniques? Check out his courses
FOLLOW:
Dr. Edward: @the_healing_vet
Dr. Edward’s holistic vet practice TheHealingVet.com
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 doesn’t get nearly enough airtime but impacts almost every pet parent at some point. I’m joined by Suzanne Cannon, founder of VetBilling, for a powerful and honest discussion about the money side of vet care and how we can make it less stressful, less overwhelming, and way more compassionate for everyone involved. Suzanne shares the personal story that inspired her to create VetBilling after experiencing firsthand what it’s like to be a loving, responsible pet parent who suddenly couldn’t afford care. Since then, she’s helped thousands of families access the treatment their pets need by partnering with clinics to offer flexible, judgment-free payment plans. We talk about the big difference between credit-based financing options like CareCredit, Scratchpay, or the All Pet Card and how VetBilling offers a completely different path, one that puts the relationship first and removes the fear of being denied based on a credit score. We also get into how VetBilling compares to pet insurance, and why, despite its growing popularity, insurance alone often isn’t enough to cover emergency or unexpected costs. If you’ve ever worried about how to afford vet care, want to feel prepared for the unexpected, or if you’re a veterinary professional trying to make it easier for your clients then this episode is a must-listen.
KEY INSIGHTS:
Why so many pet parents stay silent about financial concerns and how subtle hints often go unnoticed in the exam room.
The emotional cost of care and why affordability isn’t just about price, it’s about flexibility and dignity.
How clinics can create a “financially friendly ethos” with simple passive education (like social posts, brochures, and signage).
The difference between someone who can’t afford care and someone who just needs time to pay.
The psychology behind how we make financial decisions under stress and how that affects pet parents in emergency situations.
Why CareCredit isn’t the right fit for everyone and how VetBilling fills the gap with human-first, clinic-controlled financing.
How pet insurance works, why it’s not always enough, and how pairing it with a payment plan can make care much more accessible.
Why it’s time to bring the same compassion we show during treatment to the financial side of care too.
How VetBilling has helped thousands of families access care they would have otherwise had to decline.
How Pumpkin Pet Insurance could be a game changer for pet parents.
And we explore how our fur babies really are our babies (and that’s why we’d do anything for them).
RESOURCES:
We do offer payment plans through VetBilling for our clients at the Integrative Pet Wellness Center 💖
And if you’re a vet and you’d like to implement this for your practise or you're a pet parent who wants to suggest this to your vet here is the VetBilling website 👇
You can also find Suzanne’s free CE course on becoming a financially friendly clinic here
https://www.introvetce.com/overcoming-barriers
FOLLOW:
VetBilling: @vetbilling
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 episode is a little woo… and a lot groundbreaking. We’re talking about magic mushrooms for pets. In Part 2 of my conversation with integrative vet and medicinal mushroom expert Dr. Rob Silver, we explore how psilocybin (the compound in psychedelic mushrooms) could offer new hope for pets with anxiety, PTSD, and trauma-based behavioral issues. Dr. Silver shares the story of his own rescue dog Ollie, who struggles with PTSD after early-life trauma, and what happened when he began microdosing him using small amounts of psilocybin. We unpack how this controversial yet promising compound is being used with humans in clinical therapy, and what it might mean for our animal companions. We also dive into the emotional root of chronic illness, how trauma manifests physically, and why being open to the “woo” might actually be the scientific edge we need. If you’ve ever wondered about magic mushrooms for pets this episode is for you.
KEY INSIGHTS:
What psilocybin is, how it works, and how therapists are using it to help humans with PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
The difference between high-dose psychedelic use and microdosing and why Dr. Silver sees potential for microdosing in veterinary care.
The story of Ollie, Dr. Silver’s rescue dog, and how he’s taking psilocybin for PTSD.
How the Canine Microdosing Project is exploring psilocybin’s potential therapeutic benefits for pets.
Why it’s time we take emotional trauma in pets more seriously, and how behavior labeled as “anxiety” could actually be trauma adaptation.
