This past weekend at the retreat, Dr. Joe Dispenza confirmed something I had felt in my heart since I was seven years old 💫
Back then, we took our family dog to the vet, and I remember noticing how afraid she was.
I turned to my parents and told them I wanted to create a veterinary clinic that felt like home, not like a hospital.
Thirty some years later, that little dream manifested into reality ✨
At the Integrative Pet Wellness Center, we’ve intentionally designed our space to be calm and comforting 💜
Exams happen on soft pillows on the floor, not on cold metal tables.
Your pets are not separated from you. You get to stay with them.
Our rooms carry the subtle scent of incense rather than the sharpness of surgical spirits.
Each patient gets to be in their own space, so there’s no stressful waiting room full of other animals.
We don’t even have a phone ringing in the background.
(Because we don’t have a phone).
The setup didn’t look like this at the previous hospitals I worked at.
But now at my own practice it does and I honestly can’t imagine it being any other way.
Everything we do is centered around helping your pets nervous systems feel safe 🐶🐈💖
We even have a team meditation and gratitude circle every morning to make sure we’re all bringing the best energy forward into our day with our clients.
And that brings me back to what Dr. Joe Dispenza shared.
He spoke about what happens in the body when we perceive a threat in our environment—how the fight-or-flight response gets activated, and the body mobilizes energy to deal with the perceived danger.
And it doesn’t send a small amount of energy either. It uses a lot.
That might be fine in short bursts, but when it happens over and over, it pushes the body out of balance. That chronic imbalance, he explained, is stress and over time, it weakens the organism.
It made me think of your pets 🐶🐈
When pets are stressed by their experience at a veterinary clinic, their cortisol levels rise, their immune systems take a hit, and we know this can affect their ability to heal.
If a pet walks into a clinic that feels cold and unfamiliar, if they’re separated from their person, or restrained by a stranger, or find themselves under the glare of bright lights and loud noises, it’s only natural for their body to respond with fear.
That fear triggers a cortisol response that weakens the immune system and makes healing harder.
It’s important to say that none of this is anyone’s fault. Most clinics are designed this way for efficiency, and the industry simply just not see another option yet.
But that’s the cool thing too. When what exists isn’t working we get to invent something new ✨
I dreamed up a clinic design that I would want for my own pet.
Each pet had their own individual free-standing room, quiet and tranquil. They could go from arriving outside to their own little space.
And I couldn’t help but think how helpful that would be, especially in emergency settings where fear is already high.
And of course, some pets arrive stressed no matter what we do. Past experiences or just not being a good traveler in the car can make going to the vet an overwhelming experience.
Though I have found that by designing the Wellness Center the way I have a lot of our pets have healed past traumatic experiences.
Many of our new clients say – “when my pet walks into any other pet hospital, they immediately start shaking, but they don’t do that here, they are so relaxed!”
And if your pet’s not a great traveler, we do have a few little tips that might help ✨👇
With cats, it’s super helpful to leave the carrier out a few days before your appointment. Let them sniff around, pop a few treats inside, and even let them nap in there if they want to.
Just creating some positive associations can make a big difference 🐾
On the day, once your cat’s in the carrier, it can really help to cover it with a towel, it gives them a bit of a cozy den vibe. And you want to keep them covered until they arrive inside.
You can also use Feliway spray, which mimics calming cat hormones and can be really reassuring for stressed kitties 💜
And for dogs—you’re always welcome to come grab a bit of Gabapentin (a mild sedative) from us beforehand. (One of the few time where we reach for a gentle phamaceutical to help ease their stress, making a bigger impact on their healing overall)
Or if you prefer to go the natural route, CBD is a great option. We stock one from a lovely brand called Rooted Owl, which our very own integrative CBD specialist Dr. Trina Hazzah helped formulate.
Lots of treats and their favorite toy riding along can help too, just to keep things familiar and comforting.
Also, our lovely practice manager Dianne has formulated a gentle lavender calming spray that’s safe for both cats and dogs. You can pick some up here 👉 www.mywildthyme.com
And after the appointment, a few drops of Bach Flower Rescue Remedy can be a lovely support to help your fur baby unwind any stress they experienced.
I hope that’s helpful if your little one isn’t a fan of car rides. We totally get it, and we’re here for you 🐶🐱💕
See you soon.
With love from Taiwan,
🦄Dr. Lily
Starlight Stories
Hello! 🌟 It’s me, Starlight the Unicorn, trotting in with a sparkle ✨
I’ve been feeling all lit up by Lily and Dianne’s beautiful experience at Joe Dispenza’s retreat, and it got me thinking… maybe you and your fur baby could use a little nervous system reset too 💞
So I wanted to share the Pet and Me meditation again, just in case you’d like a moment to slow down, breathe, and drop into that sweet heart-connection with your fur baby.
You can listen here 👇
Pet & Me Meditation
Sending you and your furry friend a little sprinkle of calm and connection today!