Tails of Truth: The Truth about Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Angie Krause, DVM CVA CCRT
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Alternative Health
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Tails of Truth, the podcast where holistic veterinarian Dr. Angie Krause and her co-host, veterinary nurse JoJo, bring you candid, light-hearted conversations about pet health, veterinary medicine, and everything in-between. Whether you're a pet parent or a veterinary professional, this is your judgment-free space for real answers, practical problem-solving, and the kind of grounded guidance that helps you advocate confidently for the animals you love. From integrative treatments and preventive care to hot-button topics, tough diagnoses, and the emotional reality of pet parenting, we cover it all with clinical expertise, empathy, open minds, and curiosity. This show takes the discussion beyond the exam room and elevates the way we care for animals. Make yourself a cup of tea and press play.  This is the kind of exchange you'd want to have with a trusted friend who just happens to be a veterinarian. We're so glad you're here! 

  1. 22h ago

    Our Confessions: Overdoses, Shame & Chaos

    Tell Us What You Think Even veterinary professionals aren't immune to chaos and medical errors. In this episode, Dr. Angie and JoJo get vulnerable about the mistakes, emergencies, and shame spirals that happened with their own pets, including a medication dosing error, an unexpected ER visit after a dog ate a pot cookie, and a cat dental emergency that came with major sticker shock. They talk through what it actually feels like to mess up in an industry where you're expected to know better, why full mouth dental x-rays under anesthesia matter, how ASPCA Animal Poison Control works, and what to do if your dog may have eaten THC. Vulnerable, honest, and possibly even relatable.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Even experienced veterinarians and vet techs can make dosing errors, and ASPCA Animal Poison Control is a resource available to any pet parent, not just veterinary professionalsFull mouth dental x-rays under anesthesia can catch problems like tooth resorption that aren't visible without themDog THC toxicity is rarely fatal but can cause serious discomfort, including body temperature swings, vomiting, and disorientationCBD may help counteract THC toxicity in dogs by displacing it from cannabinoid receptorsPet insurance (the hosts both use Lemonade) can reimburse emergency costs quicklyVeterinary professionals can feel shame asking their own colleagues questions, the same way pet parents sometimes doVeterinary medicine is expensive even for veterinariansMedical errors happen to even the best veterinarians and vet staff Mistakes happen with pet parents.  This is a judgement free zone for all of it SOUNDBITES "This is a scary episode." — JoJo "I immediately felt sheepish and small."  — Dr. Angie "She's hella uncomfortable." — JoJo "You've gotta let yourself be human."  — Dr. Angie "I think it makes us less judgmental, 'cause how can we judge?" — JoJo "I'm in metronidazole jail."   — Dr. Angie Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTubeSchedule your personalized one-on-one consultation with Dr. Angie Shop my favorite CBD.Please subscribe and review! xoxo Dr. Angie & JoJo

  2. Aug 14

    Are Steroids Bad for Cats? What to Know

    Tell Us What You Think Steroids get a bad reputation, especially among holistic pet parents, but Dr. Angie Krause and JoJo break down when cats actually need them and when it's okay to explore other options. They cover the difference between prednisone and prednisolone, the real risk of steroid-induced diabetes, budesonide as a gentler alternative, and how to safely taper a cat off long-term steroids. They also dig into steroids for IBD, asthma, and skin conditions, plus what the research does and doesn't say about steroids and cancer risk. They discuss benefits and risks and potential side effects.  This conversation is for any cat parent who has felt nervous about starting their cat on steroids. Key Takeaways Prednisolone is generally preferred over prednisone for cats because some feline livers convert it less efficiently, though exact failure rates aren't well studied.Steroid-induced diabetes in cats is rare (Dr. Angie has seen it twice in 20 years) and, caught early, is often reversible.Diabetes risk is dose-dependent and shows up early, usually within the first few weeks, not after prolonged use.Budesonide stays local to the GI tract and doesn't carry the same systemic risk as prednisone/prednisolone.Cats tolerate steroids better than dogs, with fewer personality changes or physical side effects like muscle wasting.Steroids don't have to mean a lifelong commitment, but tapering, not cold-turkey stopping, is essential after long-term use to avoid adrenal crisis.Natural alternatives (diet, CBD, herbs, probiotics) work for maintenance situations but not during an active crisis like an asthma attack.Steroids can still be appropriate for cats with kidney disease depending on severity of their disease, and current evidence doesn't support steroids causing cancer.Soundbites  "Cats often need steroids. They need steroids for asthma, for inflammatory bowel disease, for their allergic disease, for all kinds of things."  — Dr. Angie "People in the holistic space really try to avoid steroids. They hear that word steroid and I feel like it's all out panic."  — JoJo "The first thing I think of is please don't become diabetic. It's happened to me twice in 20 years, but it feels bad." — Dr. Angie "I know it can feel overwhelming to dose your cat a pill every day. Just know that this can be compounded into a formulation that works for you and your cat."         — JoJo "If your cat has asthma and is struggling to breathe, steroids are the best thing... in crisis, it's not the time to think about any kind of alternative." — Dr. Angie Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTubeSchedule your personalized one-on-one consultation with Dr. Angie Shop my favorite CBD.Please subscribe and review! xoxo Dr. Angie & JoJo