How Dr. Silver wants to develop safe dosing protocols before broader use.
Why Dr. Lily believes emotional healing is just as important as physical treatment, and how trauma shows up in the body.
How an animal communicator could help you get inside your pets mind and understand what they’re thinking.
And how your pet could apply to join the Canine Microdosing Project.
RESOURCES:
Learn more about the canine microdosing project: Canine Microdosing Project
Grab Dr. Rob Silver’s book: There's A Mushroom For That!
Shop vet-quality mushroom supplements at Real Mushrooms
Use the code DRCHEN at checkout to get 20% off any Real Mushrooms products for pets
FOLLOW:
Dr. Rob Silver: @docrobsilver
Dr. Rob Silver: Well Pet Dispensary
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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In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Rob Silver an integrative vet to unpack one of the hottest topics in pet wellness right now: mushrooms. Dr. Rob is a true pioneer when it comes to using medicinal mushrooms to help pets heal and in this episode, we talk about how mushrooms can support pets facing cognitive decline, cancer (in particular hemangiosarcoma), allergies, Cushing’s, and boost overall immunity. We also dive into the red flags to watch out for when choosing a medicinal mushroom product, and what to look for if you want the real deal. If you’ve ever been curious about whether medicinal mushrooms could help your pet, this episode is definitely for you.
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ Why you should never feed mushrooms raw and why chopping them small helps your pet absorb all their benefits.
✨ How the medicinal mushroom cordyceps is a beautiful support for kidney health and should be a part of every cat's preventative care.
✨ How lion’s mane mushroom supports both cognitive function and gut health.
✨ How turkey tail can be a powerful ally for dogs with hemangiosarcoma.
✨ How reishi and chaga mushrooms act like natural antihistamines for pets with allergies.
✨ How scientific research shows that button mushrooms (yes, the common kind!) have anti-cancer and brain boosting effects.
✨ Why shiitake mushrooms are so revered and how there are even injectable cancer treatments made from them in Asia.
✨ Why lion’s mane might be the secret weapon for aging pets with signs of cognitive decline.
✨ How mycelium-based products may look the same on the outside but contain fewer active compounds—and can slow results.
✨ Why giving medicinal mushrooms a few weeks before your puppy or kitten’s titer test can strengthen their immune response.
✨ And we’ll Introduce you to Dr. Rob’s book: There’s A Mushroom For That—your go-to guide for using functional mushrooms to support your pet’s health.
RESOURCES:
Grab Dr. Rob Silver’s book: There's A Mushroom For That!
Shop vet-quality mushroom supplements at Real Mushrooms
Use the code DRCHEN at checkout to get 20% off any Real Mushrooms products for pets
FOLLOW:
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
Dr. Rob Silver: @docrobsilver
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In this deeply inspiring episode, I’m joined by the brilliant and truly one-of-a-kind Dr. Meghan Barrett—a holistic veterinarian, sound healer, and musician based in Honolulu, Hawaii. We talk about everything from harp music for horses to how tuning forks can do more than calm the nervous system—they can actually help move fluid, soften tight fascia, and support physical healing when needles aren’t tolerated. Dr. Meghan shares how she uses sound therapy with zoo animals, cows, and anxious dogs alike—and how even small changes in sound and environment can create big shifts in an animal’s healing. We also explore why most vet clinics (though well-intentioned) are often too loud, chaotic, and clinical for true healing to occur—especially for pets dealing with chronic inflammation. Sound, she reminds us, is a nutrient for the nervous system—and when used intentionally, it can elevate every modality we already use, from acupuncture and rehab to simple daily care at home. Whether you’re a devoted pet parent or a fellow vet—this episode will expand how you think about sound as a healing modality.
KEY INSIGHTS:
How the environment in most vet clinics is noisy, smells like fear, and overwhelms sensitive animals.
How pets cannot fully heal if their environment keeps them in fight-or-flight.
