My Dog Is Better Than Your Dog

• How to Heal After Pet Loss: Rituals, Grief & Love That Endures w/ Animal Chaplain Sophie Gamand

  This week we’re having a conversation that might stretch how you think about pet loss, in the most compassionate way. I’m joined by artist, photographer, and animal chaplain Sophie Gamand, whose shelter work, including the viral project Pit Bull Flower Power, has helped thousands of people see rescue dogs with fresh eyes 🌸We talk about honoring grief as sacred, practical ways to create ritual and meaning when a beloved animal dies, and how veterinary teams and shelter volunteers can hold space without burning out. This episode offers gentle, practical support for pet parents too, whether you’re helping someone you love through a loss, or you’re grieving your own companion animal.This episode is designed to help you feel supported, seen, and a little more held while navigating the “disenfranchised grief” that is pet loss 🤍KEY INSIGHTS:✨ Why pet loss is often “disenfranchised grief,” and how naming it can help you feel less alone.✨ How crying can be self-care, and why finding safe people to cry with matters.✨ How “continued bonds” keep the relationship alive after death, and gentle ways to honor that connection.✨ Why small rituals (altars, keepsakes, candles) can ground big feelings without needing perfect words.✨ How everyday creativity—journaling, cooking, walking the old route—can give your love somewhere to go.✨ Why “holding space” beats fixing, and how to support a grieving friend without minimizing their pain.✨ How clinics can be grief-aware with simple cues (quiet signals, private exits, chaplain support, 24/7 hotlines).✨ Why anticipatory grief hits vets and volunteers so hard, and how leaders can model healthy vulnerability.✨ How meaning-making transforms sorrow into service, from support circles to Sophie’s ceramics as “grief holders.”✨ Why it’s okay to ask for what you need at euthanasia—music, crystals, keepsakes, time—so goodbye feels true to you.✨ And how community care (support groups, rituals of remembrance) helps us carry what cannot be fixed.RESOURCES:Sign up for Sophie’s newsletter on her website 🐶 👉 https://www.sophiegamand.com/newsletter-signupSupport Sophie’s work with shelter dogs 🐶 👉 https://www.patreon.com/SophieGamandPurchase your own dog talisman lovingly crafted by Sophie 🐶 👉 https://www.sophiegamand.com/shopFOLLOW:Sophie Gamand’s website: https://www.sophiegamand.com/Sophie Gamand on Instagram: @sophiegamandIntegrative Pet Wellness Center: https://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

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• Do Our Pets Get A Say? Pet Parenting With Consent, Advocating For Our Pets, And Showing Up For Dogs In Shelters w/ Sophie Gamand

  This week we’re having a conversation that might stretch how you think about life with your dog—in the best way. I’m joined by artist, photographer, and animal advocate Sophie Gamand, whose shelter work, including the viral project Pit Bull Flower Power, has helped thousands of people see rescue dogs with fresh eyes.We talk about how you can uplevel your pet parenting game even more by truly listening to and honoring what your pet is telling you. Together, we explore how collaborative care and gentle desensitization can transform medical handling, the complicated reality of free-living dogs versus those labeled as “strays,” and what Sophie has witnessed inside shelters across the U.S., from breed stereotypes to the powerful socioeconomic forces that push good pets into cages.If you’ve ever wondered how to love your dog in a way that celebrates who they are, not just who we hope they’ll be, this episode is for you 💜KEY INSIGHTS:✨ Why “I love my dog” isn’t always enough, and what a deeper, more respectful bond really looks like.✨ How to bring consent and choice into everyday moments with your dog.✨ Why growling is communication, not disobedience, and why you don’t want to train your dog out of it.✨How collaborative care and gentle handling can change a dog’s medical experience.✨ Why free-living dogs can teach us about agency, adaptation, and community.✨ The hidden truths of shelter life and what Sophie discovered after photographing hundreds of dogs across the U.S.✨ How Sophie’s viral Pit Bull Flower Power project changed the way millions of people see pit bulls forever.✨ Why large, working breeds struggle in most cities and what that says about our lifestyles.✨ The emotional cost of volunteering in shelters and what it truly means to give an animal their dignity back.✨ Why adoption is just one way to help and how each of us have a unique skill that can help a shelter.✨ And we explore what it truly means to honor who our pets are, not just who we want them to be.RESOURCES:Sign up for Sophie’s newsletter on her website (just scroll to the bottom of the page) 🐶 👉 https://www.sophiegamand.com/newsletter-signupSupport Sophie’s work with shelter dogs 🐶 👉 https://www.patreon.com/SophieGamandPurchase your own dog talisman lovingly crafted by Sophie 🐶 👉 https://www.sophiegamand.com/shopFOLLOW:Sophie Gamand’s website: https://www.sophiegamand.com/Sophie Gamand on Instagram: @sophiegamand Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.comIntegrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepetDr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet Sign up to our newsletter to get more holistic pet care tips

