Why are so many pet parents and veterinarians feeling frustrated with standard, conventional care? In this episode, Angela Ardolino sits down with Dr. Jeannette Bimonte—known as "The Non-Traditional Veterinarian"—to discuss the systemic flaws in modern veterinary medicine and how to restore health from the inside out. Drawing from her experience practicing relief work across more than 100 veterinary hospitals, Dr. Bimonte explains the burnout clinicians face, why over-vaccinating sick or geriatric pets does more harm than good, and how meeting pet parents where they are with nutrition can dramatically improve outcomes. Together, Angela and Dr. Bimonte explore practical ways to detox the home, support the immune system, and eliminate perfectionism in pet care.

Episode Recap:

• Host Angela Ardolino introduces Dr. Jeannette Bimonte, "The Non-Traditional Veterinarian," to discuss her experience across over 100 veterinary practices and the importance of holistic nutrition. (00:00)
• Dr. Bimonte highlights the growing distrust in conventional medical systems and stresses the need for open, honest relationships between pet parents and holistic practitioners. (00:42)
• Angela and Dr. Bimonte discuss the lack of holistic education in standard veterinary programs, which leaves many open-minded clinicians feeling overwhelmed and stuck in conventional routines, and leaves many pet parents looking elsewhere for education and care. (05:03)
• Dr. Bimonte attributes widespread veterinary burnout to clinicians repeatedly treating symptoms rather than helping pets truly overcome chronic health issues. (08:25)
• Angela and Dr. Bimonte discuss her observations from relief work in over 100 hospitals, and how she prioritizes what is best for her patient, while respecting clinic protocols. (10:56)
• Dr. Bimonte explains why she refuses to administer routine vaccines to sick or inflamed pets, and Angela questions the practice of over-vaccinating geriatric dogs every year when multi-year intervals or titer testing offer safer, individualized alternatives. (15:16)
• Angela and Dr. Bimonte discuss how allergies reflect an overactive, "screaming" immune system that requires gut and environmental support rather than simple symptom suppression. (21:08)
• Dr. Bimonte outlines foundational wellness tips for new puppy owners, including switching to non-toxic cleaning products, improving lighting, and reducing household environmental stressors. (26:20)
• Dr. Bimonte emphasizes that stress and nervous system tension in pet parents directly impact a pet's immune health, urging listeners to drop perfectionism in favor of small, gradual changes. (32:42)

Episode Resources:

• Download Angela’s Resources, including How to Find a True Holistic Vet plus more at AngelaArdolino.com/podcast-downloads
• Find a Holistic Vet Near You
• Southern Veterinary Services for Consultations with Dr. Bimonte & her team
• Listen to Dr. Bimonte’s Podcast, The Non Traditional Veterinarian
• Follow Dr. Jeannette Bimonte, the Non Traditional Vet, on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
• Have a question about your pet that you want answered on the podcast? Email us at Angela@AngelaArdolino.com
• Sign up for episode reminders and updates from Your Natural Dog with Angela Ardolino
• Visit Angela Ardolino’s website for more holistic pet health education: www.AngelaArdolino.com

Follow Your Natural Dog on Facebook and Instagram and if you want to see what Angela is up to, follow her on Facebook or join our Plants, Mushrooms & Holistic Pet Wellness Facebook Group.

Why do standard veterinary treatments often leave chronic pet health issues unresolved? In this episode, Angela Ardolino sits down with Dr. Lisa Fiorenza—a holistic veterinarian certified in veterinary acupuncture, Chinese veterinary food therapy, and Western herbal medicine—to break down the key differences between conventional and holistic care. Dr. Lisa shares her personal journey from practicing traditional veterinary medicine to mastering Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), explaining how standard care suppresses symptoms while holistic medicine seeks to restore true internal homeostasis. Together, they explore gut-brain immune connections, the dangers of over-prescribing pharmaceuticals, the rise of fake or low-quality supplements, and real-world case studies using natural nootropics and acupuncture to reverse severe chronic illness.

Episode Recap:

• Host Angela Ardolino introduces Dr. Lisa Fiorenza, a holistic veterinarian of over ten years, and Dr. Lisa explains how mastering both conventional veterinary medicine and TCVM allows her to think like a bilingual clinician when evaluating complex patient cases. (00:00)
• Dr. Lisa shares how her own struggle with chronic pain inspired her transition into TCVM, while she and Angela reflect on helping other veterinary professionals discover holistic, root-cause medicine. (04:26)
• Angela and Dr. Lisa discuss how conventional veterinary education frames allergies as an abnormal, overactive immune response without teaching students the root environmental or gut-related causes. (7:40)
• Dr. Lisa reflects on the shift toward fresh food nutrition over the last decade and honors early holistic veterinarians who paved the way despite industry pushback. (12:00)
• The problem with low-quality commercial pet supplements that rely on synthetic isolates, heavy fillers, and inactive grain substrates instead of pure, therapeutic extracts. (18:17)
• Angela and Dr. Lisa advise pet parents faced with major medical decisions or surgery to always seek a second opinion and thoroughly research prescribed pharmaceuticals. (23:14)
• Dr. Lisa details her patient intake process, explaining how she evaluates energetic symptoms, environmental factors, emotional stressors, and medical histories to identify root imbalances. (29:40)
• Dr. Lisa shares a case study of a cat with Chiari-like malformation whose chronic pain and neurological symptoms drastically improved after incorporating acupuncture and mushroom-based nootropics for dogs. (37:44)
• Angela breaks down the science of canine cognitive dysfunction and explains how natural nootropics and full-spectrum hemp extract help restore brain-gut homeostasis in senior pets. (41:45)
• Dr. Lisa shares where pet parents can connect with her on social media, access her educational resources, and consult with her for holistic veterinary care. (44:11)

Episode Resources:

• Download Angela’s Resources, including her Senior Dog Protocol, and How to Find a True Holistic Vet plus more at AngelaArdolino.com/podcast-downloads
• Senior Dog Study - Prospective Evaluation of a Mushroom Derived Nutraceutical in Dogs with Cognitive Decline
• Angela’s Blog - Canine Cognitive Dysfunction: Mushrooms and Adaptogens for Dog Dementia
• Follow Dr. Lisa Fiorenza on Instagram and Facebook
• Have a question about your pet that you want answered on the podcast? Email us at Angela@AngelaArdolino.com
• Sign up for episode reminders and updates from Your Natural Dog with Angela Ardolino
• Visit Angela Ardolino’s website for more holistic pet health education: www.AngelaArdolino.com

Follow Your Natural Dog on Facebook and Instagram and if you want to see what Angela is up to, follow her on Facebook or join our Plants, Mushrooms & Holistic Pet Wellness Facebook Group.