How acupuncture and other therapies have a totally different level of effectiveness depending on whether the animal feels safe and relaxed or stressed and shut down—and how noise pollution in regular vet clinics can lead to less effective acupuncture sessions.
How holistic care isn’t “woo”—it’s whole-body care, supporting both the physical and emotional side, and more pet parents than ever are seeking vets who truly understand that.
How a simple “noise audit” in your home can reveal overstimulation you may have tuned out—and allow you to fix that for your pet.
How consciously introducing nervous-system-regulating sounds (like ambient music, sound bowls, or gentle lullaby music) can create a healing field at home.
The science behind sound as medicine: every cell in the body vibrates, and sound helps return the body to resonance and harmony.
How tuning forks aren’t just a professional tool—pet parents can learn to use them at home.
And how you can access Dr. Meghan’s calming music for pets on YouTube—designed specifically to soothe and regulate.
RESOURCES:
Find calming music for your pet on Dr. Meghan’s YouTube channel
Learn more about Dr. Meghan’s healing work and upcoming course → www.drbarrettvet.com
Get Dr. Meghan’s book From Basic To Bougie: A Blueprint To Upgrade Your Pet’s Diet Safely And Simply
FOLLOW:
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com/
On Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
Dr. Meghan Barrett: @drbarrettvet
This week, I’m joined once again by the deeply wise and generous Dr. Nell—veterinarian, beloved teacher, and acupuncture wizard. In Part 2 of our conversation, we explore the magic of acupuncture for our animal patients. From kidney disease and seizures to tummy troubles, diabetes, and even Cushing’s... Dr. Nell gently walks us through how this ancient healing art can offer support when conventional medicine sometimes reaches its limits. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, Could acupuncture help my pet?—this conversation is such a beautiful place to begin.
KEY INSIGHTS:
How acupuncture isn’t just for pain—it is powerful medicine for chronic diseases like kidney issues, GI imbalances, seizures, pancreatitis, and hormonal dysregulation.
How acupuncture improves circulation, balances the nervous system, and helps regulate complex conditions like diabetes and Cushing’s.
Why idiopathic conditions (aka the ones with no clear Western cause) often respond wonderfully to acupuncture and herbal support.
The beauty of working with patterns of imbalance instead of waiting on a definitive diagnosis.
And how Chinese medicine and conventional care don’t have to compete—they actually work best together.
RESOURCES:
Finding a vet who does acupuncture:
Ask your vet if they know of a vet who does acupuncture you could add to your team.
Google.
Check out these directories 👇
American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncturists
Chi University
College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies
FOLLOW:
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com/
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen
Dr. Nell Ostermeier: @people.and.pet
What if I told you your puppy or kitten’s first year is the single most important window to shape their lifelong health—and that some of the most common vet protocols (though totally well-intentioned!) might actually be setting them up for chronic issues later on? This is your loving wake-up call. In this episode, I’m joined by our amazing vet tech (and proud new puppy mom!) Dianne. We’re unpacking how these “normal” choices like routine deworming, kibble, and standard vaccine schedules might be doing more harm than good, and we share what you can do instead to support a healthy gut and strong immune system. If you’ve got a young puppy or kitten or you’re thinking of bringing one home, this conversation could save you thousands in future vet bills and, more importantly, so much stress and heartache. And make sure to stick around until the end—we’re sharing something super exciting that we created just for you!
KEY INSIGHTS:
Why the period between 8 to 16 weeks is the most critical stage of puppy development and how it shapes their lifelong health, socialization, and behavior.
How colostrum, the very first milk, sets up a puppy’s immune system for success, and why missing it in the first 24 hours can leave a crucial gap in their early immune protection.
How weaning from mother’s milk to kibble shocks a puppy’s digestive system and how this early disruption can increase the risk of chronic inflammatory diseases in dogs later in life.
Why it’s essential to slowly transition your puppy to fresh food instead of abruptly switching diets.
