Sheila Dodson, DVM, CVA, has been a veterinarian over twenty years, and she owns an integrative veterinary practice offering multiple modalities for wholistic pet care. In this episode, Dr. Dodson talks with Jody Griffiths, CVT, about the unique aspects of the veterinary profession that make personnel decisions, work-life balance, and self-care particularly important. >> Audio bookmark: Veterinarians are 3.5 times as likely to die by suicide compared to people in the general population, according to a 2018 study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (00:46) Self-care in the Veterinary Field Veterinarians are not taught during their technical training the concept of “compassion fatigue,” which may make it necessary for veterinarians to be particularly intentional about take care of their own physical and emotional needs so that they can best serve their patients (01:40). Dr. Dodson relates this aspect of being a veterinarian to “letting your battery run down to zero” (02:19). >> Audio bookmark: “I think that the characteristics that make us good veterinarians also set us up for stressors” (01:47) Veterinarians and pet owners both are setting standards for veterinarians that may be too high or inconsiderate of the veterinarian’s mental health (03:05).  Dr. Dodson discusses the importance of a supportive staff that a veterinarian can trust, so it is possible to take time off for self-care without worrying about daily function of the clinic (04:07). Dr. Dodson says it is important to “unplug,” to “recharge the battery,” rest, and ask for help when needed (05:10). Setting communication boundaries is crucial, a key to being a successful veterinarian and an effective support staff (06:52). Building An Effective, Supportive Veterinary Team First, Dr. Dodson says, take the time to find the right person for your team (10:45). Consider emotional intelligence, philosophy matching, and trust (11:34). Include staff members in key decision making and promote open communication about issues and challenges in the workplace (13:19). It’s tough, but let employees go when it’s just not a good fit for the organization (14:30). As a leader, delegation is a significant responsibility (15:40). >> Audio bookmark: “Remember what our job is; our job is to make recommendations to give our pet parents options to give them information to make a decision. It is not our job to make the decision for them, and we have to respect that everybody has different things that can affect a decision” (18:05) Dr. Dodson’s Advice to New Veterinarians (19:18) Be flexible Listen intently Give all you can, not all you have Preserve your core being Never stop learning   The music track featured in the WholisticMatters Podcast Series is a track called “New Day” by Lee Rosevere. Please note: During the recording of this podcast, our hosts transitioned from live studio recording to remote recording from two different locations.

Welcome to the third season of the WholisticMatters Podcast Series, “The Wholistic Approach to Pet Care.” This series guides the listener through the world of nutritional support for pets, the importance of the endocannabinoid system for animals, and the unique components of the veterinary profession. The Wholistic Approach to Pet Care If you are a veterinarian, this podcast will provide insights on how to better support your pet patients and pet parents with the wholistic approach to pet care. Plus, we’ll talk about the unique ups and downs of the veterinary profession that you likely experience every day in your practice. And if you’re not a veterinarian, this podcast still offers a unique perspective on the wholistic approach to caring for that special furry friend in your life! That friend may not have opposable thumbs, but they DO have unique dietary needs that you can fulfill for them. You are your pet’s biggest advocate, and we want to help you both live the fullest lives possible with the right lifestyle choices. Meet the Hosts: Kara Credle is a clinical nutrition communication specialist passionate about bringing accessible health and wellness information to the masses – healthcare professionals and health enthusiasts alike! Kara has a five-year old Chow-Chow mix named Bingley who loves cuddles and shedding. Jody Griffiths, CVT, brings 11 years of mixed animal practice experience to this podcast season as well as 12 years of educating veterinarians and technicians on the benefits of whole food nutrition for animals. Jody has two crazy Labs, a chocolate named Kona and a black named Echo that keep her on her toes and love belly rubs and their tennis balls. Meet the Special Guests: Dr. Sue Howell first started integrating whole food therapies with conventional medicine over 15 years ago. Dr. Howell is passionate about utilizing multiple modalities in a clinical setting, such as acupuncture and food therapy, as well as educating veterinarians about the power of whole foods for their pet patients. Dr. Ann-Margret Morgan has been in the veterinary profession since 1992. Dr. Morgan specializes in canine rehabilitation, complementary therapies, and holistic medicine for animals, including modalities such as veterinary acupuncture, veterinary spinal manipulation, herbal medicine, and nutrition. Dr. Slavko Komarnytsky is an integrative biologist from the NC State Plants for Human Health Institute in Kannapolis, North Carolina. His expertise comes from how dietary bioactive components prevent chronic metabolic diseases and inflammation, with a specific emphasis on the pathological mechanisms of insulin resistance and muscle loss. Dr. Komarnytsky also specializes in the endocannabinoid system and cannabinoid receptors, which is what we discuss with him in episode two. Dr. Sheila Dodson has been a veterinarian since 1999. Dr. Dodson owns her own practice in Kansas City, Kansas, the Mariposa Veterinary Wellness Center. Her vision for animals and pet parents is to provide the BEST in integrated medicine, with a special emphasis on preventative wellness care. Dr. Patrick Mahaney has been a veterinarian since 1999. Dr. Mahaney is an advocate for whole food nutrition and the wholistic approach to veterinary care, which he provides in his unique house call – based California practice. Check Out Other Veterinary Content on WholisticMatters.com: Hemp Usage by Pet Owners Vitamin D and Dogs Part 1: Vitamin D Deficiency in Dogs Vitamin D and Dogs Part 2: Recommendations for Vitamin D Supplementation in Dogs

The Nervous System The nervous system is important for dogs and cats because, like in humans, it “governs the function for the entire body” (03:40). The nervous system needs energy production via the mitochondria in the form of ATP to adequately perform its important roles in communication throughout the body. There is a high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and other lipids in cell membranes, which are important for nervous system health (04:59). Cell membranes help the nervous system fulfill its key function of communicating through electrical signals. Because the nervous system has high metabolic activity, its nutritional requirements are also high, including amino acids, B vitamins, and other vitamins and minerals (06:48). Thus, a nutrient-dense diet is important for nervous system health, as well as the gut microbiome, which influences nervous system function (08:25). >>> More on Digestive Health What supplemental nutrition supports healthy mitochondrial function? (13:50) B vitamins PUFAs Antioxidants Vitamin E Vitamin C Resveratrol Green tea extract Bilberry The Cell Danger Response The cell danger response (CDR) occurs in the mitochondria as a healthy metabolic response to any cellular threat with the potential to overwhelm cells in the body (09:34). The CDR can activate the immune system for protection as needed. In cases of chronic CDR – described by Dr. Morgan as the CDR getting “stuck” – internal toxicity or other dysregulation can occur. Nutritional support is key for a functional CDR (12:16). Pet Rehabilitation Rehabilitation is about restoring health to a previous level of function, utilizing multiple modalities as needed to address lack of function or other problems such as reduced range of motion, soft tissue restriction, pain, and inflammation (16:10). Dr. Morgan specializes in various modalities to address these problems in the clinic. She also provides a variety of exercise routines that a pet owner can help their pet complete at home during recovery (18:09). What Are the 4 Main Components of Veterinary CSI? (26:15) Diet Digestion Detoxification Drainage Diet is an important first step toward wholistic pet health because it is important for a wide variety of nutrients to be absorbed into the body to support daily functions (27:27). Dr. Howell’s Three Qualitative Investigative Methods (32:20) Inquiry Observe Palpation Advice for A New Veterinarian (35:40) Educate and communicate with your clients Keep a healthy work-life balance Practice self-care Making Your Practice Unique (39:35) Make your practice a calming place for humans and animals Consider the pet-owner relationship Be practical and compassionate Focus on nutrition Other Relevant Links >>> Dogs as a model for early Alzheimer’s disease Special guests: Ann-Margret Morgan, DVM, CCRT, CVA, VSMT, CVPP Dr. Morgan is a 1992 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College in Ontario, Canada. She practiced for seven years in the Niagara Peninsula, gaining interest and knowledge in both complementary therapies and holistic medicine. She earned her certification in veterinary spinal manipulation from the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association in 1998 and then went on to receive her certification in veterinary acupuncture from the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 1999. After crossing the Canadian border, Dr. Morgan practiced both traditional and holistic medicine for over six years at Silver Spring Animal Wellness Center in Milwaukee, gaining experience with herbs and nutrition to accompany her growing knowledge in complementary therapies. In 2005, she completed training in canine rehabilitation at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute® in Loxahatchee, Florida, and then joined the team at Pewaukee Veterinary Service in 2006 as director of the Wisconsin clinic’s rehabilitation center. She continues to broaden her special interests, which now include pain management and nutritional therapies. Dr. Morgan is a certified canine rehabilitation therapist (CCRT) and is a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association and the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management. Sue Howell, DVM, CVFT, CVA Dr. Sue Howell began integrating whole food therapies with conventional medicine over 15 years ago, a transition that revitalized her passion for veterinary medicine. This experience led her to a position with Standard Process where she had the opportunity to educate other veterinarians about the power of whole foods. Her interest in wholistic medicine has expanded to include certification in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine acupuncture and food therapy from the Chi Institute, and professional level and advanced clinical training in Nutrition Response Testing from Ulan Nutritional Systems. In December of 1997 she opened Thrive Wholistic Veterinary Care, a practice dedicated to changing lives, one pet at a time, through nutrition, whole food therapy and acupuncture. Please note: During the recording of this podcast, our hosts transitioned from live studio recording to remote recording from two different locations.