My Dog Is Better Than Your Dog

What happens when “Dr. Google” meets ChatGPT in the vet’s office? In this episode, I sit down with veterinary leader and neuro-inclusive coach Ron Sosa to unpack how artificial intelligence is already reshaping the way pet parents seek answers about their pets’ health. Instead of fighting against it, what if vets helped pet parents to ask their Chat GPT better questions? Ron and I dive into what this shift means for pet parents: from how to prompt ChatGPT so you get helpful (not panic-inducing) answers, to why keeping simple notes on your AI tool at home can make all the difference, to how sharing what’s been “ruled out” can completely change the way you and your vet move forward together. This is a conversation about embracing technology without losing the human touch. If you’ve ever wondered how AI could help you become a more empowered, confident advocate for your pet’s health, this episode is for you.KEY INSIGHTS:✨ Why ChatGPT is quickly becoming the new “Dr. Google” for pet parents.✨ How asking clear, detailed prompts (age, breed, sex, symptoms, timing) leads to more accurate answers.✨ Why vague questions like “why is my dog vomiting?” often bring up scary, unhelpful results.✨ How AI can save time in the exam room by preparing pet parents with background info.✨ Why your vet may not know every answer in the moment and why that’s okay.✨ How AI can lighten the education load so vets have more time for hands-on healing.✨ How journaling with AI could one day help diagnose conditions like Addison’s more accurately.✨ How misusing AI for DIY treatments or dosing can be risky, and why your vet must stay involved.✨ Why future care may depend less on having every answer and more on asking better questions.✨ And how embracing AI as part of the care team helps both pets and people.RESOURCES:🐾 Learn more about the ⁠Uncharted Veterinary Conference⁠🐾 Explore ⁠Synap Neuro-Inclusive Leadership⁠FOLLOW:Ron Sosa on Instagram: ⁠@ron.sosa84⁠Ron Sosa on Linked In: Ronald Sosa, CVPM, CCFP, PgD-CLDIntegrative Pet Wellness Center: ⁠https://integrativepet.com/⁠Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: ⁠@integrativepet⁠Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: ⁠@dr.lilychen⁠⁠@the.unicorn.vet⁠⁠Sign up for our newsletter to get more pet health tips and behind-the-scenes insights.

In this week’s episode, I have the absolute joy of chatting with Dr. Madeleine Browne, a fellow integrative veterinarian and sports medicine expert who’s just as passionate as I am about helping our pets thrive at every stage of life. We dive into one of my favorite topics: how to protect your dog’s joints, starting long before you ever see signs of stiffness or pain. Because here’s the truth… the way your pup plays, moves, and exercises from those wiggly puppy days can shape their mobility for years to come. Dr. Browne shares simple, practical steps you can start right away, from gentle play modifications to fun at-home strengthening exercises, all designed to help your dog avoid heartbreaking conditions like arthritis, cruciate ligament tears, and IVDD (herniated discs). If you’ve ever dreamed of your fur baby trotting happily by your side well into their golden years, this episode is filled with the tools to make that dream a reality. Let’s keep those tails wagging for life 🐶 KEY INSIGHTS:✨ Why mobility matters at every age — and how prevention in puppyhood sets the stage for lifelong joint health.✨ How everyday activities like stairs, zoomies, and jumping off the couch can impact growing joints, and how to make them safer.✨ Why keeping your dog lean is one of the most powerful ways to prevent arthritis and other mobility problems.✨ How “prehab” (rehabilitation exercises started before injury) can strengthen your dog’s core, improve coordination, and lower injury risk.✨ Breed-specific risks you should know — and what to ask your vet about preventing common issues like IVDD or cruciate ligament tears.✨ Simple at-home strengthening exercises, including the “doggy crunch,” to build core stability and protect the spine.✨ How to safely prepare puppies for high-impact activities like hiking, jogging, or agility — and why starting too soon can backfire.✨ And home environment changes (like raised food bowls and non-slip flooring) that can make a big difference for joint protection.RESOURCES:Check out Dr. Madeleine’s educational blog posts on her website for more joint health and mobility tips: Balanced Paws VetFOLLOW:Dr. Madeleine Browne: @balancedpawsvetIntegrative Pet Wellness Center: integrativepet.comIntegrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepetDr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vetSign up to our newsletter to get more holistic pet care tips

