This week, I experienced a moment that truly touched my heart when Thor and his mom came in for a check-up. I met Thor earlier this year and immediately fell in love. He’s an adorable little guy who looks like he walked straight out of a fairytale, resembling a fox with his thick, somewhat curly hair and incredibly expressive ears and eyes.
Thor was referred to me by a dermatologist due to his severe allergy issues. All conventional treatment options had been exhausted, yet he still suffered from significant skin problems and relentless itching. We decided to embark on a holistic journey to restore Thor’s health. We tested his vitamin and mineral levels, looked for microbiome imbalances, and identified any potential toxins in his body.
The most crucial part of his recovery was restoring his microbiome balance. Along with acupuncture, Phovia (a special photomodulation treatment), supplements, essential oils, and microbiome restorative therapy, we saw a complete transformation in Thor after a few months. His itching significantly reduced, his skin improved, and he became more loving, playful, and energetic!
I was immensely happy and grateful to help Thor and his family. Moments like these fill my cup and recharge my passion for integrative veterinary medicine. I’m also SO thankful to the dermatologist who referred Thor, allowing us to work together on his case.
Read About Thor’s Journey in His Mom’s Words Here!
Nothing boosts our team’s morale more than hearing kind words from our pet families. 🩷 I am committed to making these integrative treatments available to more pets and their families. We do not have to choose between conventional and holistic treatments—they are both needed! The key is to tailor the approach to each individual pet.
In Thor’s case, microbiome therapy was a game-changer. It’s a therapy I wish I had known about earlier in my career. Countless pets could have been saved with access to this powerful healing modality. Gut health is everything! Here’s what you can do to help your pet’s gut health:
- Test for Microbiome: If possible, find a practitioner skilled in microbiome testing and interpretation. If you don’t have one readily available, Animal Biome offers a home test kit to get you started.
- Restore an Imbalanced Microbiome: More than 90% of the pets I’ve worked with have an imbalanced microbiome. Oral supplements are available, though pets with more significant imbalances usually need rectal infusions of beneficial microbiomes.
- Tailor Nutrition and Supplements: Ideally, variety and fresh foods are best. A combination of quality base diet with toppers and good fiber or fermented foods can also be super helpful.
- Retest Often: Microbiome changes over time and can be affected by diet, stress, and medications. Balancing it as much as possible leads to a healthier immune system and overall body health.
Here’s to happy gut healing journeys and better health for all our furry friends!
💜 With love and gratitude,
Dr. Lily
Starlight Stories
Hello!
It’s Starlight, your favorite unicorn, here to share a super simple and refreshing treat for your furry friends to help them stay cool this summer. 🌟
Starlight’s Easy Pet Popsicles Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- A handful of pet-safe fruits (like blueberries or diced strawberries)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Broth: Pour the low-sodium chicken broth into a mixing bowl.
- Add Fruits: Mix in the pet-safe fruits.
- Pour into Molds: Pour the mixture into ice cube trays or popsicle molds.
- Freeze: Place the molds in the freezer and let them freeze completely, which usually takes about 3-4 hours.
- Serve: Once frozen, pop the treats out of the molds and let your pets enjoy!
These easy-to-make popsicles are sure to keep your pets cool and happy during those hot summer days.
Stay cool and magical! 🐾🌈
With love and sparkles,
Starlight 🌟