Why protecting your puppy’s microbiome is vital and how using natural alternatives to antibiotics, like ozone therapy, can support immune development without harming gut health.
How asking your vet for a PCR fecal test for puppies (rather than a standard fecal test) can catch more parasites and help avoid unnecessary chemical deworming.
How some parasites can be safely treated without harsh medications and why exploring natural parasite treatment options for puppies and kittens can help avoid side effects and drug resistance.
Why vaccine titer testing for puppies is a powerful tool—and how it helps prevent the dangers of over-vaccination while still ensuring proper disease protection.
How investing in a titer test during the first year can save you thousands of dollars (and avoid major health issues) over your dog’s lifetime.
What the latest research says about when to spay or neuter a dog—and how delaying sterilization or keeping certain breeds intact can protect against certain types of cancer.
And we share an exciting announcement for puppy and kitten pet parents around the world!
RESOURCES:
Click here to learn more about the Baby Pearls Membership 💖🛎️👇🏻
And if your pet isn’t a baby anymore, but you’d love support staying on top of their preventative health care, check out the Silver, Gold, and Diamond Tiers in the Concierge Membership 🛎️
FOLLOW:
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com/
Dianne on Instagram:@mywildthyme
Dianne’s puppy Mabel on Instagram: @withlovemabelroux
In this week’s episode, I sit down with the incredible Dr. Nell for a deeply human, heart-opening conversation that every pet parent and veterinarian needs to hear. We explore a topic that often gets overlooked—the emotional well-being of vets. Dr. Nell shares the mission behind the CALM Movement (Conscious Animal Lovers Movement) and how healing isn’t just about the medicine we use but also the energy, intention, and presence we bring into the room. We talk about burnout, the often unsustainable pace of conventional practice, and what begins to shift when vets slow down and offer each patient a little more of their time. This episode can help you and your vet navigate the challenges that come with helping a pet heal and find a way forward together as a team.
KEY INSIGHTS:
✨ How healing really is a shared journey between pet, pet parent, and their vet and how the energy each person brings matters.
✨ How our emotional state, stress, and even unspoken tension between the team can directly impact our pet’s ability to heal.
✨ How CALM (Conscious Animal Lovers Movement) was founded by Dr. Allen Schoen to raise awareness about how energy, presence, and frequency influence healing outcomes.
✨ How choosing a different model and slowing down veterinary appointments allows for deeper care, stronger relationships, and better results.
✨ How time stress is one of the biggest contributors to burnout for vets and also the reason so many pet parents leave the vet without their questions getting answered.
✨ How easy little practices like taking three deep breaths or stepping outside for one minute can shift your nervous system from fight-or-flight into calm presence.
✨ How when pet parents share what matters most to them (like sleep, comfort, quality of life), it helps vets tailor care more effectively.
✨ How slow, present, preventative care is often more effective (and more financially sustainable) than rushing to fit more patients into the day.
✨ And Dr. Lily and Dr. Nell share their top tips for navigating uncomfortable conversations and moments where you and your vet don’t see eye to eye.
RESOURCES:The Vetiverse is Dr. Nell’s online training platform for vets
https://www.thevetiverse.com/en/latest/author/nell-ostermeier/
FOLLOW:
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com/
Dr. Nell Ostermeier: @people.and.pet
Dr. Nell Ostermeier : https://www.peopleandpet.com/
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @the.unicorn.vet
Dr. Marlene Siegel, legendary integrative vet, is on the podcast this week! She shares the story that changed her life forever: a terrifying accident where her daughter’s life was saved by their beloved showhorse. When that same horse was later deemed untreatable by every equine vet, Marlene refused to accept it. That moment ignited a fire in her, a soul-deep commitment to find real solutions for any problem an animal had. That mission has led her to become a true pioneer in integrative veterinary medicine, bringing cutting-edge healing tools from the human world to devoted pet parents like you. In this episode, Marlene and I dive into so many exciting new modalities and explore why today’s pet parents must be fiercely proactive. Because, let’s be real, the modern world isn’t built for health. But there are still ways you can help your pet truly thrive.
