Mystic Dog Mama

Dr Alexia Mellor
  • 5.0 (9)
  • PETS & ANIMALS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Mystic Dog Mama

Mystic Dog Mama is the podcast for soul-led dog mamas where you will discover how to best nourish your dog - and yourself - mind, body, and soul. Join me, Dr. Alexia Mellor, as I talk with some of the most inspiring pet experts, spiritual leaders, health professionals, and more, as we explore how our dogs are teaching us about what it means to be human. This is the place for inspiring stories, along with practical tips and tricks on how to lead a more holistic, nourished, and soulful life with your canine companion.

  1. 2 HR. AGO

    Pancreatitis: Protect Your Pup This Holiday Season, with Cat Jepson

    Before you give your dog that piece of cooked turkey skin this holiday season, listen to this conversation with canine nutritionist and pet health coach, Cat Jepson, all about pancreatitis! Pancreatitis is a serious condition that requires immediate attention from your vet, but there are some things that you can do to help prevent and manage it with the appropriate diet! Cat and I cover: * What the pancreas is, and what is happening when pancreatitis hits * Common symptoms of pancreatitis to keep an eye out for * Potential causes of pancreatitis, whether you are feeding kibble or fresh food  * How to think about Essential Fatty Acids for a dog with pancreatitis * And why a DIY approach to your dog’s diet may be the most helpful approach to manage a pancreatitis flare-up, and to prevent it To connect with Cat about her courses and all of her other offerings, please visit her Instagram https://instagram.com/bemoredog.nutrition Cat also has her own podcast, My Dog Made Me Do It…Naturally! She talks with pet parents and professionals about navigating their journeys with their pets into the world of natural health. So, be sure to check that out wherever you listen to podcasts! I hope this was helpful for you! If you want to know more about pancreatitis and how you might be able to support it through diet, Dr Conor Brady’s book Feeding Dogs, as well as his website https://dogsfirst.ie  are really informative. He raises interesting questions around whether or not high carbs in the diet might actually be just as problematic as fats when it comes to pancreatitis, so check out his work for some other perspectives. There are also helpful resources on the Dogs Naturally Magazine website https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/ The following is my Amazon Affiliate link, which means if you choose to purchase Dr Conor Brady's book with this link, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you. This is one way you can help support the podcast, and I would be grateful if you choose to do this! Amazon USA: https://amzn.to/3O75Aix This episode is sponsored by Aspirationery, which in full transparency, is another project of mine where we create books, notebooks, and stationery to support you in becoming all you aspire to be. I’m really excited to announce that we have released a Spanish language version of our popular My First Period Tracker for Young Girls and Tweens in order to increase menstrual literacy and empower young people to become advocates for their menstrual health. You can learn more about our books on our Instagram https://instagram.com/aspirationery OK, let’s go! *Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian or doctor.