  3. Aug 7

    Angry About The Cost of Veterinary Care? So Are We

    Tell Us What You Think The veterinary industry is changing fast, and Dr. Angie Krause and veterinary nurse JoJo are not afraid to say how they feel about it. In this episode, they get honest about why pet care keeps getting more expensive, what corporate consolidation and mergers like MWI and Covetrus mean for your local vet clinic, and how brands like Chewy are reshaping the industry in severely impactful ways. It is a conversation about what is happening to veterinary professionals trying to stay independent and to pet parents trying to keep up, and what you can actually do about it. Key Takeaways Corporate and private equity ownership of US veterinary clinics jumped from 8 percent in 2011 to 50 percent in 2025Vet costs have risen 60 percent since 2014, pushing pet insurance from optional to functionally necessaryThe proposed MWI Covetrus merger, under FTC investigation, would give one company control of 75 percent of veterinary supply distributionChewy's $49.99 dollar telehealth consults can prescribe medication without a physical exam, straining the relationship between pet parents and their regular vetSome corporate wellness plan contracts continue billing pet parents after their pet has diedZoetis faces two lawsuits: one from shareholders over undisclosed product losses, one from an Oregon veterinary hospital alleging its VETSCAN Imagyst AI tool misdiagnosed a mass that turned out to be fatal cancerAI tools in note taking, radiology, and diagnostics are becoming standard, raising questions about how new veterinarians will learn to build differentials on their ownLifetime cost of pet ownership: 22,000 to 60,000 dollars for a dog, 20,000 to 47,000 dollars for a catDr. Angie and JoJo recommend pet insurance, filling prescriptions locally when possible, and supporting independently owned clinicsSoundbites " I felt like, okay, it's up to us to evolve or die."  — Dr. Angie  "Like it's just contractual, it's not human."  — JoJo "It definitely feels like a knife in the back."  — Dr. Angie  "I'm like Chewy is Voldemort."  — JoJo "What I wanna say is try to get care at non corporate veterinary clinics."  — Dr. Angie  "I just want to really acknowledge that the industry is changing. You're not imagining that."  — JoJo Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTubeSchedule your personalized one-on-one consultation with Dr. Angie Shop my favorite CBD.Please subscribe and review! xoxo Dr. Angie & JoJo

  4. Jul 31

    Which Pet Supplements Can You Actually Trust?

    Tell Us What You Think In this episode of Tails of Truth, Dr. Angie Krause and veterinary nurse JoJo dig into the murky world of pet supplements: what's actually worth buying, what's marketing hype, and how pet parents can tell the difference. They talk through the emotional pull of supplement ads, including Dr. Angie's own impulse buy, why fear is such effective marketing, and why a page of five-star reviews doesn't mean a product works. The conversation covers what the NASC seal actually means, why CBD chews for pets can vary wildly in potency, and which supplements Dr. Angie actually trusts and stocks, including fish oil, probiotics, and Chinese herbs. They close with a simple gut check for choosing a supplement without falling down a research rabbit hole. Key Takeaways Fear is one of the most effective marketing tools in the pet supplement space. Ads leaning on "your senior pet could live longer" or reversing a scary diagnosis are designed to bypass rational decision-making.A high review count says nothing about whether a supplement is safe or effective.The NASC seal and a third-party certificate of analysis are real green flags, but neither guarantees a pet actually needs the product.Many supplements don't contain therapeutic doses of their active ingredients, partly because manufacturers balance dosing against palatability.CBD chews for pets can have inconsistent THC distribution between doses, even within the same bag.Fish oil is one of the most broadly useful supplements, supporting joint, skin, cognitive, heart, kidney, and anxiety-related health.Dogs and cats generally don't need a multivitamin if their diet is properly balanced.Probiotics need consistent long-term use to work, not a quick start right before antibiotics.A veterinary consult can save pet parents money by cutting an oversized supplement list down to what actually matters.Sound bites "Anyone can start a supplement company."  — Dr. Angie  "Fear is fantastic marketing."  — JoJo "Fish oil is one of the most underrated supplements. I think that's helpful for almost any condition."  — Dr. Angie  "A consultation with you might save people money."  — JoJo "My philosophy overall is if I have a good diet, I shouldn't need that many supplements."  — Dr. Angie  "What really irritates me is how then you'll have people come on and say, I thought I was gonna have to euthanize my dog, but then I started this supplement and now he's totally fine."  — Dr. Angie  Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTubeSchedule your personalized one-on-one consultation with Dr. Angie Shop my favorite CBD.Please subscribe and review! xoxo Dr. Angie & JoJo

  5. Jul 24

    Just Us, Talking Life & a Plan for JoJo's Anxious Dog

    Tell Us What You Think In this episode of Tails of Truth, Dr. Angie and JoJo take a break from veterinary topics for an unscripted, personal catch up after two weeks apart. There's no agenda for this episode other than to give their listeners a peek into their lives. They talk through mutual, mostly unfounded worries about the podcast, chat dating and travels, and share real life updates including a health scare, a surprising pregnancy test twist, and a family court update. The conversation turns practical toward the end as Dr. Angie and JoJo map out, in real time, a sedation plan for JoJo's anxious dog, Sage, ahead of an upcoming vet visit. If your own pet turns into a different animal the moment you walk into a clinic, you'll find you're not alone in trying to figure out how to get veterinary care for your pet. Key Takeaways An unscripted personal catch up between Dr. Angie and JoJo after two weeks apart, including their mutual (unfounded) fears about firing/quitting each other.Dr. Angie shares a health update involving endometriosis and an ovarian health scare that turned out to be nothing.JoJo shares a startling positive pregnancy test tied to hormone shifts common in perimenopause/menopause.Real time planning for sedating JoJo's dog, Sage, who is fearful and reactive at the vet, including specific injection techniques used to reduce her stress.A reminder that vet staff have challenging pets too, and a fearful or reactive dog at the clinic is nothing to be embarrassed about.Sound Bites I have to admit JoJo like I've been really worried all week that you hate working here and you're gonna quit.  — Dr. Angie  This is where I feel like a jerk... I could do it and save everybody, but I also don't want to do it.  — JoJo It doesn't really matter who you marry. It matters who you parent with.  — Dr. Angie  I've been worried all week that you're gonna fire me.  — JoJo I feel like the labradoodle and the golden doodle, those are like soft choices.  — Dr Angie  If you don't subscribe, I'm gonna quit.  — JoJo Remember, Meta doesn't love us. — Dr. Angie  Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTubeSchedule your personalized one-on-one consultation with Dr. Angie Shop my favorite CBD.Please subscribe and review! xoxo Dr. Angie & JoJo

  6. Jul 17

    Hyperthyroidism in Cats: Pills, Iodine, or Diet?