KEY INSIGHTS:
Why detoxification is non-negotiable in modern pet health—and how 90% of the pets Dr. Lily and Dr. Marlene test have a compromised ability to detox.
Dr. Marlene’s 6 Steps To Healing every pet parent should know.
How fascia decompression helps pets release stress—and how pet parents can learn to do it at home, with no equipment.
The difference between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system states—and why your pet might struggle to heal if you’re stuck in fight-or-flight.
How we’re getting foods that aren’t ripened naturally, and how this is robbing us and our pets of nutrients that help prevent cancer.
Why processed prescription diets don’t heal—and how a high-quality fresh food diet can change everything.
How Dr. Marlene is bringing epigenetics from the human world into her work with animals.
Why our pets are sicker now than ever and how current “normal” lab ranges don’t reflect true health (because they’re based on a sick population).
How anecdotal evidence can be more trustworthy than scientific evidence at this point because often the data has been changed to benefit the company paying for the study.
The power of home detox protocols and how Dr. Marlene’s new SPAWS centers (for people and pets) will make these therapies accessible to everyone.
And how pets labeled “incurable” often experience full recoveries with integrative care.
RESOURCES:
🐾 Fascia Decompression For Pets Course
🐾 Dr. Marlene Segiel’s Empowered Pet Parent Course
FOLLOW:
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com/
Dr. Marelen Siegel: @drmarlenesiegel
Dr. Marelen Siegel: https://drmarlenesiegel.com/
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @the.unicorn.vet
This week, I'm joined once again by the brilliant Dr. Katie Kangas—veterinarian, educator, and true oral health guru. With decades of experience working alongside board-certified veterinary dentists, she brings such a deep well of insight. In this episode, we're diving into what every pet parent needs to know about preventing tooth pain, gum disease, and yes—even early death–from untreated dental issues. Dr. Katie breaks down why anesthesia-free cleanings aren't very effective, how your small dog is at greater risk than your big dog, and how to understand the difference between general practice and specialty dentistry. And here's the best part: she shares powerful (and easy!) daily hacks you can start using right now to protect your pet's dental health. This episode could literally save your dog's life. Let's get into it 🦷
KEY INSIGHTS:
How dental disease in dogs is a hidden source of chronic inflammation linked to heart disease, kidney disease, arthritis, and even a shortened lifespan.
How pets can’t truly be in whole-body wellness while living with poor oral health—and why it’s a foundational part of your dog’s long-term health plan.
How gingivitis is the first warning sign—if your pet’s gums bleed or look red, it’s important to catch it early and help them heal.
How brushing your pet’s teeth is the gold standard, but even just gently rubbing the gums daily with coconut oil or natural dental products can make a real difference.
How important it is to look inside your pet’s mouth regularly—so you can spot early signs of inflammation, dental pain, broken teeth, infections, or a mass starting to grow.
How the supplement TEEF helps rebalance your pet’s oral microbiome by feeding the good bacteria and reducing the bad—improving breath and reducing harmful plaque.
How kibble does not clean teeth—and can actually increase your pet’s risk of dental disease.
How to choose safe dog chews that help support dental health without risking fractured teeth—and which popular chews to avoid.
How broken teeth in dogs are a serious medical issue that can cause pain, infection, and systemic inflammation—and need immediate attention from your vet.
How integrative whole-body care at home can still make a powerful impact—especially when anesthesia isn’t an option due to heart conditions, kidney disease, or budget constraints.
And Dr. Katie tells us about her own natural dental product for dogs.
RESOURCES:
🦷 Dr. Katie’s Brand 👉 Share Your Bowl
🦷 Boost your pets oral microbiome with this supplement 👉 TEEF
FOLLOW:
Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com/
Dr. Katie Kangas: @drkatiekangas
Dr. Katie Kangas: https://intvetcare.com/#top
Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet
Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen and @the.unicorn.vet
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