What if I told you your puppy or kitten’s first year is the single most important window to shape their lifelong health—and that some of the most common vet protocols (though totally well-intentioned!) might actually be setting them up for chronic issues later on? This is your loving wake-up call. In this episode, I’m joined by our amazing vet tech (and proud new puppy mom!) Dianne. We’re unpacking how these “normal” choices like routine deworming, kibble, and standard vaccine schedules might be doing more harm than good, and we share what you can do instead to support a healthy gut and strong immune system. If you’ve got a young puppy or kitten or you’re thinking of bringing one home, this conversation could save you thousands in future vet bills and, more importantly, so much stress and heartache. And make sure to stick around until the end—we’re sharing something super exciting that we created just for you! KEY INSIGHTS:Why the period between 8 to 16 weeks is the most critical stage of puppy development and how it shapes their lifelong health, socialization, and behavior.How colostrum, the very first milk, sets up a puppy’s immune system for success, and why missing it in the first 24 hours can leave a crucial gap in their early immune protection. How weaning from mother’s milk to kibble shocks a puppy’s digestive system and how this early disruption can increase the risk of chronic inflammatory diseases in dogs later in life.Why it’s essential to slowly transition your puppy to fresh food instead of abruptly switching diets. Why protecting your puppy’s microbiome is vital and how using natural alternatives to antibiotics, like ozone therapy, can support immune development without harming gut health.How asking your vet for a PCR fecal test for puppies (rather than a standard fecal test) can catch more parasites and help avoid unnecessary chemical deworming.How some parasites can be safely treated without harsh medications and why exploring natural parasite treatment options for puppies and kittens can help avoid side effects and drug resistance.Why vaccine titer testing for puppies is a powerful tool—and how it helps prevent the dangers of over-vaccination while still ensuring proper disease protection. How investing in a titer test during the first year can save you thousands of dollars (and avoid major health issues) over your dog’s lifetime.What the latest research says about when to spay or neuter a dog—and how delaying sterilization or keeping certain breeds intact can protect against certain types of cancer.And we share an exciting announcement for puppy and kitten pet parents around the world!RESOURCES:Click here to learn more about the Baby Pearls Membership 💖🛎️👇🏻BABY PEARLS MEMBERSHIP And if your pet isn’t a baby anymore, but you’d love support staying on top of their preventative health care, check out the Silver, Gold, and Diamond Tiers in the Concierge Membership 🛎️FOLLOW:Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: ⁠@integrativepet⁠Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: ⁠@dr.lilychen⁠ @the.unicorn.vet Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com/Dianne on Instagram:@mywildthyme @diannemakesart Dianne’s puppy Mabel on Instagram: @withlovemabelroux

This week, I'm joined once again by the brilliant Dr. Katie Kangas—veterinarian, educator, and true oral health guru. With decades of experience working alongside board-certified veterinary dentists, she brings such a deep well of insight. In this episode, we're diving into what every pet parent needs to know about preventing tooth pain, gum disease, and yes—even early death–from untreated dental issues. Dr. Katie breaks down why anesthesia-free cleanings aren't very effective, how your small dog is at greater risk than your big dog, and how to understand the difference between general practice and specialty dentistry. And here's the best part: she shares powerful (and easy!) daily hacks you can start using right now to protect your pet's dental health. This episode could literally save your dog's life. Let's get into it 🦷KEY INSIGHTS:How dental disease in dogs is a hidden source of chronic inflammation linked to heart disease, kidney disease, arthritis, and even a shortened lifespan. How pets can’t truly be in whole-body wellness while living with poor oral health—and why it’s a foundational part of your dog’s long-term health plan.How gingivitis is the first warning sign—if your pet’s gums bleed or look red, it’s important to catch it early and help them heal.How brushing your pet’s teeth is the gold standard, but even just gently rubbing the gums daily with coconut oil or natural dental products can make a real difference.How important it is to look inside your pet’s mouth regularly—so you can spot early signs of inflammation, dental pain, broken teeth, infections, or a mass starting to grow. How the supplement TEEF helps rebalance your pet’s oral microbiome by feeding the good bacteria and reducing the bad—improving breath and reducing harmful plaque.How kibble does not clean teeth—and can actually increase your pet’s risk of dental disease.How to choose safe dog chews that help support dental health without risking fractured teeth—and which popular chews to avoid.How broken teeth in dogs are a serious medical issue that can cause pain, infection, and systemic inflammation—and need immediate attention from your vet.How integrative whole-body care at home can still make a powerful impact—especially when anesthesia isn’t an option due to heart conditions, kidney disease, or budget constraints.And Dr. Katie tells us about her own natural dental product for dogs. RESOURCES:🦷 Dr. Katie’s Brand 👉 Share Your Bowl 🦷 Boost your pets oral microbiome with this supplement 👉 TEEFFOLLOW:Integrative Pet Wellness Center: ⁠https://integrativepet.com/⁠Dr. Katie Kangas: ⁠@drkatiekangas⁠Dr. Katie Kangas: ⁠https://intvetcare.com/#top⁠Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: ⁠@integrativepet⁠Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: ⁠@dr.lilychen⁠ and ⁠@the.unicorn.vet⁠⁠Sign up to our newsletter to get more pet health care tips ⁠

