As pet parents increasingly seek advice on nutrition and natural remedies like CBD and mushrooms from their vets, many are discovering a gap in their conventional veterinarian’s knowledge and resources, prompting them to search elsewhere for the help they need. In this episode of Your Natural Dog, Angela Ardolino is joined by Dr. Joyce Liy, an integrative veterinarian specializing in holistic therapies and nutrition. Continuing our "What Vets Aren't Taught" series, Dr. Liy shares insights from her veterinary school experience, shedding light on the lack of emphasis on nutrition and holistic care in traditional veterinary education. Together, Angela and Dr. Liy delve into the importance of viewing food as medicine for pets, and challenging the standardized overuse, or misuse, of pharmaceutical drugs in veterinary treatment. They explore holistic veterinary practices, including Traditional Chinese Medicine, CBD, and the benefits of medicinal mushrooms, advocating for a personalized approach to pet health and wellness.

Episode Recap: 

• Dr. Liy’s Vet School experience
• How much do vets learn about nutrition?
• Not taught to see food as medicine
• Vet school emphasis on standardized conventional treatment
• The value of mentorship after vet school
• Seeking further certifications and education after vet school
• Veterinary students seeking holistic education on their own
• A shift to holistic veterinary care
• Challenges faced by new vets out of school
• Using hemp and mushrooms in her practice
• Integrative veterinary care, using diff holistic tools
• Mushrooms & CBD for cancer, chronic illness, pain and inflammation
• Dangers of long term use of pharmaceuticals like Apoquel & Cytopoint
• Financial incentives of pharmaceutical drugs
• Conventional vets taught not to trust natural medicine
• Nutrition needs of senior dogs

Episode Resources:

• Dr. Joyce Liy’s Holiystic Vet
• Follow Dr. Liy on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• CBD vs Apoquel
• What Vets Aren’t Taught Part 1
• What Vets Aren’t Taught Part 2
• Have a question about your pet that you want answered on the podcast? Email us at [email protected] 
• Angela Ardolino
• CBD Dog Health

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