Bloom Dog Wellness

09/25/2026

As we move into fall and the start of cold and flu season, Chaga is one of my favorite mushrooms to bring into the rotation. Chaga is rich in beta-glucans, polysaccharides and antioxidants that help support a healthy, balanced immune response while also providing broader support for cellular health, the gut and overall resilience. I especially love thinking about immune support before we need it—helping the body stay strong and adaptable as the seasons change.

I carry both Adored Beast Chaga and MycoDog Chaga if you’re looking for a single-mushroom extract. I also love MycoDog’s mushroom + adaptogen blends, especially Vitality for whole-body support and Breathe, which is one of my favorites for respiratory and lung support.

And Breathe feels especially fitting this time of year. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, fall is associated with the Lung and Large Intestine, so this is a season when I naturally start thinking more about supporting the respiratory system, immune health, the gut and healthy elimination. It’s one of the reasons I love leaning into mushrooms and adaptogens as we transition from summer into fall.

09/24/2026

As we transition from summer into fall, I tend to see more dogs dealing with little inflammatory flare-ups—allergy symptoms, digestive upset, acid reflux, irritated stomachs, and even urinary or bladder irritation. Seasonal changes can be harder on the body than we sometimes realize, especially for dogs who already have sensitive systems.

One product I absolutely love having on hand during this time of year is Adored Beast Gut Soothe.

Gut Soothe combines soothing herbs like marshmallow root and slippery elm with ingredients that help support the mucosal lining of the GI tract. I reach for it with dogs dealing with reflux, loose stool, digestive irritation or inflammation, or an upset stomach, and I also love using it as part of a broader support plan for dogs experiencing UTIs or bladder irritation. The digestive and urinary tracts both rely on healthy, resilient mucosal barriers, so supporting those tissues can be an important piece of the puzzle.

You can mix Gut Soothe into food, but when a dog is actively having reflux or an irritated stomach, one of my favorite tricks is to mix their dose with a little water or bone broth to make a thin slurry and gently syringe it into the mouth.

I’ve used and recommended Gut Soothe for years, and it remains one of those products I think every pet parent should know about. It isn't about covering up symptoms or replacing appropriate veterinary care—it’s about giving irritated tissues some gentle support while you figure out why the inflammation is happening in the first place.

If your dog tends to struggle when the seasons change, Gut Soothe is definitely one I’d keep in the fridge.

And they make a special formula for cats, too! Feline Gut Soothe is one of my bestsellers and has helped so many cats—especially those who chronically vomit or even just have occasional bouts of vomiting and digestive upset. Cats are notorious for having vomiting brushed off as “just something cats do,” but frequent vomiting isn't something we should automatically consider normal. Feline Gut Soothe is a gentle way to help soothe and support an irritated GI tract and is another product I absolutely love having on hand.

09/21/2026

The seasons are beginning to shift, and this is one of my favorite times to take a closer look at what our dogs may need as we head into fall and winter.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, each season is associated with different organ systems. Summer is connected with the Heart and Small Intestine, while fall is associated with the Lungs and Large Intestine — making this a beautiful time to think about supporting respiratory health, lung function, digestion and elimination as we transition into cooler, drier weather.

I hope to share some of my favorite foods, herbs, and supplements that we can use to support our dogs naturally as the seasons change.

And I especially want to talk about our senior dogs. ❤️ Seasonal transitions and colder weather can sometimes be harder on older bodies, and being proactive about supporting them before winter arrives can make a difference.

If you’d like some help looking at your individual dog and figuring out what support may be appropriate heading into fall and winter, I’m always happy to help through a consultation.

Here’s to supporting their bodies through every season. 🍂🐾

09/20/2026

The data is there, so why are veterinarians and veterinary cardiologists STILL telling pet parents to feed grain-inclusive diets to prevent heart disease?!

It’s exhausting that we’re still having conversations with that parents about the misinformation they continue to receive. Do your research and empower yourself so that you have the knowledge and the confidence to speak to veterinary professionals and advocate for your dog.

Just know when you are feeding a food that has fillers whether they are grains or legumes, those fillers are lowering the volume of meat and amino acids needed to maintain stable heart health. However this conversation is much bigger than just grain-free or grain-inclusive foods.

And if your dog is predisposed to heart disease, there are so many things you can do that’s backed by science to support your animal and hopefully prolong or possibly prevent heart problems from happening.

🚨 A HUGE NEW STUDY IS CHALLENGING WHAT PET PARENTS HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT GRAIN-FREE DOG FOOD.

A 2026 Veterinary Medicine and Science study analyzed Dog Aging Project data from 47,000+ dogs and found grain-free diets were NOT associated with increased odds of developing new heart problems.

🤯 More than HALF of owners who reported feeding grain-free were WRONG when researchers checked the ingredients. Foods that sounded grain-free actually contained rice, corn, wheat, barley or oats.

Researchers also followed 7,113 dogs for two years. Dogs that switched to grain-free had FEWER newly reported heart diagnoses than dogs that never ate grain-free, while dogs consistently eating grain-free showed no significant difference.

Both grain-free AND grain-containing foods can contribute to nutritional DCM. So can poorly formulated raw and homemade diets.

Peas, lentils and potatoes aren’t inherently “bad,” and adding grains does NOT magically make food cardioprotective—there’s ZERO taurine in grains!

The bigger question is whether the finished food provides enough bioavailable protein and essential amino acids for the dog eating it.

And here’s the overlooked problem: AAFCO “all life stages” foods meet nutrient requirements for growth and reproduction, but adult dogs often need far fewer calories than growing puppies.

So owners feed less to prevent obesity. But when you cut food, you don’t just cut calories—you cut protein, amino acids, vitamins and minerals too.

A food can meet AAFCO requirements on paper, yet a lower-calorie dog eating less receives less of EVERY nutrient, not to mention some dogs genetically don’t make enough taurine for heart health.

🐕 The question isn’t “grain-free or grain-inclusive?”

It’s: Is THIS dog getting enough protein, essential amino acids and other critical nutrients for the calories they actually consume? That’s the nutritional DCM conversation we should be having.

Calories change. Nutrient needs don’t.

09/14/2026

🐶 ANOTHER NEW LIBRELA PAPER PET PARENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT:

A scientist sent me a brand-new peer-reviewed paper this morning examining a possible biological explanation for some adverse events reported after Librela.

Librela reduces arthritis pain by blocking NGF (nerve growth factor). But NGF does more than transmit pain—it also supports sensory nerves involved in bone and joint health, nervous-system function and bladder control.

🦴 THE POSSIBLE “DUAL-HIT”

Reducing pain may increase weight bearing on an already damaged joint, while blocking NGF may alter sensory pathways involved in how bone responds to stress. The authors propose this as one possible explanation for reports of rapid joint deterioration, fractures and ligament ruptures.

Research also suggests sensory nerves participate in bone repair and regeneration. Loss of sensory innervation or disruption of TrkA signaling has impaired aspects of fracture healing in experimental studies.

🧠🚽 Post-marketing reports have also included ataxia, weakness/paresis, lethargy, behavioral changes/disorientation, impaired consciousness, seizures and urinary problems. Because NGF has roles in neurological and bladder pathways, the authors suggest these effects warrant further investigation. Although this paper does not prove Librela causes these problems, it proposes biologically plausible mechanisms and emphasizes that direct evidence in Librela-treated dogs is still lacking.

Blocking NGF may affect more than pain. We need long-term research to understand those effects—and, in the meantime, informed consent matters when veterinarians prescribe this drug. Proactive pet parents avoid using it; find a qualified veterinary rehabilitation specialist with many other tools in their toolbox at American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (www.vsmr.org), American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (www.rehabvets.org), or Canine Rehabilitation Institute (www.caninerehabinstitute.com).

08/26/2026

A quick word about freeze-dried food…

I love freeze-dried food. Dogs love it, too. And yes, many bags tell you that you can feed it dry or rehydrated.

I 100% believe it should be rehydrated.

Here's why: If you don't rehydrate freeze-dried food, your dog's body will. The body has to supply fluid during digestion to soften and reconstitute that dry food—and that moisture has to come from the body's own water supply.

I truly believe that repeatedly asking the body to do this, meal after meal and year after year, can contribute to dehydration over time. I'd much rather put that moisture back into the food before I feed it.

💧 Filtered water if you want to keep it simple.
🦴 Bone broth when you want to add flavor and nutrients.
🥛 Raw goat milk for flavor they love and even more nutrition.

One of the easiest ways to do this is to prepare freeze-dried food ahead of time. Portion it out at night, add your liquid and let it rehydrate in the refrigerator overnight—or prepare it in the morning for that evening's meal. That gives the food adequate time to rehydrate.

And if your dog absolutely refuses to eat it rehydrated? Feed it the way they'll eat it—but try offering a bowl of bone broth or raw goat milk on the side so you're still getting additional moisture into that meal.

However you do it, keep finding ways to add more moisture. Small changes like this can add up over a lifetime.

To read the entire blog post: https://www.bloomdogwellness.com/blog/moisture-matters-one-of-the-most-overlooked-keys-to-a-longer-healthier-life

08/21/2026

Hydration is about more than just water.

When we think about keeping our dogs hydrated, we usually think about one thing: Are they drinking enough water?

But water is only part of the picture. Minerals and electrolytes matter, too. They help the body maintain proper fluid balance and actually use the water we're putting into it.

Drinking water and being hydrated aren't the same thing. We want the body to actually be able to use and maintain the water our dogs are taking in.

This is especially something to think about if you use highly filtered or reverse osmosis water. RO does a great job removing things we don't want in our water, but it also removes most of the naturally occurring minerals.

That's why I like adding minerals back in.

One product I use and recommend is BEAM Minerals, and they have mineral and electrolyte products specifically for dogs and cats.