In this episode, I catch up with Shannon, my former technician at Integrative Pet, who is now in vet school. We chatted about her experience in vet school, how she used her mindset as a gymnast to help her cultivate the resilience she needed in a demanding vet program, working as a team in the veterinary space and how we need more female vets in leadership positions. And we dive deep into mental health for both vets and pet parents. Whether you're a student vet, a practicing vet, or a pet parent this episode is for you. KEY INSIGHTS: How Shannon used her mindset as an athlete to succeed at vet school. Shannon highlights the importance of mental health resources and fostering a culture of compassion and vulnerability in the profession. How veterinary medicine isn't just about treating animals. It's about understanding and connecting with pet parents. How vets cope with euthanasia 💔 How pet parents are really the experts in their pets, and how their vet really needs to be in partnership with them. How pet parents can advocate for their pet when they visit the vet. And how to choose a vet that matches your energy and you can communicate openly with. RESOURCES: Mental Health Resource For Vets: Not One More Vet. FOLLOW: Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen Sign up to our newsletter

In this episode, I chat with Noelle, my marketing director, about the exciting new membership we're launching focused on preventative health care for pets. We talk about what it really takes to help your pet live the longest and healthiest life possible with you. And we share how you can become one of the founding members of the Concierge Membership (I’m only taking on 15 pet parents in this first cohort–so if you want a spot get on the waitlist quickly to be the first to hear when doors open on Monday the 6th of January). KEY INSIGHTS: Why prevention and early detection are game-changers in pet health. How preventive medicine saved a Frenchie, Bacon’s, life. The importance of finding a vet you can build a long-term partnership with. How to practice revolutionary integrative medicine–even if you live in a country where there are no holistic vets. And how to snag one of the coveted spots in our luxury pet wellness membership. RESOURCES: The Concierge Membership is now open: Join the Concierge Membership Integrative Pet Wellness Center: ⁠www.integrativepet.com⁠ Integrative Pet Wellness Center Instagram: @⁠integrativepet ⁠ Dr Lily Chen Instagram: @⁠dr.lilychen⁠

In this episode, I sit down with Debra, a special client who has played a big role in shaping the vet I am today. For 10 years, I cared for her beloved dogs, Sammy, Lukey, Sophie, and Allie, every single week. When I had a house call practice, I would go over to Debra every Saturday morning. And even now, I still have the privilege of caring for her new puppy. In this episode, we explore the deep bond between pet parents and their pets and the family vet who knows everything about them. If you've ever craved that old-school family doctor-style care—someone who takes the time to get to know you—this story is for you. And yes, we're always here if you want to make that dream a reality. KEY INSIGHTS: The miracle of acupuncture and how it transformed her pets' health. How connected we are with our pets and how they'll sometimes get the exact same illness we have. How fecal transplants can bring out the best in our pet's personality. How sometimes choosing quality of life in our pet’s older years is the kindest route. How the more we know, the better we get as pet parents. Why it's important to allow our pets to be themselves. And Debra tells us the touching story of how her dogs supported her through her health crisis. RESOURCES: We’ve gathered all of the episodes related to cancer on the My Dog is Better than Your Dog podcast. Just mail us at marketing@integrativepet.com and ask for the cancer pets podcast playlist, and we’ll send it to you to make gathering resources for your pet easier 🐶💜 FOLLOW: Integrative Pet Wellness Center: www.integrativepet.com Dr Lily Chen: @dr.lilychen Integrative Pet IG : @integrativepet