What do these doctors have in common?
Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian doctor from the 1800s, was out here telling other doctors, “Hey, maybe wash your hands before touching patients?” (Because, you know… infections and death 😬).
Joseph Lister, who was like, “Uh, what if we sterilized our surgical tools before using them again?” (Instead of just grabbing the same dirty instruments from the last patient? 😳).
And Dr. William Morton and Dr. James Simpson, who had the audacity to say, “Maybe we should use anesthesia so patients don’t have to feel every single thing while we operate?” (Because OMG 🫣).
The answer?
People thought they were completely off their rockers. And now? Those medical practices are just standard, no brainer, obvious science 💁♀️
And here’s the thing… I know the same thing is going to happen for microbiome therapy, ozone therapy, and all the holistic modalities I use even though right now, they’re thought of as “alternative” and “holistic”.
One day, these therapies will be recognized as cutting-edge science 💅
Buuuut apparently not yet, because listen to this…
The other day, I saw a post in a vet group where a veterinary neurologist said a client asked about microbiome health and seizures.
Her response was something along the lines of “There’s no evidence tying microbiome health to seizures, you can’t measure it by looking at the microbiome, and microbiome research is so new, so there’s basically no basis.”
And I just sat there like… Really?
Because when I see stuff like that in our profession, I don’t think the issue is a lack of answers or solutions. It’s a lack of open-mindedness, and maybe – curiosity? (If there is no harm or there is minimal downside, why not try?)
I’ve seen firsthand how microbiome therapy can absolutely support seizure pets. And if you actually go looking for the research, the gut-brain connection is huge. But you have to be open-minded enough to go looking for it.
And you know what? This is exactly what happened when I first learned acupuncture 15 years ago.
Back then, whenever I mentioned “acupuncture” I’d get a response like “isn’t that a little woo woo?”.
It wasn’t considered scientific, and if you were a doctor using acupuncture, people acted like you weren’t even practicing real medicine (never mind that acupuncture has been a core part of traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years).
Fast forward to 2025, and acupuncture is now recognized by all major medical institutions as a legitimate therapy for both humans and animals.
Many insurance companies even cover it now because the research is solid.
We see this pattern over and over again. If something isn’t mainstream yet, people dismiss it as crazy, unproven, or “not scientific” simply because the science hasn’t caught up yet.
Just like it was for Ignaz, Joseph, Dr. William Morton, and Dr. James Simpson when they suggested handwashing, sterilizing tools, and using anesthesia.
So here’s to the pet parents who are willing to try something a little new, a little outside the box, and even something considered a little mad (for now).
That, along with your deep devotion to your fur babies, is what makes you a Unicorn 🦄💖
Your Unicorn Vet,
🦄 Dr. Lily
Starlight Stories
I used to think my magic only mattered when I was helping others. I gave and gave, until one day, I caught my reflection in the pond. My sparkles had dimmed. My wings drooped. I barely recognized myself.
“You take care of everyone else, Starlight… when was the last time you took care of you?”
The thought stopped me. I had been waiting for someone else to remind me I was enough. But the truth? I didn’t need permission to rest, to celebrate myself, to shine just for me.
So I made a promise, to speak to myself with kindness, to rest without guilt, to love who I am, not just what I do. And as I did, my colors returned, my sparkle grew brighter.
If you’ve been running on empty, this is your sign. Pause. Look at your reflection. And remind yourself: You are enough. Just as you are.
With love,
✨ Starlight