    Tell Us What You Think Hyperthyroidism is one of the most common diseases veterinarians see in senior cats, but most cat parents don't know they have real options once a diagnosis comes in. In this episode of Tails of Truth, Dr. Angie Krause and veterinary nurse JoJo walk through the full picture: the symptoms that should prompt a T4 blood test, why the test is so straightforward compared to human thyroid testing, and all four treatment paths available today, methimazole in pill, cream, or melt form, radioactive iodine therapy, a prescription iodine-restricted diet, and surgery. They also cover a conversation most cat parents aren't prepared for: why treating hyperthyroidism often uncovers underlying kidney disease, and why that's expected rather than a red flag. If your cat is losing weight, acting ravenous, or yowling at night, or if you're already managing a hyperthyroid diagnosis, this episode covers the questions to ask your vet next.  Key Takeaways Hyperthyroidism is one of the top four most common diseases in senior cats.Symptoms include weight loss, increased hunger, vomiting, night yowling, hyperactivity, and a greasy coat and it can mimic kidney disease, IBD, or diabetes.Diagnosis is a single blood test (total T4), but not every senior wellness panel includes it automatically — ask your vet to add it if your cat is over 8.There are four treatment paths: methimazole (pill, transdermal cream, or compounded melt), radioactive iodine therapy, a prescription iodine-restricted diet, and surgery (rarely performed anymore).Radioactive iodine has roughly a 90% cure rate but requires a week-long hospital stay and two weeks of limited contact at home, and typically costs $2,000–$3,000.Treating hyperthyroidism often reveals underlying kidney disease that was masked. This is expected, not a sign something went wrong.Cats on methimazole need bloodwork rechecked every 4–6 weeks initially, then every 6 months, to confirm correct dosing and monitor liver and kidney values.Dr. Angie doesn't always treat mild, asymptomatic elevations in T4. She monitors instead, due to past cases of methimazole causing negative side effects in cats that didn't need it yet.Soundbites "This is one place where Western medicine actually is pretty effective."                   — Dr. Angie  "Pilling your cat every day... it's a relationship breaker for some people." — JoJo "I could talk about hyperthyroidism in cats all day long, and in fact I do."                 — Dr. Angie  "Your vet is gonna want to recheck blood work in four to six weeks. This is not a money grab." — JoJo "You're going to get so much more radiation from that airplane than from a cat."   — Dr. Angie "It sounds terrifying. And if you're holistic in nature, make this make sense." — JoJo Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTubeSchedule your personalized one-on-one consultation with Dr. Angie Shop my favorite CBD.Please subscribe and review! xoxo Dr. Angie & JoJo

  7. Jul 10

    Senior Dog Had One Seizure? Here's What to Do

    Tell Us What You Think When a senior dog has a single seizure, most pet parents end up in the emergency room the same night, and many walk out with a prescription for anti-convulsants before anyone's confirmed what caused it. In this episode, Dr. Angie Krause and JoJo unpack why that reflexive approach concerns Dr. Angie after treating six or seven senior dogs with new-onset seizures in just the last few weeks. They walk through what actually qualifies a dog as "senior" for seizure purposes, what a seizure looks like versus fainting or a vasovagal episode, and why post-ictal confusion is the tell. Dr. Angie explains what ER bloodwork can and can't reveal, why a brain tumor becomes the leading concern in older dogs, and why some dogs who seize once never seize again. They also get into the specifics: phenobarbital versus Keppra and why the wrong anti-convulsant sometimes gets prescribed, the real risks of starting steroids preemptively, when cluster seizures change the treatment decision entirely, and where CBD and Chinese herbs fit into long-term management. The episode closes with practical guidance for what to do, and what not to do, if a senior dog seizes at home. Key Takeaways One seizure in a senior dog doesn't automatically mean medication."Senior" for this purpose is roughly 9+, or 7+ in giant breeds.Post-ictal confusion is what helps identify a seizure, not fainting.First-seizure bloodwork rarely finds the cause — it mostly rules out things like severe hypothyroidism or electrolyte problems.The real concern in seniors is a brain tumor, but many dogs never seize again after one episode.Waiting for a second seizure gives useful information about timing and progression without meaningful added risk.Anti-convulsants become the right call once seizures recur, especially if they cluster (more than one in 24 hours).Steroids and anti-convulsants started reflexively at the ER can bring real side effects and complicate long-term management.At home: give space, don't touch the mouth, don't feed right away, protect from falls.CBD and Chinese herbs are for ongoing management once there's a pattern, not a treatment for one seizure.Sound Bites "After twenty years of practice, when I watch an animal seize, it still alarms something inside me."  — Dr. Angie  "It's one of my least favorite things to witness." — JoJo "Seizures beget seizures." — Dr. Angie "After one seizure, putting your dog on an anti-convulsant, in my opinion, is incorrect." — Dr. Angie  "Everybody wants to just pull them close and hold them, and your dog's just not in their normal state of being." — JoJo Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTubeSchedule your personalized one-on-one consultation with Dr. Angie Shop my favorite CBD.Please subscribe and review! xoxo Dr. Angie & JoJo

  8. Jul 3

    Does Woo-Woo Have a Place in Holistic Veterinary Medicine?

