Oh my gosh.
I was so late for the meeting.
I am never late. I don’t like being late, but today, due to an extra chaotic morning getting the kids to school, I was super late.
(Think missing school shoes, suddenly remembering show and tell…if you’re a mom to a human baby, you get it 🫠)
“Heavy traffic ahead. Taking an alternate route will save you 14 minutes. Would you like to switch routes?” my Google Maps announced.
Hell yes, I want to save 14 minutes!
I took the turn off down the side road, only to come round the corner and be met by a sea of stand-still traffic on Hawthorne Blvd. “Unexpected delay,” my Google Maps announced again.
Uuuugh. Of course, there was an unexpected delay 🤦🏻♀️
This is something practicing Integrative Medicine has taught me over and over again.
Shortcuts tend to be the longest route.
Take my pet patient, Diggie, for example…
This was Diggie when she first came to see me 👇
She’d had surgery for bladder stones. And after the surgery, she started having ear infections and itchy skin.
Before she came to see me, she was given many rounds of antibiotics, thinking this would bring her immediate relief.
However, the antibiotics only made Diggie even more itchy, and she started losing her hair.
Antibiotics kill both the good and bad bacteria, and because the root cause of Diggie’s skin issues lay in her imbalanced microbiome, it made sense the antibiotics made things worse.
By the time Diggie came to me, she was so crazy itchy, and so desperately miserable that Mom thought she didn’t even want to live anymore 🥺
The first thing I did was take off all the antibiotics and medications.
Then, we tested her skin microbiome and her gut microbiome.
I tested her for allergies, vitamins, and minerals–all the baseline tests to see where she was at.
Then we started correcting her deficiencies, and we got her on good topical shampoo 💪
We also started regular ozone therapy for her, including blood ozone therapy, and restored her microbiome.
Slowly but surely, she started to get better.
It took a few months before we started seeing any progress, but I knew that working on the foundational imbalances that were causing her skin issues would ultimately be the fastest route.
It was not a short and fast recovery, but we started making progress and when she started getting hair back, we were all cheering! We knew that we had finally induced real recovery in the body. And she was going to get her full coat of fluffy hair again 😍
Diggie’s mom was the real hero – she was so committed to getting Diggie better. She gave her the best foods, supplements, and was tireless in getting her the topical baths and treatments she needed. And it was all the love and care that helped to make such a difference!
Here she was, playing and socializing at our last party.
If you have an itchy pet the first thing you need to do is get their microbiome tested.
Click here to send us an email to book your spot. We will now offer telehealth consultation for all pets around the world.
AND! We’re now able to do microbiome tests for pets living anywhere in the United States. Yay!
Your Unicorn Vet, 🩷
Dr Lily + Diggie ⬇️
Starlight Stories
Hello, my magical friends! Starlight the Unicorn here, ready to sprinkle some October sparkle! 🍁 This month is all about cool breezes, crunchy leaves, and cozy moments with your pets. As the seasons change, it’s the perfect time to check in on our furry pals—make sure they stay warm and comfy during your autumn adventures.
Fun fact: did you know plain pumpkin is not just for pies? It’s also great for soothing your pet’s tummy. A festive treat that’s healthy too—how amazing is that?
As we dive into fall, remember that small changes in routine can make a big difference in your pet’s health and happiness. Stay warm, stay cozy, and keep shining bright this October!
With love and sparkle,
Starlight the Unicorn ✨