💧 Use code BLOOMDOG for 20% off BEAM Minerals.

I'm also hoping to have their pet products available through Bloom Dog Wellness soon!

We spend so much time thinking about food, supplements and everything else we can do to help our dogs live longer, healthier lives. Hydration is one of those foundational pieces that I believe deserves just as much attention.

To read the entire blog post: https://www.bloomdogwellness.com/blog/moisture-matters-one-of-the-most-overlooked-keys-to-a-longer-healthier-life

08/17/2026

Dogs didn't evolve eating dry pellets.

Think about this for a minute: What if we ate dry cereal for every meal, every day, for our entire lives—and expected a bowl of water on the side to make up for it?

Let that sink in.

One of the biggest things I try to help pet parents understand is that having a bowl of water available isn't the whole hydration story. Moisture in the diet matters, too.

Dogs were biologically designed to get a significant amount of their moisture through food. Prey naturally contains water—from the blood, organs, muscle and other tissues. Compare that to kibble, which typically contains only around 8–10% moisture.

A 2025 veterinary review on water loss and aging in dogs really reinforced this for me. Researchers discuss how dogs naturally lose total body water as they age, while changes in thirst response and kidney function can make maintaining hydration more difficult. They even suggest hydration should be considered a fourth pillar of geriatric nutrition, alongside protein, fat and fiber.

That's a big deal, especially when we start thinking about healthspan, longevity and quality of life as our dogs age.

So what can you do?
💧 Add filtered water or bone broth to meals.
🥛 Offer raw goat milk.
🥬 Add moisture-rich whole-food toppers.
🥒 In the summer, offer cucumber or watermelon snacks (minus the rind).

You don't have to completely overhaul your dog's diet.

Just start adding moisture. Every little bit helps.

I go deeper into moisture, hydration and healthy aging in my latest blog, including the veterinary study mentioned above. You can find the study and read the entire blog here: https://www.bloomdogwellness.com/blog/moisture-matters-one-of-the-most-overlooked-keys-to-a-longer-healthier-life

08/10/2026

Vida relaxing after her weekly acupuncture, chiropractic, and laser treatment. 🥹🩷

As our dogs age, they often need more support, not less.

Their bodies are changing. Arthritis may creep in. Mobility can change. Chronic disease may show up. Things simply don’t work as efficiently as they once did. And I’ve always believed this is the time to pour into them even more.

I choose to do maintenance with my dogs—not just because I want to keep them around as long as possible, but because I want them to feel good while they’re here.

At almost 17 years old, Vida still runs around, gets excited, has fun, and genuinely enjoys her life. There is no greater joy than watching your senior dog feel good enough to act young again.

I believe so much of that comes from the foundation we’ve built over the years—the food I feed her, the supplements and herbs I use to support her body, and finding the modalities that her body responds to best.

My best advice? Start early. Make good nutrition the foundation and support the body as a whole. Don’t wait until they’re seniors to make changes. The earlier we build that foundation, the more resilient they may be as they age—and the better their golden years can be. I’ve seen the difference with my own dogs, and it’s why I’ll never stop talking about it.

My senior dogs are one of the reasons I started the Bloom Dog Wellness online store. I wanted to create a trusted little online apothecary where pet parents could find supplements and products that truly support dogs at every stage of life, and especially as they age.

If you haven’t checked out my online store yet, go take a look! (Link in bio) And if you’re overwhelmed trying to figure out what your dog needs, reach out. We can schedule a consult and deep dive into your dog and how to best support them.

Let me just say, I’m so grateful for the wonderful ladies at Bonded Hearts Veterinary Care for always taking such good care of my dogs and helping me support them through this stage of life. I’m especially thankful for the love and care they pour into my little girl. 🥰

The goal isn’t just more years. It’s more good years.✨

06/04/2026

Mushrooms don’t get enough attention when it comes to itchy dogs and seasonal immune support.

This time of year, we’re not just dealing with environmental exposure—we’re dealing with how the body is responding to it.

That’s where medicinal mushrooms can be incredibly supportive.

They don’t just “boost” the immune system. Many medicinal mushrooms help regulate and modulate the immune response, which is important when the body is overreacting to things like pollen, grass, mold, and seasonal changes.

They also support multiple systems at once, including the gut microbiome, inflammation levels, skin health, and overall resilience in the body.

And this is one of the reasons I believe mushrooms deserve a place year-round—not just during itchy season.

I like rotating different mushrooms depending on the dog and what support they need most.

Two of my favorites this time of year are Turkey Tail and Tremella.

Turkey Tail helps support immune balance and the gut microbiome, while Tremella is incredibly supportive for skin hydration and overall skin health while also acting as a prebiotic.

And one of the most important things to understand about mushrooms is this:
Consistency matters.

You’re not always going to see overnight changes, but over time many dogs become more balanced and less reactive as the body becomes more supported.

Mushrooms are one of those tools that do more than just one thing—and that’s exactly why I love them.

Find out more in my blog: bloomdogwellness.com/blog