    Tell Us What You Think Dr. Angie and JoJo take a detour from clinical topics to explore the space where holistic veterinary medicine meets the metaphysical. From animal communicators and crystals to soul contracts and pet reincarnation, this episode is a candid, funny, and surprisingly moving conversation about everything science hasn't caught up to yet. Dr. Angie opens up about growing up in a deeply metaphysical family, her parents meeting at an ashram in India, her early experiences with psychic readings after losing her mother, and why she's been quietly wondering how much of that belongs back in her exam room. She practices Chinese veterinary medicine, acknowledges it sits on the woo-woo spectrum, and draws a thoughtful line between staying open to energetic practices and making real medical decisions for suffering animals. JoJo brings her own perspective as someone who thought she'd be the grounded one in this conversation and slowly realizes she's further along the woo-woo scale than she thought. She shares a jaw-dropping family story about a psychic horse in Florida that helped Illinois police locate two missing children, and reflects on her last words to her soul dog Bodhi before he died. Together they get into pets mirroring their guardian's health conditions, whether our animals chose us before we incarnated, intuition in clinical practice, animal communicators, homeopathy, muscle testing, and what role listeners actually want their holistic vet to play in all of it. This episode ends with a question for you: what's your woo-woo, and what do you want from your veterinarian? Key Takeaways Dr. Angie practices Chinese veterinary medicine, which she acknowledges sits on the woo-woo spectrum despite having growing scientific supportPets and their guardians frequently share similar health conditions; Dr. Angie attributes this to "the frequency of the house"Animal communicators are something Dr. Angie has personally used, though she and JoJo both hold healthy skepticism about how to vet themJoJo's family has a documented story of a psychic horse that helped locate missing children, reported in the pressBoth hosts believe in the concept of soul contract animals — pets we feel inexplicably and deeply bonded toDr. Angie draws a clear line: openness to metaphysical practices does not replace medical care when an animal is sufferingDr. Angie feels constrained by her veterinary oath and governing body in how openly she can incorporate energetic practices into her clinical workFood as energy is framed as one of the most accessible entry points into metaphysical thinking for pet guardiansBoth hosts invite listeners to share their own woo-woo practices and what they want from their veterinarianSound Bites Are we twin flames or are we just triggering the same childhood wound in each other? — Dr. Angie  I came from a very metaphysical family. My parents met at an ashram in India and my family has a guru. — Dr. Angie  I believe the way an animal was treated before its death impacts the way our bodies receive it. — JoJo My last words to Bodhi when he was dying was 'make sure we meet again'. — JoJo I can feel what they feel often. Like if my patient comes in with a fever, I feel the fever. — Dr. Angie Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTubeSchedule your personalized one-on-one consultation with Dr. Angie Shop my favorite CBD.Please subscribe and review! xoxo Dr. Angie & JoJo

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Welcome to Tails of Truth, the podcast where holistic veterinarian Dr. Angie Krause and her co-host, veterinary nurse JoJo, bring you candid, light-hearted conversations about pet health, veterinary medicine, and everything in-between. Whether you're a pet parent or a veterinary professional, this is your judgment-free space for real answers, practical problem-solving, and the kind of grounded guidance that helps you advocate confidently for the animals you love. From integrative treatments and preventive care to hot-button topics, tough diagnoses, and the emotional reality of pet parenting, we cover it all with clinical expertise, empathy, open minds, and curiosity. This show takes the discussion beyond the exam room and elevates the way we care for animals. Make yourself a cup of tea and press play.  This is the kind of exchange you'd want to have with a trusted friend who just happens to be a veterinarian. We're so glad you're here! 

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