    1h 13m

  2. NOV 16

    A Fresh Approach to Kidney Disease with Katie McCaul

    Today we are doing a deep dive into all things kidney disease: what it is, how it is diagnosed, and how to prevent and manage it with fresh food! My guest is my canine nutrition mentor, colleague, and friend, Katie McCaul! Katie is an esteemed canine nutrition professional who uses her background as a veterinary nurse, as well as her studies in human naturopathy specialising in nutrition, and animal behaviour and physiology to bring both a holistic and evidence-based approach to how we support our dogs’ health and wellbeing through fresh food. Katie has held roles in research and development, as well as formulation for several companies in the pet food industry. She also consults directly with clients who need nutrition support. Katie has conducted research projects, and has been part of the raw feeding veterinary society. Katie is also super passionate about education and teaches vets, vet nurses, and other canine professionals about fresh feeding.  I couldn’t think of anyone I would rather chat with about kidney disease than Katie! Katie and I pack so much helpful information in here to give you a better understanding of what kidney disease is, how to interpret what the lab results are telling you, and how you can best support your dog through a fresh food diet. You’ll learn: * The various roles the kidneys play, and how kidney disease affects them * What factors can cause kidney disease * Kidney disease symptoms and how it is diagnosed and Staged (and why blood test results might not always be a true indicator of kidney disease) * How reducing stress and anxiety in your dog can help support the kidneys * And we answer the question,”Can we replicate what prescription kidney diets are doing with fresh food instead?” (Spoiler Alert! Not only can you match what prescription kidney diets offer, but you can do even BETTER with a fresh food diet for kidney disease, and we’ll walk you through how and why!) We share some great tips on foods to add into your dog’s diet, and answer common questions around whether or not you need to restrict certain nutrients and when. It’s my hope that this episode provides you with some new, helpful perspectives on how to prevent and manage kidney disease, and that in doing this it takes away some of the fear that I know firsthand comes with a kidney disease diagnosis. There really is SO MUCH we can do to help dogs with kidney disease live long and healthy lives, so grab a pen and paper! You’ll want to take notes! You can learn more about Katie and how to work with her to support your dog by visiting her website http://mypetdiet.co.uk/  If you do have a dog with kidney disease and you would like some more information on anything Katie and I went over, including my resource on my favourite kidney disease supports from a TCVM perspective, please reach out.  Or, if you need some more personalised guidance and handholding to put together a nutrition and wellbeing plan using fresh food for your dog with kidney disease, and you’d like my help, send me a DM on Instagram @mysticdogmama, or contact me on my website https://mysticdogmama.com and let me know what’s going on with your dog, and I’ll be happy to talk about ways I can support you. This episode is sponsored by Aspirationery, which in full transparency, is another project of mine where we create books, notebooks, and stationery to support you in becoming all you aspire to be. I’m really excited to announce that we have released a Spanish language version of our popular My First Period Tracker for Young Girls and Tweens in order to increase menstrual literacy and empower young people to become advocates for their menstrual health. You can learn more about our books on our Instagram https://instagram.com/aspirationery International Renal Interest Society http://iris-kidney.com *Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own ve

    1h 49m

  3. NOV 9

    From Training to Teaching: Building a Foundation of Trust with Your Dog with Chrissy Messick

    Today I’m joined by Chrissy Messick, a dog trainer, behavioural consultant, animal communicator, and fellow podcaster, who helps dog parents set the foundations to build a happy and healthy relationship with their dogs.  I just love this conversation because Chrissy really takes a holistic approach to how we help our dogs navigate this world - and by proxy, how this helps US to better navigate the world. Chrissy shares how she grew up around animals, but then entered a career in sports medicine - even working at the Olympic Games! But it was her experience in volunteering at the local Humane Society, working with a life coach, and taking animal communication courses that served as a huge pivot, and took Chrissy down the path of working with dogs and their humans from a whole dog perspective. Chrissy shares how her first dogs with her husband served as incredible teachers for her that have even informed the way she parents her children. She also talks reframing training to teaching our dogs, how dogs are supporting us in coming back to our own bodies, and how we can better develop our relationships with our dogs by making sure create opportunities for both passive and active “being”. Chrissy also shares wisdom that dogs have shared with her and her clients through animal communication sessions. To connect with Chrissy and learn more about how to work with her: https://⁠theanimalnature.com⁠.  And definitely check out her podcast The Dogs of Our Lives anywhere you listen to podcasts! She has some wonderful guests that I think you’ll find really interesting and helpful in your journey with your dog! This episode is sponsored by Aspirationery, which in full transparency, is another project of mine where we create books, notebooks, and stationery to support you in becoming all you aspire to be. I’m really excited to announce that we have released a Spanish language version of our popular My First Period Tracker for Young Girls and Tweens in order to increase menstrual literacy and empower young people to become advocates for their menstrual health. You can learn more about our books on our Instagram ⁠https://instagram.com/aspirationery ⁠https://mysticdogmama.com⁠ ⁠https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama⁠ OK, on that note, let’s go!