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• Navigating Pet Loss, Grief & Healing Together with Jenn Gavin

  In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Jenn Galvin to talk about something we don’t speak about enough in vet med or pet parenting: grief 💛We share what it looks like behind the scenes for the vet team when a beloved patient passes… how we somehow hold it together between appointments… and what actually helps when the waves come crashing in later. Jenn opens up about what it means to support families through euthanasia — creating calmer spaces and gentle rituals.We also talk about anticipatory grief and the simple ways pet parents can ask for the goodbye that feels right for them.If you’re navigating loss (or holding space for someone who is), this conversation is tender, practical, and full of heart. Tune in, you're not alone in this 🕊️KEY INSIGHTS:✨ Why grief never really goes away and how it becomes a lasting reminder of love.✨ How veterinarians and pet parents carry layers of grief that resurface with every loss.✨ Why guilt often shows up after euthanasia and how to remind yourself you truly did your best.✨ How to recognize anticipatory grief when you know a pet’s time is near and ways to cope through it.✨ Why being vulnerable as a leader can strengthen your veterinary team and create deeper trust.✨ How to support grieving families with rituals, compassion, and permission to take their time.✨ Why crying isn’t weakness but sacred self-care for both vets and pet parents.✨ How creating a calm, private space for euthanasia can completely change a client’s experience.✨ Why it’s important to ask for what you need—whether it’s time, keepsakes, or specific end-of-life rituals.✨ How loss can inspire new forms of healing, like Dr. Lily’s Kidney Protection Plan in honour of her pet patient Chloe.✨ And how every goodbye, no matter how painful, deepens our capacity to love, lead, and honor the pets who’ve shaped us.Resource: Jill Cooper Coaching (end of life / transitional support for people): [email protected]:Jenn Galvin’s practice: https://aac.vet/Jenn Galvin’s practise on IG: @aacvetIntegrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.comIntegrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepetDr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet Sign up to our newsletter to get more holistic pet care tips

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• 8 Years of Diarrhea Finally Cured With Fecal Transplants: Fern the Labrador’s Gut-Healing Story w/ Jenn Galvin

  In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Jenn Galvin to talk about her spirited chocolate Lab, Fern, and their uphill battle with chronic GI issues since puppyhood. From endless vet visits to a Helicobacter diagnosis treated with rounds of triple-antibiotic therapy, nothing truly made her better. So when Jenn asked for my help, we tried something different. We started Fern on microbiome therapy (AKA fecal transplants).And after 4 weeks of fecal transplants, Fern finally had a normal poop for the first time in years. That one shift sparked a transformation not just for Fern, but for Jenn’s clinic, which now offers microbiome therapy to pets in need 💩✨If your pet struggles with chronic diarrhea, itchy skin, chronic vomiting, allergies, or any other chronic illness, this episode is filled with hope, practical insights, and a new way forward. KEY INSIGHTS:✨ How one joyful chocolate Lab named Fern went from eight years of chronic diarrhea to normal, healthy stools and what finally made the difference.✨ Why repeated antibiotics and “band-aid” treatments weren’t enough to fix her gut and what Jenn and I decided to try instead.✨ What “microbiome therapy” (aka fecal transplants) really looks like in practice and how gentle and safe the process can be.✨ The moment Fern’s stool finally normalized after week four and what that milestone revealed about the body’s ability to heal.✨ How Jenn’s clinic began offering microbiome therapy to other pets and the remarkable early outcomes they’re seeing.✨ Why addressing emotional stress is just as important as treating the gut itself especially for sensitive dogs like Fern.✨ How flower essences and environmental enrichment (like walks and swim time) can play a role in restoring your pet’s gut health.✨ Why prevention matters and how supporting the microbiome in puppies and kittens can help avoid chronic issues later.✨ What to know about donor screening and safety and why “microbiome restorative therapy” is a better name to share with clients.✨ And how this one story is inspiring more vets to explore a do-no-harm, science-backed path to true gut healing. RESOURCES:Other microbiome and gut health related episodes on the My Dog Is Better Than Your Dog Podcast ✨👇The Real Reason Your Dog’s Diarrhea Keeps Coming Back And What You Can Do About It w/ Gut Health Expert Dr. Katie WoodleyThe Secret World Of Pet Microbes w / Dr. Odette Suter Homemade Dog Feeding For Busy Pet Parents On A Budget w/ The Doggy DishThe Best Food For Your Dog w/ Dr. Hilary Woolfe Microbiome, Mushrooms, And The Ancestral Connection w/ Adored Beast Founder Julie Ann Lee FOLLOW:Jenn Galvin’s practice: https://aac.vet/Jenn Galvin’s practice on IG: @aacvetIntegrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.comIntegrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram:  @integrativepetDr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet Sign up to our newsletter to get more holistic pet care tips

