Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Dr. Judi Keller is a veterinarian who spent roughly two decades practicing conventional veterinary medicine before shifting toward a more holistic approach. After becoming increasingly uncomfortable with how heavily veterinary care could rely on pharmaceuticals and symptom management, she pursued additional training in acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, and integrative care. Her work has focused on helping dogs and cats build better health through species-appropriate nutrition, reducing unnecessary exposures, and looking more carefully at the individual animal rather than automatically following a one-size-fits-all protocol.
In this conversation, we question some of the most routine decisions pet owners are asked to make and why many of us rarely stop to examine them. We discuss what may be hiding behind familiar pet-food labels, how veterinary recommendations have changed over time, and how to think more critically about nutrition, medications, vaccines, parasite prevention, testing, and other aspects of everyday pet care. This episode is not about avoiding veterinary care; it is about becoming a more informed pet owner, understanding risks and trade-offs, and asking better questions so you can make thoughtful decisions for the animal you love.
0:00 Introduction
4:43 Dr. Judy Keller’s background
6:22 Pet longevity versus quality of life
8:00 Foods dogs should never eat
11:00 What’s really inside kibble?
19:59 Urinary disease in cats
28:56 Are all pet vaccines necessary?
36:21 Potential risks of vaccination
56:24 Rethinking heartworm prevention
1:05:22 Flea prevention without routine medication
1:08:51 Rethinking spaying and neutering
1:22:27 Why fresh food isn’t considered
1:35:22 Why working dogs choose meat
2:00:46 When bloody diarrhea needs care
_____
EPISODE RESOURCES
Holistic Dog and Pet Wellness Article: nutritionwithjudy.com/holistic-dog-health-natural-pet-wellness
_____
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
📫 Tips and Weekly Updates: nutritionwithjudy.com/newsletter
JUDY CHO RESOURCES
⛑️Work with Us: empowerfunctionalhealth.com/services
🎙️ Podcast: nutritionwithjudy.buzzsprout.com
📘 Carnivore Cure Book & Elimination Diet: amzn.to/3R4VAXn
📘 Inflammation Fix Book: inflammationfix.co
📚 Articles: nutritionwithjudy.com/articles
🎁 Free Resources: nutritionwithjudy.com/resources
📗 Complete Carnivore Diet for Beginners: amzn.to/3D5lyo5
_____
*DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It should not replace professional medical advice.
#holisticpetcare #holisticvet #doghealth #cathealth #petnutrition #dognutrition #catnutrition #rawfeeding #rawdogfood #freshdogfood #speciesappropriatediet #kibble #dogfood #pethealth #dogvaccines #petvaccines #heartwormprevention #fleaprevention #spayandneuter #carnivorediet #healthydogs #healthycats #veterinarymedicine #rootcausehealing #nutritionwithjudy
Dr. Judi Keller is a veterinarian who spent roughly two decades practicing conventional veterinary medicine before shifting toward a more holistic approach. After becoming increasingly uncomfortable with how heavily veterinary care could rely on pharmaceuticals and symptom management, she pursued additional training in acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, and integrative care. Her work has focused on helping dogs and cats build better health through species-appropriate nutrition, reducing unnecessary exposures, and looking more carefully at the individual animal rather than automatically following a one-size-fits-all protocol.
In this conversation, we question some of the most routine decisions pet owners are asked to make and why many of us rarely stop to examine them. We discuss what may be hiding behind familiar pet-food labels, how veterinary recommendations have changed over time, and how to think more critically about nutrition, medications, vaccines, parasite prevention, testing, and other aspects of everyday pet care. This episode is not about avoiding veterinary care; it is about becoming a more informed pet owner, understanding risks and trade-offs, and asking better questions so you can make thoughtful decisions for the animal you love.
0:00 Introduction
4:43 Dr. Judy Keller’s background
6:22 Pet longevity versus quality of life
8:00 Foods dogs should never eat
11:00 What’s really inside kibble?
19:59 Urinary disease in cats
28:56 Are all pet vaccines necessary?
36:21 Potential risks of vaccination
56:24 Rethinking heartworm prevention
1:05:22 Flea prevention without routine medication
1:08:51 Rethinking spaying and neutering
1:22:27 Why fresh food isn’t considered
1:35:22 Why working dogs choose meat
2:00:46 When bloody diarrhea needs care
_____
EPISODE RESOURCES
Holistic Dog and Pet Wellness Article: nutritionwithjudy.com/holistic-dog-health-natural-pet-wellness
_____
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
📫 Tips and Weekly Updates: nutritionwithjudy.com/newsletter
JUDY CHO RESOURCES
⛑️Work with Us: empowerfunctionalhealth.com/services
🎙️ Podcast: nutritionwithjudy.buzzsprout.com
📘 Carnivore Cure Book & Elimination Diet: amzn.to/3R4VAXn
📘 Inflammation Fix Book: inflammationfix.co
📚 Articles: nutritionwithjudy.com/articles
🎁 Free Resources: nutritionwithjudy.com/resources
📗 Complete Carnivore Diet for Beginners: amzn.to/3D5lyo5
_____
*DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It should not replace professional medical advice.
#holisticpetcare #holisticvet #doghealth #cathealth #petnutrition #dognutrition #catnutrition #rawfeeding #rawdogfood #freshdogfood #speciesappropriatediet #kibble #dogfood #pethealth #dogvaccines #petvaccines #heartwormprevention #fleaprevention #spayandneuter #carnivorediet #healthydogs #healthycats #veterinarymedicine #rootcausehealing #nutritionwithjudy
