So on my recent trip to rural parts of Japan, I saw this man who must have been in his 80s riding a bike.
He wasn’t struggling—he looked so fit and nimble. Effortless, really.
It made me pause and think about how Japan is considered a blue zone (these are regions where people are living to 100 at some of the highest rates in the world), and it just clicked when I saw the culture—tea drinking, meditation, slow living, and beautifully prepared, fresh food everywhere.
If you’ve caught the Blue Zones doc on Netflix (it’s so worth a watch), you’ll have seen how a fresh, whole-food diet—one that’s diverse and alive—was foundational. (Hello, microbiome magic! 🦠✨)
Credit: Netflix
And here’s what we now know: even one course of antibiotics can shift the gut so deeply that it’s tough to get that beautiful diversity back, even with probiotics.
And the more diverse the microbiome? The stronger the immune system. Full stop 🦠✨
As an integrative vet, I think about this all the time—and it’s one of the many reasons I’m such a big fan of fecal transplants 💩
But that’s just one piece of the puzzle when we’re thinking about setting our pets up for strong, vibrant golden years.
There are so many lifestyle choices to consider—for both our pets and ourselves.
And honestly, they start from day one.
Because every stage—infancy, toddlerhood, adolescence, adulthood—every single choice we make around food, medicine, and environment… it’s all shaping what kind of old age they’ll have.
Except in your pet’s world? One year is like squeezing 7 human years into a tiny, whirlwind window of time 🤯
I know… that’s a lot of pressure when you’re trying to make the best healthcare decisions to support their future, right? 😅
But it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.
We built something to hold your hand through every step of the way, because dog (and cat) years are no joke, and sometimes it really does feel like you’ve accidentally taken on a second full-time job just trying to do all the right things 🙃
That’s exactly why we designed the Concierge Membership—to take the load off 🛎️
We track your pet’s preventive care, guide you on exactly what needs attention, and when we meet each week, we help you zoom in on what matters right now.
And if you’re reading this with a tiny knot in your belly—wondering if some early choices might’ve taken things off course…
Please don’t worry. Truly.
✨ It’s never too late to support a healthy old age. ✨
There’s so much we can still do—gentle detoxing, calming inflammation, restoring the gut. It’s not too late. That’s what we’re here for. 💖
And yes, we’ll guide you through all of that in your vet and vet tech appointments inside the Concierge Membership.
But what I think makes this membership extra special is how much preventive testing we’ve built in.
You don’t have to cross your fingers and hope you’re focusing on the right thing—we actually check.
These tests give us such powerful insights.
They let us pivot early if needed—before anything becomes a big deal. And when we do spot something? We usually catch it super early, which makes it so much more treatable.
So if you’re craving that “help my dog live as close to forever” kind of care, you can explore the Concierge Membership here 🛎️👇🏻
Our pets might not live to 100—but we can absolutely do all the things to help them live long, well, and wonderfully. 💖
With so much love,
🦄 Dr. Lily and Dianne
P.S. If now’s not the right time to join the Concierge Membership or if it’s just not a fit, please know that’s completely okay. You’re always a treasured part of the Integrative Pet Wellness Center Family. 💖
Starlight Stories
🌟 A Starlight Welcome 🌟
Starlight the Unicorn felt a special kind of sparkle in the air — and she was right! Two bright stars have joined our herd: Royce and Gina, our new veterinary assistants! With big hearts and healing hands, they’re already bringing magic to our clinic. Starlight says, welcome to the unicorn squad! 🦄💖🐾