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• Shop Smarter For Your Pet: The No-BS Cheat Sheet to Decoding Labels, Choosing Truly Healthy Food, Toys, Bowls & Supplements, and Finding Indie Pet Stores That Actually Care w/ Toni Shelaske

  Ever walked into a pet store, stood in front of a wall stacked with food, toys, and supplements plastered in labels like “all natural,” “holistic,” and “wellness”… and thought, “Wait—which one's actually the best?”This week on the podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Toni Shelaske—entrepreneur, holistic pet wellness advocate, former owner of Pittsburgh’s favorite natural pet shops, and host of the Toni Unleashed podcast. Together, we’re pulling back the curtain—sharing our go-to brands and getting real about what’s in your pet’s bowls, toys, and enrichment tools, including hidden toxins like lead that can sometimes sneak into products. 😳Toni just got back from SuperZoo (one of the biggest pet product conventions in the world!) and she’s bringing us the scoop on what’s new, what’s next, and why shopping small and local could change how you care for your pet forever.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed walking the aisles of a pet store, this episode is your no-nonsense cheat sheet to help you shop with clarity and bring home only the best for your furry family member 🐾KEY INSIGHTS:✨ How freeze-dried raw, and gently cooked foods are shaping the future of pet nutrition—and why convenience and psychology still drive what we reach for.✨ Why labels like “natural” and “holistic” can be marketing buzzwords, and the questions to ask for real transparency.✨ How Toni built the raw food market in Western Pennsylvania and what 25+ years of feeding raw has taught her.✨ The surprising truth about dog toys and bowls and why some companies follow child-level safety testing.✨ Specific toy brands and enrichment ideas Toni recommends—like West Paw, Fluff & Tuff, Tall Tails, Soda Pup, and creative DIY snuffle games.✨ Why bully sticks, yak chews, and coffee wood chews (Canophera sticks) can be great for puppies—and what to watch for with power chewers.✨ How new tech gadgets (like automatic feeders) and innovative products (like Atomic Bubbles) are shaking up the pet space.✨ Why independent pet stores offer more passion, product knowledge, and heart than big-box chains—and how they can help you discover hidden-gem brands.✨ The mushroom supplement boom, CBD trends, and why sourcing, testing, and intentionality matter more than ever.✨ How Toni is supporting families through The Izzy Fund nonprofit, helping pets stay with their families during medical crises.✨ Why preventive care, community, and collaboration are the future of pet wellness—and how pet parents like you are leading the way 💛RESOURCES:Go listen to those Super Zoo episodes that explore the latest products for pets on Toni’s podcast 👉 Toni UnleashedCheck out Toni’s Pittsburgh-themed dog toys 👉 Yinzer DogLearn more about The Izzy Fund, a nonprofit that help cover pet’s medical bills: 👉 TheIzzyFund.orgPet safe bubble brand 👉 Atomic Bubbles US made pet toys brand 👉 Cycle Dogs Some toxins to look out for in dog toys👇How to find non toxic dog toysFOLLOW:Toni’s pet store: @ healthy pet products. Florida Toni on Instagram on Instagram: @IknowtoniIntegrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.comIntegrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepetDr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen    @the.unicorn.vet Sign up to our newsletter to get more holistic pet care tips

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