    1h 1m

  4. NOV 2

    When Life Hands You Lemons, Flip Them! with Jenny Dempsey

    This is a very special spotlight series episode! Today, my fellow mystic dog mama, Jenny Dempsey, joins me to talk all things flipping! In 2022, Jenny was unexpectedly and suddenly laid off from her corporate job. Despite having over 18 years' experience and expertise in her field, she wasn’t having any luck finding another job, and after applying for over 350 job openings, the universe gifted her with a different kind of opening. To help lift herself out of a deep darkness and the grief of losing her job, her father, and moving, Jenny followed the suggestion of one of her friends to help out at a local rescue. And it was from this experience that things started to dramatically change in Jenny’s life. She began experiencing joy, purpose, and hope, and this all led to another chance encounter - this time with some unwanted furniture, and more importantly, with the long-forgotten creative part of herself! Since then, Jenny has started her own furniture flipping business in San Diego, and launched The Career Flipper Podcast, where she captures the stories of so many other people who have taken the risk of jumping to the road less traveled, and challenged the stigma of leaving the comfortable job in favour of exploring the unknown. Jenny and I talk about her journey of self-discovery and finding resilience, of what it means to be able to shed an old identity when you’re not quite sure what the new one is you’re stepping into, and how her gorgeous rescue Doodle, Dwight has played a pivotal role in reflecting back to Jenny the gift of self-compassion. Jenny’s story is a testament to her strength, and I hope that in hearing it you find a permission slip of sorts to flip what needs to shift in your life to help you expand into the next version of yourself! To connect with Jenny: https://www.thecareerflipper.com https://Instagram.com/thecareerflipperpod I’m actively putting together some exciting new episodes for you, but I want to know what you want more of! You mentioned you want some more info on nutrition, so I have a series in the works for you on that - but keep sending me your questions about nutrition, because there’s so much to talk about when it comes to nutrition, and I’ll just keep making episodes to help you! And what other topics would you like me to dive into when it comes to nourishing your dog - and yourself - mind, body, and soul? Let me know! You can leave a note in the comments, DM on https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama, or contact me through my website https://mysticdogmama.com Finally, If you are enjoying the podcast, and haven’t done so already, I would be so grateful if you would consider liking, subscribing, and leaving a review. This really helps me to know what you are enjoying, and it also helps other mystic dog mamas - and papas! - who are looking for help and support to find the podcast and this beautiful community we are creating together. This episode is sponsored by Aspirationery, which in full transparency, is another project of mine where we create books, notebooks, and stationery to support you in becoming all you aspire to be. I’m really excited to announce that we have released a Spanish language version of our popular My First Period Tracker for Young Girls and Tweens in order to increase menstrual literacy and empower young people to become advocates for their menstrual health. You can learn more about our books on our Instagram https://instagram.com/aspirationery OK, on that note, let’s go! DISCLAIMER: This is not a substitute for medical advice or other relevant professional advice.

    1h 24m

  5. OCT 26

    Beyond the Bowl: Sensory Diets to Regulate Your Dog's Nervous System (and YOURS!) with Sharon Vincuilla

    Hi there, and thank you so much for joining me! Today, I talk with Sharon Vincuilla of Human Canine Collaborative all about co-regulating our nervous systems with our dogs. With a doctorate in Occupational Therapy and certification as a professional dog trainer and dog behaviour consultant, Sharon has extensive experience in taking an interspecies approach to helping dogs and their humans find grounding and joy by co-regulating their nervous systems. In particular, her practice focuses on supporting neurodivergent dog guardians in regulating their nervous systems while reducing reactive, anxious, or aggressive behaviour in their dogs, and today she shares with us what this can look like in practice, and some simple tips that you can apply in your relationship with your own dog.  I was really excited to have Sharon on the podcast because the conversations she brings to the table around the need to recognise different ways of processing the world, and the need to create inclusive ways of supporting pet parents and dogs with different sensory needs are just so important to be having. In talking with Sharon, I found myself having so many “aha” moments, including realising areas where I can, personally, become more empathetic and inclusive - with humans and dogs alike. And where I can have more self-compassion, too! I really appreciated that Sharon asked if we could start the conversation with some breath work to anchor us both in our bodies, and to the moment, so that we could be more present for one another in our conversation. I just loved that suggestion, and asked if we could invite you, the audience, to join us, too, and she was thrilled to do that. So, this episode starts off with Sharon leading us through a short grounding exercise, which we invite you to join us in if it is safe and comfortable for you to do so. From there, Sharon shares her journey of bringing together Occupational Therapy and an understanding of dog behaviour and dogs’ emotional needs via her experience in animal-assisted interventions. This ultimately led her to the work she does today in the Human Canine Collaborative. There is so much goodness in the episode, but to give you some highlights, you will learn about: What a sensory diet is and how to use it to better meet your dog’s and your own sensory needs Really helpful tips and tricks to build awareness of your nervous system’s needs, your dog’s nervous system needs, and how to co-regulate Neurodiversity and neurodivergence, and whether or not it’s appropriate to think about our dogs in these contexts and with these terms Why Sharon refers to her dog, Muggins, with the they/them pronouns, and why you may consider doing the same with your dog How Muggins’s experiences with stress, trauma, and hypersensitivity paralleled Sharon’s experiences of navigating a diagnosis of C-PTSD and autism, and how she worked with and through that Tips on how you can navigate a difficult situation where you and your dog are both triggered at the same time This episode is sponsored by Aspirationery ,which in full transparency, is another project of mine where we create books, notebooks, and stationery to support you in becoming all you aspire to be. I’m really excited to announce that we have released a Spanish language version of our popular My First Period Tracker for Young Girls and Tweens in order to increase menstrual literacy and empower young people to become advocates for their menstrual health. You can learn more about our books on our Instagram https://instagram.com/aspirationery OK, on that note, let’s go! Connect with Sharon: https://hc-collab.com Instagram https://instagram.com/holisticdogexpert Happy Dog Happy Human podcast Connect with me: https://mysticdogmama.com https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama

    1h 18m

  6. OCT 19

    Support Your Dog's Microbiome for Better Physical, Mental, Emotional Health with Dr Carol Hughes

    Today we launch into all things microbiome! This is honestly one of my favourite topics, because as we discover more and more each day, the microbiome plays such a pivotal role in all aspects of our dogs health, and our own health!  You’re really in for a treat because my guest is Dr Carol Hughes, who is arguably one of the world’s pre-eminent experts when it comes to the canine microbiome. Carol has had a vast career in bioscience research, and for over 10 years has specifically been engaged in research and development of our companion animal’s microbiomes with her company PetBiome.  In today’s conversation, Carol and I explore the microbiome as the missing key in the canine diet, and how nurturing this ecosystem, you can vastly improve your dog’s physical, mental, and emotional health. And, based on the wonderful questions that you guys ask me, Carol and I touch on a range of topics that I know you will find really helpful, including: *What the microbiome actually is and its role in health *The pros and cons of probiotics *The relationship between the microbiome and behavioural challenges like anxiety and aggression *How dogs’ microbiomes have changed in the post-COVID era *Easy steps you can take to better support your dog’s microbiome and increase diversity *Whether a raw or gently cooked diet is better for microbiome health *and What Faecal Matter Transfer (FMT) is, and how your dog might benefit from it If you’d like to reach out to Carol, or you’d like to learn more about how to order a microbiome test and report for your dog, visit her website https://www.biome4pets.com What was your biggest takeaway from this episode? What questions do you still have about your dog’s microbiome and its link to their health? Let me know in the comments, or DM me on Instagram https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama, or contact me through my website https://mysticdogmama.com. It’s such a fascinating and ever-evolving topic, so I will definitely be addressing it further in future episodes, so let me know what you want to know more about. If you are enjoying the podcast, and haven’t done so already, I would be so grateful if you would consider liking, subscribing, and leaving a review. This really helps me to know what you are enjoying, and it also helps other mystic dog mamas - and papas! - who are looking for help and support to find the podcast and this beautiful community we are creating together.  This episode is sponsored by Aspirationery ,which in full transparency, is another project of mine where we create books, notebooks, and stationery to support you in becoming all you aspire to be. I’m really excited to announce that we have released a Spanish language version of our popular My First Period Tracker for Young Girls and Tweens in order to increase menstrual literacy and empower young people to become advocates for their menstrual health. You can learn more about our books on our Instagram https://instagram.com/aspirationery DISCLAIMER: This is not a substitute for medical advice or other relevant professional advice.

    1h 8m

  7. OCT 12

    How Astrology Can Help You Create A Better Relationship with Your Pets, with Suzanne Gerber

