What if the way you've been feeding your dog, talking about money at the vet, or processing grief has been making everything harder than it needs to be?

In this vulnerable year-end reflection, I'm switching seats as my practice manager Dianne interviews me about the three conversations that didn't just change my veterinary practice: they changed me.

From discovering the hidden truth about pet food labels with advocate Susan Thixton, to processing loss and burnout with Rodney Habib, to finally cracking the code on compassionate money conversations with experts Suzanne Cannon and Ron Sosa, these episodes shook me awake.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting pet nutrition advice, guilty about what you can afford at the vet, or alone in your grief over losing an animal, this episode will help you feel seen, supported, and ready to move forward with more clarity and less shame 💛

KEY INSIGHTS:

✨ The shocking difference between "feed grade" and "human grade" pet food ingredients, and why this one distinction changes everything about how you read labels.

✨ Why I stopped recommending one food for life and now tell every client to rotate proteins and brands (your dog's gut microbiome will thank you).

✨ The three-question framework for evaluating any pet food: What does it mean ethically? Nutritionally? Environmentally?

✨ The one question that transforms stressful money conversations at the vet: "What's your budget for today?" (And why most vets are too afraid to ask it.)

✨ How flexible payment options help pet parents focus on the value of care instead of just the price, and why this psychological shift changes outcomes.

✨ And the truth I keep coming back to: healing is always a partnership. No vet, pet parent, or animal heals alone. It takes community, compassion, and curiosity.

🎧 Episode 32: Susan Thixton on Pet Food Transparency & Label Reading

🎧 Rodney Habib: Grief, Purpose & the Soul of Veterinary Medicine

🎧 Suzanne Cannon & Ron Sosa: How to Talk About Money Without Shame

SUSAN THIXTON'S PET FOOD LIST: 2026 List

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED NEXT:

Starting 2026 with an Ask Dr. Lily episode. Your chance to get answers about:

• Gut health & chronic digestive issues

• Holistic vs. conventional care

• Nutrition confusion & label reading

• Emotional wellness for pets & their people

• Anything else you've been wondering!

  
  

Send your questions:

📩 Instagram DM: @integrativepet

📧 Email: [email protected]

This is more than a podcast. It's a movement of informed, empowered, heart-centered pet parents who refuse to settle for surface-level answers. Thank you for being here 🐾✨

FOLLOW:

Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com

Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: @integrativepet

Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet 

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