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Harvey had already spent a rough night at the emergency vet. He was exhausted, wired and doped up on seizure medications, which come with their own side effects and can leave him wobbly, disoriented and not quite himself. We stopped at our local vet for a blood draw, and a rookie technician had trouble with him. Harvey squirmed, yelped and wanted to get down. He did not bite. He did not snap. He was not aggressive in any way. He was a tiny, medically complicated senior dog who had been through hell the night before and did not appreciate being restrained and manhandled around his neck.

The technician became nervous, which made the handling worse, which made Harvey more upset. Rather than stepping back and asking whether there was a better way to do the blood draw, gabapentin and trazodone were prescribed for future appointments.

No. Not for us.

See your vet for a diagnosis and then you and I can collaborate on a custom strategy for your dog’s health.

I later worked with an experienced veterinarian who proved that Harvey’s veins were not “too tiny,” as I had been told. His blood could be drawn from his leg instead of his jugular. He did not need to be pinned down, and he did not need to be drugged into submission. What he needed was someone who knew how to handle a tiny senior dog, understood what he had already been through and was willing to adjust the procedure instead of blaming him for reacting.

This is exactly how dogs get labeled. They have one bad experience—sometimes because they are in pain, frightened, overmedicated, exhausted or handled poorly—and suddenly the chart says difficult, fractious or requires pre-visit medication. Then gabapentin and trazodone become part of every appointment for the rest of the dog’s life, even though nobody ever goes back and asks whether the original situation was handled badly.

That is the part that fires me up.

There are dogs who truly benefit from pre-visit medication. Some experience panic so severe that medication makes veterinary care safer and less traumatic. Some have a bite history. Some are in pain or need a procedure that simply cannot be completed safely without pharmaceutical support. I am not suggesting that pet parents refuse medication just to prove how natural they are. That is not fair to the dog, either.

But a dog who squirms, cries, pulls away or wants to get down is not automatically aggressive. A dog who is sedated is not automatically calm. A dog who can no longer physically resist may still be terrified.

Gabapentin is commonly prescribed for nerve pain, chronic pain, seizures, anxiety and sedation. Trazodone is frequently used for veterinary visits, travel, post-surgical confinement, fear and anxiety. Both can be useful. Both can also cause sedation, poor coordination, weakness, digestive upset, confusion, agitation or paradoxical excitement in some dogs. When they are used together, the dog may arrive at the veterinary office heavily sedated and physically unsteady before anyone has even assessed how he might respond with better handling.

In Harvey’s case, I would have preferred someone to ask a few basic questions first. What medications had he already received? How much sleep had he had? Was he in pain? Was he confused after the emergency visit? Did the blood really need to come from the jugular? Could someone more experienced try? Could I help hold him? Could we slow down for five minutes instead of escalating the restraint? Or — let’s try again another day.

Those questions require a little more time and thought than simply writing a prescription, but they also respect the dog in front of you.

And this problem is much bigger than gabapentin and trazodone. I see the same medication-first thinking in nearly every area of canine health.

The dog itches, so prednisone, Apoquel, Zenrelia or Cytopoint is prescribed, but nobody spends much time discussing food intolerance, yeast, bacterial infection, environmental chemicals, histamine burden or the health of the gut microbiome. The dog has diarrhea, so metronidazole is prescribed without enough conversation about parasites, stress, food changes, pancreatitis, dysbiosis or inflammatory bowel disease. The dog gulps, licks the air or vomits, so omeprazole or famotidine is added without asking whether the issue is meal timing, food intolerance, pancreatic disease, gallbladder dysfunction, kidney disease or medication side effects. A senior dog slows down or becomes restless at night, and gabapentin is prescribed without anyone discussing muscle loss, slippery floors, dental pain, spinal discomfort, rehabilitation or the cumulative effects of everything else the dog is already taking.

Any one of those medications may be appropriate. The problem is when the medication becomes the entire plan.

What I know is that controlling a symptom is not the same as understanding it. Sometimes we need to control the symptom quickly because the dog is suffering. An itchy dog should not be allowed to chew himself bloody while we conduct a philosophical debate about natural health. A dog in pain deserves pain relief. A bacterial infection may require antibiotics. A panicked dog may need pharmaceutical help to receive necessary care.

But after the immediate problem is under control, somebody still needs to ask why it happened and what can be changed.

That is where many pet parents are left hanging. They leave with a prescription but no real discussion about food, gut health, muscle condition, rehabilitation, stress, household exposures, sleep, pain patterns, lab trends or how the medication will eventually be reassessed. Months later, the symptom returns, the medication is increased or another drug is added, and now we are treating side effects from the treatment while the original driver is still sitting there waving at us.

I also do not believe holistic care means replacing one prescription with one supplement. Swapping gabapentin for CBD without understanding the source of the pain is still guessing. Replacing prednisone with a handful of herbs without understanding the immune pattern, infection risk or organ function is not automatically safer because the label has leaves on it.

The right natural support may include food changes, fresh food, omega-3s, herbs, CBD, medicinal mushrooms, microbiome restoration, physical rehabilitation, PEMF, cold laser, massage, bodywork, essential oils, Reiki or TCVM pattern support. But which of those belong in the plan depends on the individual dog: age, diagnosis, medications, kidney and liver function, diet history, stool patterns, weight, muscle loss, pain, stress, seizures, labwork and everything else already being given.

This is why I have become much stricter about casual recommendations. People sometimes want a quick answer—what can I give for itching, pain, diarrhea or anxiety? I understand why. They want to help their dog today. But medically complicated dogs are rarely simple, even when the question sounds simple, and I do not want to throw another product into the mix just because it was the first modality that came to mind.

Veterinary medicine is essential. Harvey needed emergency care that night. He needed seizure control, diagnostics and monitoring. I am grateful those tools exist. I am not anti-vet, and I am not anti-medication.

I am anti-lazy answer.

I am against a prescription replacing investigation. I am against blaming the dog when better handling could have changed the experience. I am against stacking two more sedating medications onto a senior dog already struggling with seizure drugs because one inexperienced technician panicked when he squirmed.

It is a reminder to be your dog’s best advocate.

You are allowed to ask respectful questions. You are allowed to ask why a medication is being recommended, continued or refilled You’re allowed to ask what the risks are, whether other approaches have been considered and whether your dog’s behavior could have been influenced by pain, fear, exhaustion, existing medications or poor handling.

You are allowed to say, “I am not comfortable with that.”

You are allowed to request a more experienced technician, ask for a different blood-draw location, remain with your dog, request less restraint or stop a procedure when it is clearly escalating.

And you are allowed to find another veterinarian or veterinary team when you no longer feel heard.

That does not make you difficult. It makes you responsible for the animal who cannot explain what happened after everyone leaves the room.

Harvey did not need gabapentin and trazodone because one blood draw went badly. He needed someone who knew how to draw blood from a tiny dog on new meds after a night of seizures without turning it into a wrestling match. An experienced veterinarian later proved that, and Harvey handled it just fine.

Sometimes medication is the right answer. Sometimes the dog needs pain relief, anxiety support or sedation so necessary care can happen safely.

Hopefully, it’s temporary while you explore other options for the future routine events.

More from The Well Oiled K9

For the comprehensive version covering commonly prescribed medications, their uses, possible concerns and whole-dog support options, visit:

Commonly OverPrescribed Medications For Dogs
https://welloiledk9.com/danas-take/commonly-overprescribed-medications-for-dogs-when-the-prescription-becomes-the-whole-plan

Gabapentin for Dogs: Side Effects, Concerns and Natural Alternatives
https://welloiledk9.com/health/gabapentin-pain-management-dogs

The Well Oiled K9 Membership
https://welloiledk9.com/membership

This article reflects my personal experience and professional opinion. It is intended for education and wellness support and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis, treatment or emergency care. Do not stop or change prescription medication without working with your veterinarian.

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The parents spending money at repeated vet visits. Abx that have to have really negatively impacted the immune system. Steroids. Etc.

Still no real resolution that holds.

All I could think -- start over. Regroup.

Lets back up and punt to rebuild the gut health and the immune system from the inside out -- and meanwhile use something new to support the relief effort. (For me in the case I read, would be essential oils, herbs, mushrooms, Ozone, FMT, new food -- even if it is a balanced homemade) -- something different than what has been repeated.

All I ask of you -- is learn, share -- let’s reach more dog moms who need alternatives. Dogs everywhere need YOU to participate in getting the word out. (It takes a share or 7, a google review, a post in a FB group, etc).

No I can’t promise much of anything and I’m not a vet -- but it’s worth trying a new approach. And I know it almost every case there is at least one new option -- long before it’s too late.

https://welloiledk9.com/danas-take/how-many-times-will-you-repeat-the-same-health-plan-before-you-try-something-new

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You may have heard essential oils are dangerous for dogs. You may have read that they are toxic, unsafe, risky, or only for people who have gone way too far down the “natural wellness” rabbit hole. Maybe your vet told you not to use them. Maybe someone in a Facebook group scared the daylights out of you. Maybe you bought a few bottles years ago, stuck them in a cabinet (I did that for a whole year), and never used them because you were not sure what was safe.

I understand why dog moms are confused. I was too. The internet has made an absolute mess of this conversation.

On one side, you have people acting like every essential oil is poison in a bottle. On the other side, you have people acting like “natural” means you can slather anything on your dog, diffuse it all day, and call it wellness. Neither extreme is education, and neither one helps your dog.

Essential oils are not something to fear blindly. They are also not something to use recklessly. They are concentrated plant extracts with real chemistry, real possibilities, and real considerations. That means they deserve respect, not panic. The problem is not essential oils. The problem is uneducated use, poor quality oils, bad dilution, fragrance oils being mistaken for true essential oils, and random recipes from the internet being treated like gospel.

That is not wellness. That is guessing with a fragrant bottle.

And around here, we do better than that.

I Do Not Want You Afraid of Essential Oils. I Want You Educated. I want You To Use them.

I teach essential oils because I believe every dog mom should understand them. Not because they replace all veterinary care. Not because they fix everything. Not because I think you should throw oils at symptoms instead of asking better questions.

I teach essential oils because when they are chosen well, used correctly, and understood as part of a bigger wellness picture, they can become one of the most useful tools you will ever bring into your home.

And I am going to say this plainly: your dog likely needs this tool more than you realize.

Not because your dog needs oils instead of food, vet care, training, medication, bodywork, herbs, supplements, or diagnostics. That is not how I think, and it is not how I teach. This is not an all-or-nothing conversation. It is not medication or essential oils. It is not veterinary care or natural wellness. The beauty is that essential oils can fit alongside so many other tools.

But if I have a choice, I will often reach for oils first.

Why? Because they are versatile. Because they support the body on multiple levels. Because they can be used for the dog, the human, and the home. Because they can support physical health, emotional balance, recovery, stress, first aid, detox, comfort, outdoor life, low-tox living, and the systems of the body that are working hard every single day.

That is not a small thing. That is why I cannot do without them.

Essential Oils Are Where Nature and Science Meet

Essential oils are plant-based, but that does not mean they are weak. Plants are not weak. Plants have been creating complex aromatic compounds long before humans started making synthetic products in labs. Those compounds help plants protect themselves, adapt, recover, communicate, and survive.

Essential oils capture a concentrated part of that plant chemistry. That is why they can be so powerful and so versatile.

They are not just “smells.” They are made of naturally occurring constituents that interact with the body through inhalation, topical application, and in specific situations with the right education, internal use. Aromatic molecules can influence the brain through the olfactory system. They can affect the limbic system, which is tied to emotion, memory, stress, fear, trauma, and relaxation. When properly diluted, oils can be applied topically to support skin, muscles, joints, circulation, lymphatic movement, comfort, and recovery.

This is nature and science working together.

And frankly, that is why the “all oils are toxic to dogs” conversation drives me a little crazy. It is too simplistic. It ignores chemistry, quality, dilution, route of use, species considerations, the individual dog, and the very real possibility that educated use can be incredibly supportive.

Your Dog Is Not a Collection of Separate Problems

This is one of the biggest reasons I love essential oils. They do not fit neatly into one little box.

Your dog’s skin is connected to the immune system. The gut is connected to the brain. Stress affects digestion. Pain affects behavior. Anxiety affects sleep. The liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, skin, gut, and lungs all play a role in detoxification. The nervous system influences healing. Emotions affect the body. The environment affects everything.

So when your dog is itchy, anxious, stiff, reactive, inflamed, gassy, sensitive, exhausted, or constantly flaring, I am not only looking at one symptom. I am looking at the whole dog.

Essential oils fit beautifully into whole-dog wellness because they can support multiple systems at once. They may support the nervous system, immune system, respiratory system, digestive system, skin, muscles, joints, lymphatic system, emotional balance, stress response, and recovery process. They can also help you clean up the environment your dog lives in every day.

That is why this is not a side topic for me. Essential oils are woven through the way I think about wellness.

Health Support Before Everything Is on Fire

Most dog moms start looking for natural tools when something is already wrong. The itching is out of control. The gut is a mess. The anxiety is escalating. The dog is limping. The senior dog is struggling. The vet bills are piling up. Everyone is tired.

That is a hard place to learn from.

I would rather teach you before you are desperate. Essential oils can be part of daily wellness routines that support calm, comfort, immune resilience, skin balance, respiratory ease, recovery, sleep, emotional steadiness, and a lower-tox home. That does not mean you need to use oils constantly. It means you understand what to reach for, when to reach for it, and how to use it well.

This is the shift I want for you. I do not want wellness to be something you only consider when everything is on fire. I want you to build a home and a toolbox that support your dog every day.

Recovery Support When the Body Is Working Hard

Recovery is not passive. The body has to repair, regulate, clear waste, calm inflammation, restore sleep, rebuild strength, and come back into balance. That is true after physical stress, emotional stress, illness, injury, surgery, overexertion, a big life change, or a flare. I can get them ON the dog or IN the bloodstream when I can’t get the dog to eat to take supplements.

Essential oils can be a beautiful part of recovery support. They may support comfort, relaxation, circulation, lymphatic movement, breathing, sleep, emotional grounding, and the body’s natural repair processes. They can work alongside nutrition, veterinary care, appropriate movement, bodywork, herbs, CBD, homeopathy, PEMF, massage, and other supportive tools.

This is where oils shine. They do not have to be the whole plan to make the plan better.

First Aid Support for Real Life With Dogs

Dogs are dogs. They run, roll, scratch, lick, leap, crash, chase, sniff, eat questionable things, step on things, get stung, overdo it, and occasionally make decisions that prove they are not reading the wellness plan.

This is where essential oils become incredibly practical.

With the right education, you can learn how to use oils for everyday support: minor skin irritation, outdoor exposure, muscle tension, emotional upset, cleaning needs, bug-heavy environments, respiratory comfort, and those “what do I reach for first?” moments that happen in real life.

No, essential oils do not replace emergency care. If your dog is bleeding heavily, struggling to breathe, collapsing, having seizures, repeatedly vomiting, showing severe pain, or clearly in crisis, you call your veterinarian or go to the emergency clinic. Common sense is still invited to the party.

But for the everyday moments? The minor things? The early signs? The supportive care? The comfort care? The “let’s help the body before this becomes a bigger mess” moments?

That is where I want you educated and prepared.

Stress, Anxiety, Fear, and Trauma Support

This is one of the biggest reasons I want dog moms to understand essential oils.

Dogs are emotional beings. They remember. They anticipate. They grieve. They worry. They startle. They shut down. They overreact. They carry stress in their bodies. They can live in survival mode long after the original threat is gone.

And many dog moms are trying to train dogs whose nervous systems are not ready to learn.

A dog who is anxious, reactive, fearful, hypervigilant, shut down, or constantly on alert does not just need more obedience commands. That dog needs nervous system support. Training matters, yes. But if the dog’s body is screaming “not safe,” learning is limited.

Essential oils can be part of helping the nervous system shift. Because scent connects so strongly to emotion, memory, and the limbic system, oils can help create rituals of safety, relaxation, grounding, focus, and recovery. For dogs dealing with fear, anxiety, trauma, grief, storms, fireworks, travel, vet visits, grooming stress, separation issues, household tension, or major transitions, essential oils may support emotional balance in a way that is both practical and deeply meaningful.

They do not replace behavior modification. They can help the dog become more available for behavior modification.

That difference matters.

Your Stress Matters Too

Your dog lives with your nervous system.

That does not mean you caused your dog’s issues, so do not run off into a guilt spiral. That helps no one, and your dog does not need you sobbing into a lavender roller bottle.

But it does mean the emotional tone of the home matters.

If you are chronically stressed, tense, overwhelmed, frustrated, or bracing for the next problem, your dog feels that. Essential oils can support you too. They can help create calmer routines, better sleep rituals, grounding practices, and a more peaceful home environment.

This is one of the reasons I love oils for families. They are not just for the dog. They support the whole household.

And sometimes the dog mom needs the oil before the dog does. I said what I said.

Detox and Low-Tox Living

Our dogs live in a chemical-heavy world. Synthetic fragrance, plug-ins, harsh cleaners, lawn chemicals, pesticides, smoke, mold, plastics, grooming products, processed foods, medications, vaccines, and environmental pollutants all add to the body’s workload.

Your dog’s liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, gut, lungs, and skin are constantly working to process and eliminate what does not belong. That does not mean we panic about every exposure. It means we get smarter about reducing the burden where we can.

Essential oils can support detox in two important ways. First, they can help you replace many toxic household products with cleaner options. That matters because your dog is breathing your air, walking on your floors, licking paws that touched your floors, sleeping in your laundry products, and living close to the ground where many residues settle.

Second, certain oil-based routines may support circulation, lymphatic flow, relaxation, respiratory comfort, and the body’s natural cleansing pathways. I am not talking about aggressive detox chaos. I am talking about supporting the body wisely while reducing the junk coming in.

You cannot keep pouring toxins into the environment and then wonder why the body is struggling to keep up. Patch the holes in the boat before bragging about your bucket.

Support for the Systems of the Body

This is where essential oils become hard to ignore once you understand them.

For the nervous system, oils may support grounding, emotional regulation, sleep routines, stress recovery, and the ability to shift out of fight-or-flight.

For the immune system, they may support resilience, balance, and the body’s natural defenses, especially when paired with good nutrition, gut health, minerals, mushrooms, herbs, and a cleaner environment.

For the respiratory system, they may support clear breathing, seasonal comfort, air quality routines, and respiratory ease when used appropriately.

For the digestive system, they may support comfort, relaxation, the gut-brain connection, and stress-related digestive patterns as part of a broader food and gut health plan.

For the skin, they may support comfort, barrier health, microbial balance, and relief from environmental irritation when properly diluted and chosen for the individual dog.

For muscles, joints, and mobility, they may support comfort, circulation, relaxation, stiffness, and recovery after activity or strain.

For the lymphatic system, they may support movement, drainage, tissue fluid balance, and the body’s natural cleanup processes when used with massage, movement, hydration, and bodywork.

For emotional and energetic balance, they may support grounding, confidence, transition, grief, fear, tension, and a dog’s ability to feel safer in their own body.

This is why I cannot reduce essential oils to “they smell nice.” That is like calling food “stuff in a bowl.” Technically true, but wildly inadequate.

It Is Not Oils Instead of Medication

I want to be very clear here because this is where people love to create a fight that does not need to exist.

This is not essential oils versus medication.

This is not natural wellness versus veterinary care.

This is not “pick a side and defend it forever.”

There are times medication is needed. There are times diagnostics are needed. There are times surgery, emergency care, antibiotics, pain control, or other interventions are absolutely appropriate. I am not here to shame dog moms for using the tools their dog needs.

But I am also not going to pretend medication is the only tool worth considering.

The beauty of essential oils is that they can often be used as part of a larger plan. Sometimes they help reduce the need to reach for stronger options so quickly. Sometimes they support the body alongside medication. Sometimes they support the emotional and environmental pieces that medication does not address. Sometimes they give you something useful to do while the deeper work is happening.

And yes, more often than not, I personally reach for oils before I reach for medication when the situation allows for that choice.

Not because I am anti-medicine. Because I am pro-options. I am pro-body. I am pro-asking better questions before suppressing every symptom. I am pro-using a tool that can support the body instead of only managing the outward expression.

That is the beauty of this work. It gives us more options, not fewer.

Quality Matters

Not all oils belong on or near your dog. That is not fear-mongering. That is reality.

There is a difference between a true essential oil and a fragrance oil. There is a difference between oils created for therapeutic use and oils made to scent candles. There is a difference between clean sourcing and questionable sourcing. There is a difference between thoughtful use and “I saw this recipe online and doubled it because more must be better.”

More is not always better. Better is better.

With dogs, quality matters. Dilution matters. The oil choice matters. The dog’s size, age, health, sensitivity, medications, constitution, and history matter. A high-quality oil still needs to be used properly. Quality does not excuse recklessness, but poor-quality oils create unnecessary risk and poor results.

This is why I care so much about education. I do not want you memorizing random oil lists. I want you to understand how to think.

The Dog in Front of You Matters

A young, healthy, 70-pound dog is not the same as a fragile senior dachshund. A dog with seizures is not the same as a dog with itchy paws. A dog with liver stress is not the same as a dog who needs emotional grounding. A dog recovering from surgery is not the same as a dog who gets nervous during thunderstorms. A shut-down dog is not the same as a frantic, explosive dog.

This is where real education matters.

The oil matters. The dilution matters. The route matters. The frequency matters. The quality matters. The goal matters. The dog in front of you always matters.

That is why I do not teach essential oils as memorized recipes. I teach you how to understand the tool, observe your dog, and make better decisions.

Why Learning From Me Is Different

I did not buy a starter kit and decide I was an expert by Tuesday.

I have spent years studying dogs, behavior, nutrition, natural wellness, aromatherapy, animal aromatherapy, bodywork, emotional wellness, and the way these systems connect. I am a Certified Holistic Pet Health Coach, Certified Canine Nutritionist, Certified Aromatherapist, and I have additional education in animal aromatherapy, Raindrop Technique for animals, homeopathy education, herbal education, Reiki, Healing Touch, and other wellness modalities.

That does not mean I know everything. It means I take this seriously.

I study. I ask better questions. I look at the whole dog. I care about quality, safety, chemistry, practical use, and real-life results. I also understand that dog moms do not need to be buried under technical jargon to make better choices.

They need someone who can translate the information.

That is one of the things I do best.

I can take complex wellness information and make it usable. I can help you understand what matters, what does not, what is overblown, what needs caution, what is useful, and where essential oils fit into the bigger picture of your dog’s health and behavior.

Because the goal is not for you to own more bottles.

The goal is for you to become more confident, more observant, and better equipped to support your dog.

Your Dog Needs More Than Crossed Fingers

If you are a dog mom trying to help an itchy dog, an anxious dog, a senior dog, a reactive dog, a recovering dog, a sensitive dog, or a dog who keeps cycling through the same problems, I want you to understand something.

You need more tools.

Not random tools. Not trendy tools. Not “I saw this in a group and now I am overwhelmed” tools. You need thoughtful, practical, body-supportive tools that can fit into real life.

Essential oils are one of those tools.

They can support the body physically. They can support the dog emotionally. They can support the nervous system. They can support recovery. They can support first aid. They can support the home environment. They can support detox and low-tox living. They can support behavior work. They can support comfort. They can support the human who is trying to hold it all together.

That is why I want you to learn them.

Because once you understand what is possible, essential oils stop feeling scary or confusing. They become something you know how to reach for.

And that changes everything.

Ready to Learn Essential Oils for Your Dog?

If you are curious about essential oils for your dog, learn them the right way. Not from fear-based posts. Not from random social media recipes. Not from someone who understands oils but does not understand dogs. And not from someone who understands dogs but has barely studied oils.

You need education that brings the pieces together: dog health, behavior, nutrition, safety, quality, emotional wellness, detox, recovery, first aid, and practical use in real life.

That is what I offer.

Whether you are brand new to oils or you have bottles sitting in a cabinet because you never felt confident using them, this is worth learning. Your dog’s wellness plan does not have to be limited to food bowls, vet visits, medication, and crossed fingers.

There are more tools available.

Essential oils are one of my favorites. And always will be.
If ya’ll find me unwell or even in the hospital someday — somebody better bring my oils!
Trust me — I’ve already snuck them into the recovery room after procedures!

And when you learn how to use them well, they may become one of yours too.

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The WelloiledK9

Canine Nutrition and Natural Wellness from a learning junky with one goal: supporting you as you support your pet's longevity.

By WellOiledK9

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“When Faith Steps In”, was a phrase used Dr. Barb Fox in a recent podcast we recorded back in 2020. It stuck with me.

Because sometimes, that’s exactly what it takes. A leap of Faith.

When you’re staring down a diagnosis you didn’t expect — or a prognosis that feels like a countdown — it takes faith to consider anything outside the traditional box.
Faith to believe there might be another way.
That food matters. That toxins matter. That energy and emotions matter.
That you matter in the healing process.

It’s not always easy. It’s not always clear. It’s not linear — and it’s rarely fast.
And yes, it’s often terrifying.

We all bring fears to the table — fear of doing the wrong thing, fear of getting our hopes up, fear of losing time we can’t get back.
We worry about budgets, emotional exhaustion, and the pressure of being our dog’s only advocate.

But somewhere inside you… there’s a voice that says, “There has to be more than this. I’m not ready to give up.”

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Let me be clear: I am not here to dismiss your veterinarian’s guidance.
I am not anti-vet. I rely on mine — and you should too.

But what I am saying is this:

• You should ask questions.

• You should push back.

• You should wonder out loud, “What else can we try?”

Because you are your dog’s best advocate.

Sometimes the answer is surgery.
Sometimes the answer is medication.
Sometimes it’s a blend of both worlds — traditional medicine and holistic healing.

And sometimes — especially when the options feel exhausted — it’s time to take that leap of faith into a different kind of wellness.
A path that includes…

• Changing the food — real, fresh ingredients

• Supporting the body with non-synthetic supplements and minerals

• Supporting the immune system, not suppressing it

• Clearing toxins from the home, yard, bowls, and environment

• Learning more about essential oils, homeopathy, and energy work — and finding an educator (like me) to help guide you

• Giving care and attention to the nervous system and the gut

• Using testing tools instead of guessing what supplement to buy next.

• Rethinking the stories we’ve been told about what is — or isn’t — possible

Healing doesn’t come with guarantees. But no path does.

So if your heart is nudging you to ask what else is possible — even slightly — start exploring that path today.
That voice in you? That’s your intuition. You have to learn to listen to it. I’ll certainly share mine with you — and it just might surprise you.

And I’m here to walk beside you — as your coach, your guide, your educator, and your friend — to help you take that leap with support, not fear.
Even the smallest shift today can ripple into something beautiful and life-changing — for your dog, and for you.

Don’t wait until you’re out of time or options.

Start today. Choose one thing you can do differently.

One small leap today is better than standing still in doubt tomorrow.

Get Started with My Wellness Guide

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Weekly live group support, practical holistic guidance, member-only content, community conversations, and discounts that help you keep learning—without turning every question into a full consultation.

Ready to get started?

Subscribe to The Well Oiled K9 Membership

Purchase the Remedies Class Only

Purchase the Homemade Food Class Only

Choose monthly membership for ongoing community support, or choose the yearly membership to receive the complete Remedies Class and Homemade Food Class at no additional cost while your yearly membership remains active.

You love your dog. You just need a better place to sort through the noise.

Food, allergies, gut issues, anxiety, senior dog changes, supplements, products, natural remedies, and those “Is this normal?” moments can get overwhelming fast.

One person says chicken and rice. Another says Benadryl. Someone else says change the food. Then the internet gives you 37 open tabs and no actual plan.

Not every question requires a full consultation.

Sometimes you need:

• Quick direction

• A better question to ask

• Help understanding a product or label

• Guidance on which resource applies to your dog

• A clearer idea of what may matter first

Some dogs do need deeper support. Part of the value of this community is learning the difference between a simple next step, a helpful guide, and a situation that deserves private support.

This is not just a library. It is a support rhythm.

Every member receives:

• Live group support

• Member-only content

• Community access

• Replay access

• Discounts on wellness guides

• Discounts on consulting services

• Help finding the right guide, class, replay, or next step

Yearly members also receive the complete Remedies Class and Homemade Food Class at no additional cost.

The point is not to collect more information. The point is to understand what applies to your dog and where to start.

See the available wellness guides

How the community works

The community is built around connection, reminders, live support, and practical direction—not random posts floating into the void.

Tuesday Live Support Calls

Live Zoom calls are the heart of the membership.

Members can submit questions, listen in, learn from other dog parents, and receive practical direction from Dana.

Some calls may focus on a specific theme. Others may be guided by member questions. Some will be a little bit of both.

The goal is always the same: to help you understand what to look at next.

The monthly schedule includes:

• Two Tuesday Lunch & Learn calls each month for members who prefer daytime support

• Two Tuesday evening support calls each month for members who need an after-work option

• Replay access when you cannot attend live

• Question submission so focused questions can be addressed during the calls

Choose the community space that works for you

Some people love Facebook. Some people would rather chew tinfoil.

Members can use the community space that feels easiest.

Private Facebook Group

The Facebook group provides a familiar place for:

• Reminders

• Community discussions

• Dog updates

• Product questions

• Member conversations

Substack Chat

Substack Chat provides a quieter, more organized space for discussions, questions, reminders, and support threads.

Members may use the Facebook group, Substack Chat, or both.

Neither space provides private one-on-one coaching. Membership questions should be posted in the community spaces or submitted for the live calls—not sent through private messages, direct email, or text.

Keeping questions inside the community allows everyone to learn from the discussion.

What can you bring to the community?

This is where we talk through the “What else can I do?” moments that come up when you are trying to support your dog naturally.

Food and feeding

• Fresh food and food transitions

• Raw or gently cooked feeding

• Kibble upgrades and toppers

• Homemade food questions

• Food labels and ingredient concerns

Common wellness questions

• Allergies, itching, yeast, and skin support

• Gut health, loose stool, and digestive support

• Anxiety and nervous system regulation

• Senior dog wellness and comfort

• Seasonal support

• Recovery support

Natural support options

• Supplements

• Herbs

• Homeopathy

• Essential oils

• CBD

• Product and label questions

• “My veterinarian recommended this. What should I understand?”

• “Which guide or class should I start with?”

For past clients

You may not need private support every day, but you may still want a lower-cost way to stay connected, reminded, and proactive.

Membership can help you continue with:

• Monthly wellness reminders

• Seasonal protocols

• Product updates and discussions

• Food and supplement conversations

• Replay access

• Smaller follow-up questions

• Ongoing education

• A way to stay consistent instead of slowly drifting back into old habits

For new members

If you are brand new to The Well Oiled K9, membership is a lower-cost way to become familiar with Dana’s approach before booking private support.

You can:

• Hear how Dana thinks through dog wellness concerns

• Ask focused questions

• Learn from other dog parents

• Understand what may matter first

• Discover when a guide or class may be enough

• Recognize when a deeper private review would be the better fit

What Every Member Receives

Monthly and yearly members receive the same core community support.

Live group support

Weekly Zoom support with daytime and evening options throughout the month.

Community access

Access to the private Facebook group and/or Substack Chat.

Replay access

Watch the support call replays when you cannot attend live.

Member-only content

Members receive access to seasonal reminders, practical protocols, wellness topics, support resources, and the FAQ resource:

What Can You Try Right Now—Until I Can Answer You?

Member discounts

All members receive discounts on:

• Wellness guides

• Consulting services

• Additional educational resources when offered

Resource direction

Get help finding the right guide, class, replay, or next step instead of getting lost inside a large resource library.

Who This Community Is For

This community may be a good fit for:

• Dog parents who want better answers than random Facebook advice

• Past clients who want continued education and connection

• New members who want to learn Dana’s approach

• Prevention-minded dog parents

• People exploring fresh food and natural wellness

• Dog parents who want a calmer place to ask questions

• People who want practical education without booking a full consultation for every question

What This Community Is Not

Membership does not include:

• Private case management

• Emergency support

• Custom diet formulation

• Lab interpretation

• Medication guidance

• Unlimited one-on-one coaching

• A replacement for veterinary care

My goal is not to make you dependent on me.

My goal is to help you become a better observer, ask better questions, and become a more confident advocate for your dog.

I want you to understand what may matter first, when something may be simple, and when your dog deserves a deeper review.

Membership Options

Both membership plans include:

• Live group support

• Community access

• Replays

• Member-only content

• Discounts on wellness guides

• Discounts on consulting services

The difference is that the yearly membership also includes both complete classes.

Monthly Membership — $15 Per Month

Monthly membership includes:

• Weekly live group support

• Private Facebook group and/or Substack Chat

• Replay access

• Member-only content

• Seasonal resources and reminders

• Discounts on wellness guides

• Discounts on consulting services

• Help finding the right resource or next step

The following are not included with monthly membership:

• Remedies Class

• Homemade Food Class

Monthly members may purchase either class separately.

Choose Monthly Membership

Yearly Membership — $150 Per Year

The yearly membership saves you $30 compared with paying monthly for twelve months.

Yearly membership includes everything provided with monthly membership, plus:

The Complete Remedies Class

This class includes education on:

• Essential oils

• Herbs

• Homeopathy

• Botanicals

• Natural remedy safety

• First aid support

• The complete First Aid Guide

The Complete Homemade Food Class

This class provides step-by-step guidance for:

• Understanding homemade feeding

• Choosing appropriate ingredients

• Building balanced meals

• Understanding proteins, organs, fats, vegetables, and supplements

• Recognizing common homemade feeding mistakes

• Making practical food adjustments for your dog

Both classes are included at no additional cost while your yearly membership remains active.

Choose Yearly Membership

Prefer to Purchase a Class Without Joining?

You do not have to join the membership to purchase either class.

Remedies Class

Learn how essential oils, herbs, homeopathy, botanicals, and first aid resources may be used as part of your dog’s natural wellness toolkit.

Purchase the Remedies Class Only

Homemade Food Class

Learn how to make more informed, balanced homemade meals for your dog without relying on random recipes from the internet.

Purchase the Homemade Food Class Only

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between monthly and yearly membership?

Both plans include live group support, community access, replays, member-only content, and discounts on guides and consulting services.

The yearly membership also includes the complete Remedies Class and Homemade Food Class.

Those two classes are not included with monthly membership.

Can I purchase either class without joining?

Yes.

You may purchase the Remedies Class or the Homemade Food Class as a stand-alone product without joining the membership.

Is this private coaching?

No.

The membership includes group support, education, resource direction, live calls, replays, and community discussions.

It does not include private case management, custom protocols, custom diet formulation, lab interpretation, or unlimited one-on-one coaching.

Can I ask questions about my dog?

Yes.

Members may ask focused, general education questions inside the community spaces or submit questions for the live support calls.

Some questions can be answered directly. Others may be better addressed through a guide, class, replay, or private consultation.

What if I cannot attend the live calls?

Replays will be available so you can still learn from the support calls when you cannot attend live.

Can I use Facebook instead of Substack Chat?

Yes.

Members have access to the private Facebook group and Substack Chat. You may use whichever space works best for you—or use both.

What if my dog has a complex health issue?

You are still welcome inside the community, but complex cases may require a private Wellness Roadmap, consultation, or support package.

When a question requires a deeper review, Dana will tell you directly.

Bring the Question. We’ll Sort the Next Step.

Choose monthly membership for affordable ongoing support, or choose the yearly membership to save on the membership itself and receive both complete classes at no additional cost.

Subscribe to The Well Oiled K9 Membership

Purchase the Remedies Class Only

Purchase the Homemade Food Class Only

And yet, that is often exactly what pet parents get.

A Facebook thread full of “try this.” Another food change. A cabinet full of supplements. Another “wait and see.” Another appointment that ends with, “Here’s some gabapentin,” “Here’s some trazodone,” or “Let’s try antibiotics and steroids because we don’t really know what this is.”

Sometimes those tools are appropriate. Pain control has a place. Emergency care has a place. Diagnostics, bloodwork, imaging, fluids, medications, and stabilization are important when a dog truly needs them.

So no, I am not anti-vet.
I am anti-random.
I am anti-band-aid when the same wound keeps reopening.

Because your dog does not need another guess. Your dog needs someone to slow down, ask better questions, and look at the whole picture.

The “Spray and Pray” Approach Makes My Brain Hurt

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not a “spray and pray” kind of responder when it comes to dog health.

I don’t love random guessing. I don’t love throwing five supplements at a dog because someone on Facebook said it worked for their dog. I don’t love “try this and see” when the dog has been struggling for months, sometimes years.

And I really don’t love when a dog keeps cycling through the same loop: gabapentin, trazodone, antibiotics, steroids, wait and see, repeat.

Again, I am not saying those medications are never useful. That would be irresponsible and untrue. There are times when medications are necessary, helpful, and even life-changing.

But when the same symptoms keep coming back, or new symptoms keep stacking up, we have to ask better questions.

• Why is the body waving the flag?

• Why does this keep returning?

• What changed before it started?

• What has already been tried?

• What helped, what hurt, and what only covered things up for a little while?

That is where troubleshooting begins.

Facebook Advice Is Usually Someone Else’s Dog Story

Most people answering dog health questions on Facebook are answering from their own dog’s experience.

That does not mean they are bad people. Most are genuinely trying to help. But their dog is not your dog.

Same symptom does not mean same cause. Same diagnosis does not mean same plan. Same supplement does not mean same result.

One itchy dog may need food changes. Another may need gut support. Another may need liver and drainage support. Another may be reacting to mold, flea products, chicken, synthetic vitamins, stress, vaccines, lawn chemicals, or the “healthy” treat given every night before bed.

One anxious dog may need training. Another may need pain addressed. Another may need nervous system support. Another may need gut support. Another may be inflamed, overmedicated, under-supported, exhausted, or living in a body that feels like a five-alarm fire.

• That is why “give pumpkin” is not a health plan.

• “Try a probiotic” is not a health plan.

• “Change the food” is not a health plan.

• “Ask your vet for trazodone” is not a health plan.

• “Just give gabapentin” is not a health plan.

• And “my dog had that” is not a diagnosis.

Those comments may start a conversation, but they should not become the whole strategy.

Troubleshooting Beats Guessing

When someone asks me what to do for itching, diarrhea, anxiety, ear infections, pancreatitis flares, pain, seizures, nausea, licking, urinary issues, or “my dog just seems off,” my brain does not go straight to one product.

My brain starts building a map.

I want to know what your dog actually eats. Not just the food brand. I want to know about the treats, chews, toppers, oils, scraps, dental sticks, peanut butter used for pills, supplements, flavored medications, and the “just a little bit” extras.

I want to know when this started. What changed before it started? Was there a vaccine, medication, food change, boarding stay, stressful event, pesticide exposure, surgery, trauma, tick bite, new cleaner, new supplement, new protein, or new routine?

I want to know what the stools look like. Is there nausea, grass eating, burping, lip licking, gulping, scooting, ear odor, yeast smell, pain, restlessness, waking at night, anxiety, or a pattern to the flare-ups?

I want to know what has already been tried. Did it help? Did it make things worse? Did it help for a week and then stop?

That is not me being difficult.

That is me trying to stop the guessing game.

The body leaves breadcrumbs. But you have to stop throwing spaghetti at the wall long enough to notice them.

Why I Ask Weird Questions Before I Suggest Anything

This is also why I often ask about TCVM and your dog’s constitution.

Weird? Maybe.

Useful? Absolutely.

TCVM stands for Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. I use it as a complementary lens, not as a replacement for veterinary diagnostics. Bloodwork still tells us what bloodwork tells us. Imaging still tells us what imaging tells us. A veterinary exam still has value.

But TCVM can help us look at patterns that are easy to miss when we only focus on the diagnosis.

Two dogs may both have itching, but one may look more like heat and inflammation while another may look more like dampness, digestive weakness, or deficiency. Two dogs may both have anxiety, but one may be restless, hot, reactive, and explosive, while another may be depleted, fearful, clingy, and easily overwhelmed.

Those dogs may not need the same support.

Constitution gives us clues. Is this a dog who runs hot or cold? Seeks cool floors or burrows under blankets? Has a greasy coat or dry skin? Has loose stools or constipation? Is emotionally intense, timid, stubborn, restless, sensitive, shut down, or constantly “on”? Does the dog flare with stress, weather changes, certain foods, vaccines, medications, or seasonal shifts?

That information helps narrow the direction.

It does not mean we skip common sense. It does not mean we ignore veterinary care. It means we stop pretending the diagnosis is the whole story.

The diagnosis may tell us what is happening. The constitution can help us understand why this dog is expressing it this way.

That difference can change the plan.

Guessing Gets Expensive Fast

Spraying random suggestions at a complicated health issue is how pet parents end up with a cabinet full of products that did absolutely nothing useful.

Or worse, they create more confusion.

Now we do not know what helped, what irritated the dog, what masked symptoms, what stirred the pot, or what interacted with something else. The dog is still struggling, the pet parent is exhausted, and the budget has been quietly set on fire.

That is not support. That is chaos in a supplement drawer.

A better approach asks better questions before adding more products.

• What is the dog eating?

• What is the dog exposed to?

• What are the patterns?

• What has changed?

• What systems may be struggling?

• What does the vet workup show?

• What does the dog’s history suggest?

• What is the body trying to tell us?

Most pet parents answer the question they are asked. What they often need is someone who knows which questions have not been asked yet.

Your Dog Needs a Plan, Not Another Comment Thread

I can’t promise magic. I don’t own a wand. And frankly, if I did own a wand, I would probably still ask what your dog eats.

But what I do know is this: when you reach beyond Facebook one-liners and start looking at your dog as an individual, you usually get better direction. You waste less money. You waste less time. You make fewer random purchases. You stop chasing symptoms in circles.

A better plan starts when we stop guessing and start listening to the whole dog.

• Not just the diagnosis.

• Not just the symptom.

• Not just what worked for someone else’s dog on Facebook.

Your dog does not need another guess. Your dog needs a plan that makes sense for their body, their history, their symptoms, their food, their stress patterns, their labs, their medications, and everything else that may be contributing to the problem.

That is where real troubleshooting begins.

Submit an inquiry and let’s see what I can do to help. No obligation — the inquiry callback is no cost to you.

https://welloiledk9.com/questionnaire

And if needed, I’ll get you to a holistic veterinarian when the issue is beyond my scope.

Join the community for more education, Q&A, and support.

Statements in this post have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Always work with your veterinarian for diagnosis, emergency care, pain control, medications, labs, imaging, and serious health concerns.

The WelloiledK9

Canine Nutrition and Natural Wellness from a learning junky with one goal: supporting you as you support your pet's longevity.

By Dana Brigman