    Today, instead of looking down at the ground like so many of us dog owners are used to doing, we are going to take a look up towards the sky! I’m joined by my guest, Suzanne Gerber, who is a classically trained astrological counselor, shamanic energy healer and animal lover who draws on her training and initiations in shamanism, Reiki, Buddhism, quantum physics and soul-centered psychotherapy to support people in waking up to their purpose and manifesting their dream life.  This is a fascinating episode! Suzanne shares with us how we can use tools like astrology to better understand ourselves, and to create better relationships with our pets, and others. She reminds us that we, and our beloved pets, are intimately connected to the cosmos, because we are made of stardust, too!  We touch on topics like: * Free will vs fate (hint: despite popular lore, the planets don’t cause things to happen to you!) * How your natal chart is your psychic MRI scan * And some really useful places to start if you want to explore astrology as a tool for self-inquiry You’re going to love this! And Suzanne also really kindly offers listeners a powerful gratitude recording that you can use in your own personal practice. To learn more about Suzanne and how to work with her: https://starsandstoneshealing.com https://starsandstoneshealing.com/gratitude-sign-up https://asksuzanne.com This episode is sponsored by Aspirationery, which in full transparency, is another project of mine where we create books, notebooks, and stationery to support you in becoming all you aspire to be. I’m really excited to announce that we have released a Spanish language version of our popular My First Period Tracker for Young Girls and Tweens in order to increase menstrual literacy and empower young people to become advocates for their menstrual health. You can learn more about our books on our Instagram https://instagram.com/aspirationery And if you would like me to cover any particular topics related to nourishing your dog and yourself mind, body, and soul on future episodes, please reach out and let me know! You can DM on https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama or reach out to me on my website https://mysticdogmama.com. All right, until next time!

    1h 23m

  8. OCT 5

    Why IBS is BS! Getting to the Root of Your Gut Issues (& Your Dogs', Too!) with Kaytee Hadley

    This week’s episode is one that I hope you’ll find really helpful for both yourself and your dog if either of you are experiencing GI issues!  I’ve mentioned before on the podcast that Lucky’s GI issues and then his kidney issue were what launched me into canine nutrition, but something I haven’t mentioned before is that I used to suffer from debilitating IBS myself. In fact, it was so bad at one point that doctors thought I must have colon cancer  because they just couldn’t figure out what was going on. My whole experience with the traditional medical community at that time was so humiliating, discouraging and disempowering, and it wasn’t until a family friend who was a naturopath sat down to talk to me about what was going on in my life, and recommended a functional medicine approach to get to grips with what was happening in my body that for the first time I saw major improvement.  It’s for that reason that I really wanted to bring today’s guest, Kaytee Hadley, onto the podcast to talk about IBS, some steps you can take to support your gut health, and how to become your own health advocate. We talk a lot about our dog’s gut health over here at Mystic Dog Mama, but as you’ll discover in this conversation, there are SO many parallels with our own gut health, too. You might know Kaytee from social media as the anti IBS dietician. Kaytee and I both sing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to needing to get to the root of gut issues and not just throwing an unhelpful label like IBS on them. Kaytee has had her own story with IBS and SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth), and having come out on the other side, she now supports other people navigating the often complex journey of GI issues. We talk about : * How gut issues are linked to insulin resistance, skin issues, fertility issues, disrupted menstrual cycles, yeast infections, and more, and how this requires approaching gut issues from a whole-body perspective *Kaytee’s 3 pillars for addressing gut issues *Why YOUR insights into your body are so important *Whether or not probiotics are useful for IBS, and how the nervous system plays a critical role in gut health Kaytee also shares a beautiful, touching tribute to her soul pup, Peanut who has passed on, so get your tissues ready. To connect with Kaytee: Website: ⁠https://kayteehadley.com ⁠ Instagram: https://instagram.com/kayteehadley This episode is sponsored by Aspirationery, which in full transparency, is another project of mine, where we make books, notebooks, stationery to support in becoming all you aspire to be. I’m really excited that we have just released a Spanish language version of our super popular My First Period Tracker for Young Girls and Tweens. This is a book designed to empower young people starting their periods and foster menstrual literacy. You can find out more about Aspirationery and our offerings on our Instagram account Connect with me on Instagram ⁠https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama⁠, or on my website ⁠https://mysticdogmama.com⁠ DISCLAIMER: This is not a substitute for medical advice or other relevant professional advice.

    1h 4m
See All (58)

Trailer

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Mystic Dog Mama is the podcast for soul-led dog mamas where you will discover how to best nourish your dog - and yourself - mind, body, and soul. Join me, Dr. Alexia Mellor, as I talk with some of the most inspiring pet experts, spiritual leaders, health professionals, and more, as we explore how our dogs are teaching us about what it means to be human. This is the place for inspiring stories, along with practical tips and tricks on how to lead a more holistic, nourished, and soulful life with your canine companion.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr Alexia Mellor
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr Alexia Mellor
  • Show Website
    Mystic Dog Mama

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada