Articles

Pet Cancer Crisis: Why More Dogs Are Getting Sick—and What Every Pet Owner Should Know

For many pet owners, watching a beloved dog battle cancer or chronic illness feels heartbreakingly common today. It raises an uncomfortable question: Why does it seem like our pets are getting sick younger than ever?

In this conversation, the host sits down with holistic veterinarian Dr. Natalie Lenarz-Blackman to explore what she believes are some of the biggest contributors to declining pet health. Drawing from her experience in emergency medicine and holistic practice, she shares stories from her clinic, discusses modern veterinary care, and encourages pet owners to think critically about prevention rather than simply treating disease.

While many of the topics discussed are controversial and differ from mainstream veterinary recommendations, the interview centers on one core message: healthy pets start with informed owners.

A Troubling Trend: Pets Are Getting Sick Younger

The conversation begins with a concern shared by both host and guest: they believe they're seeing more dogs diagnosed with cancer at younger ages than in previous decades.

Dr. Blackman recalls treating dogs as young as two and three years old with cancer—something she says was once considered rare. She also describes seeing pets suffering from neurological issues, liver problems, and chronic illnesses that she believes have become increasingly common.

For the host, this isn't just a professional discussion. He shares the emotional story of losing two healthy dogs, Frendel and Remy, to hemangiosarcoma within months of each other. Their sudden deaths became the catalyst for questioning many long-held assumptions about pet healthcare.

Has Veterinary Medicine Become Too Protocol-Driven?

One of the interview's central themes is the belief that veterinary medicine has shifted from individualized care toward standardized protocols.

According to Dr. Blackman, years ago most owners visited the veterinarian primarily when their pets became ill. Today, she argues, routine schedules for medications, preventive treatments, and vaccinations have become the norm.

She believes this approach sometimes prioritizes following a schedule over evaluating the unique needs and overall health of each animal.

Rather than rejecting veterinary medicine altogether, she encourages pet owners to have open conversations with their veterinarian, ask questions, and understand why each recommendation is being made.

Questions About Flea, Tick, and Heartworm Medications

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on flea, tick, and heartworm prevention.

Drawing on her years in emergency veterinary medicine, Dr. Blackman recounts seeing dogs with severe reactions—including seizures and other neurological symptoms—which she believes were associated with certain medications.

She also shares stories from veterinary school involving older injectable heartworm products that were later withdrawn and reformulated.

Rather than suggesting that every pet should avoid preventive medications, she repeatedly emphasizes evaluating the risk-versus-benefit based on factors such as:

• Geographic location
• Climate
• Mosquito and parasite exposure
• Lifestyle
• Overall health

Her view is that prevention should be personalized instead of automatic.

Why Gut Health Became the Center of Her Practice

Perhaps the strongest message throughout the interview is the importance of gut health.

Dr. Blackman believes a healthy digestive system supports a strong immune system, allowing dogs to better respond to environmental challenges.

Instead of focusing solely on avoiding germs, parasites, or viruses, she encourages owners to focus on strengthening the dog's overall health.

This philosophy influences nearly every recommendation she makes—from nutrition to preventive care to recovery after illness.

The host summarizes this idea simply:

Rather than constantly fighting the outside world, build a healthier body that can handle it.

This concept becomes the foundation for much of the rest of the conversation.

Why She Recommends a Species-Appropriate Diet

Nutrition receives considerable attention.

Dr. Blackman argues that dogs are carnivores and believes diets should reflect that biology.

She expresses concerns about highly processed kibble, particularly formulas high in starches and carbohydrates, suggesting they may contribute to poor gut health in some dogs.

Instead, she favors raw or minimally processed diets built around whole prey principles, while acknowledging that no single diet fits every dog. She also explains that individual dogs may require different nutritional approaches depending on their specific health needs.

Even when discussing commercial foods, her emphasis remains on choosing higher-protein options with fewer processed ingredients whenever possible.

A Different Perspective on Vaccinations

The interview also explores vaccinations, one of its most controversial topics.

Dr. Blackman advocates for individualized vaccination decisions based on each dog's health, medical history, and antibody testing (titers), rather than automatically following the same schedule for every animal.

She discusses the concept of measuring antibody levels before administering additional vaccines and encourages owners to have informed discussions with their veterinarians.

The host shares his own experiences and research that led him to question standard protocols after losing his dogs.

Throughout this section, both speakers stress that they want owners to educate themselves and ask questions rather than simply accept recommendations without understanding them.

Prevention Instead of Reaction

Toward the end of the interview, the conversation shifts from controversy to philosophy.

Dr. Blackman explains that much of her practice focuses on proactive medicine—helping pets stay healthy rather than waiting until disease appears.

She shares the story of a standard poodle she has cared for since puppyhood. Despite another dog from the same litter dying from cancer, this dog has remained healthy through years of individualized care, nutrition, acupuncture, and regular monitoring.

Whether or not every recommendation will resonate with every pet owner, her broader message is consistent:

Healthy habits established early may have a significant impact on long-term quality of life.

Key Takeaways

According to Dr. Blackman, pet owners should consider:

• Asking questions before starting routine preventive treatments.
• Evaluating risk versus benefit based on their pet's individual circumstances.
• Prioritizing nutrition and gut health.
• Working with a veterinarian willing to discuss different approaches.
• Focusing on long-term wellness instead of only treating illness after it appears.

Final Thoughts

The discussion between the host and Dr. Natalie Lenarz-Blackman challenges many commonly accepted ideas about pet healthcare. Some of their views differ from mainstream veterinary guidance and remain subjects of ongoing debate within the veterinary community.

Regardless of where readers stand on those issues, the conversation serves as a reminder that caring for our pets involves more than following routines. It means staying informed, asking thoughtful questions, and making decisions based on both evidence and the individual needs of the animal in front of us.

After all, every pet owner shares the same goal: helping their companions live healthier, happier, and longer lives.

The Biology of Trauma: How Unresolved Emotional Wounds Can Keep You Sick

Introduction

When most people think about toxins, they picture heavy metals, mold, pesticides, or environmental chemicals. But what if one of the most overlooked toxins isn't something you breathe or eat—it's something you experience?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Pompa sits down with Dr. Amy, author of The Biology of Trauma, to explore how unresolved trauma can become a hidden driver of chronic illness. Together, they explain why the body doesn't distinguish between physical, chemical, and emotional threats, and why healing often requires addressing all three.

Drawing from personal experiences, clinical practice, and neuroscience, they reveal how trauma reshapes the nervous system, influences chronic disease, and—most importantly—how it's possible to rewire those patterns and heal.

Trauma Is More Than a Memory

One of the biggest misconceptions about trauma is that it only applies to catastrophic events.

Dr. Amy explains that trauma isn't defined by what happened—it's defined by how the nervous system experienced it.

Two people can live through the same event and respond very differently. One may recover quickly, while the other carries the effects for decades.

The body records these experiences as survival patterns.

Dr. Pompa relates this to his own life. For years, he dismissed his childhood dyslexia as insignificant compared to other people's struggles. Yet the shame, embarrassment, and fear of being judged quietly shaped many of his behaviors as an adult.

Only later did he realize those emotional wounds had become part of his healing journey.

Trauma isn't about comparing pain. It's about recognizing how unresolved experiences continue to influence your body, your health, and your life.

Trauma Is a Toxin

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Pompa returns to a central idea:

Trauma is a toxin.

Just as the body stores chemical toxins, it can also store unresolved emotional stress.

He explains that chronic illness rarely comes from one event alone. Instead, illness often develops when multiple stressors accumulate until the body's “bucket” overflows.

Those stressors may include:

• Environmental toxins
• Infections
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Chronic stress
• Emotional trauma

When the burden becomes too great, symptoms begin appearing.

Many people describe it the same way:

“I've never felt the same since.”

Often, the final event wasn't the true cause—it was simply the last straw.

A Foster Child Changed Everything

Dr. Amy's understanding of trauma didn't begin in medical school.

It began when she became a foster parent.

She welcomed a four-year-old boy named Miguel into her home after he had spent nearly his entire life in foster care. Because of severe behavioral challenges, he was on the verge of being placed in a group home.

She believed that love, stability, and a safe environment would be enough to help him heal.

Instead, she encountered violent outbursts, intense emotional reactions, and behaviors that seemed completely beyond his control.

Miguel wasn't choosing these reactions.

His nervous system had learned to survive through them.

Watching him transformed Dr. Amy's understanding of trauma.

She realized the body can remain trapped in survival mode long after the danger has passed.

That realization eventually became the foundation of her life's work.

Trauma Lives in Three Places

One of the most valuable insights from the conversation is that trauma isn't stored only in the mind.

According to Dr. Amy, unresolved trauma affects three interconnected systems.

1. The Mind

Trauma shapes beliefs about ourselves and the world.

People often develop deeply rooted beliefs such as:

• I'm not safe.
• I can't trust people.
• I have to do everything myself.
• If people really know me, they'll reject me.

These beliefs quietly influence relationships, careers, and daily decisions.

2. The Body

The body also remembers trauma.

A person involved in a serious car accident may later drive the same road and suddenly experience:

• A racing heart
• Sweaty hands
• Tight muscles
• Shallow breathing

Logically, they know they're safe.

But the body reacts as if the danger is happening again.

The nervous system remembers what the mind has already moved past.

3. Biology

Trauma also affects the body's biology.

When the nervous system believes survival is threatened, it changes how cells function.

Energy production decreases.

Inflammation increases.

Detoxification slows.

Hormones become imbalanced.

Instead of focusing on long-term health, the body prioritizes immediate survival.

Why Chronic Illness Often Appears Years Later

One of the most important distinctions Dr. Amy makes is this:

Trauma itself doesn't necessarily make someone sick.

Unresolved trauma does.

She shares the story of a patient who developed autoimmune disease one year after a car accident.

Initially, it seemed obvious that the accident caused her illness.

But as they explored her history, they discovered years of unresolved childhood fear and chronic stress.

The accident simply pushed an already full stress bucket past its limit.

Dr. Pompa compares it to his “Perfect Storm” model.

Illness rarely results from one isolated factor.

It's usually the combination of physical, chemical, and emotional stress that overwhelms the body's ability to adapt.

The Nervous System Is Always Asking One Question

According to Dr. Amy, the nervous system constantly evaluates a single question:

Am I safe?

If the answer is yes, the body focuses on:

• Healing
• Digestion
• Hormone balance
• Detoxification
• Energy production

If the answer is no, survival becomes the priority.

That's when the body shifts into fight, flight, or freeze.

Unfortunately, many people never fully leave survival mode.

Five Signs You May Be Living in Survival Mode

Dr. Amy identifies several common trauma patterns.

Disconnection

People disconnect from their emotions, bodies, or relationships.

They stay busy, numb uncomfortable feelings, or avoid vulnerability.

Feeling Stuck

Despite wanting change, they sabotage opportunities or struggle to move forward.

The nervous system believes staying small is safer than growing.

Chronic Fatigue

The body conserves energy because it believes resources are limited.

People often feel exhausted no matter how much they sleep.

State Shifting Through Coping Behaviors

Many people unconsciously change their emotional state through:

• Sugar
• Alcohol
• Nicotine
• Overworking
• Excessive exercise
• Constant busyness

These behaviors temporarily relieve emotional discomfort without resolving its source.

Living in Constant Protection

The body remains tense.

Shoulders tighten.

Breathing becomes shallow.

The nervous system never fully relaxes because it still expects danger.

Why Recovery Matters More Than Constant Stress

Dr. Pompa draws an important parallel between healing and athletic training.

Exercise doesn't make people stronger.

Recovery does.

Stress without recovery eventually causes breakdown.

The same principle applies to emotional health.

Growth occurs when the body has enough capacity to recover after stress.

When recovery never happens, the nervous system remains trapped in survival mode.

Healing Starts With Safety

One of the most practical lessons in the conversation is surprisingly simple.

Before working through deep trauma, the body must first experience safety.

Dr. Amy demonstrates this using a somatic exercise.

Rather than trying to think differently, she helps Dr. Pompa notice how placing a pillow across his abdomen immediately creates a feeling of comfort and protection.

His breathing slows.

His shoulders relax.

His body shifts naturally toward safety.

This illustrates an important principle:

Sometimes changing the body's state is more effective than trying to change thoughts alone.

Neuroplasticity Gives Us Hope

Fortunately, trauma isn't permanent.

The brain and nervous system are capable of change through neuroplasticity.

Just as learning to ride a bicycle creates new neural pathways, repeatedly practicing safety creates new patterns within the nervous system.

Over time, the body begins expecting safety instead of danger.

That shift influences:

• Stress resilience
• Emotional regulation
• Physical health
• Energy
• Relationships

Healing becomes a biological process, not simply a mental exercise.

Cortisol Isn't the Enemy

Another myth Dr. Amy challenges is the belief that cortisol is always harmful.

Cortisol is a protective hormone.

During stress, adrenaline rapidly prepares the body for action.

Cortisol then helps regulate inflammation and sustain the stress response.

The problem isn't cortisol itself.

The problem occurs when the body remains stuck in chronic survival mode, causing the normal stress response to become dysregulated.

Rather than trying to suppress cortisol, the goal is to restore the nervous system so it naturally returns to balance.

Practical Takeaways

Healing from trauma doesn't begin by reliving every painful memory.

Instead, it begins by helping the body recognize that the danger has passed.

Some practical principles from the conversation include:

• Recognize that emotional trauma can influence physical health.
• Stop minimizing painful experiences simply because others “had it worse.”
• Notice when you're operating from survival instead of safety.
• Develop healthy ways to shift your nervous system rather than relying on coping behaviors.
• Prioritize recovery just as much as productivity.
• Understand that healing often requires addressing the mind, body, and biology together.

Conclusion

The conversation between Dr. Pompa and Dr. Amy offers an encouraging reminder that healing isn't only about removing toxins or treating symptoms.

Sometimes the greatest obstacle to recovery is a nervous system that never learned it was safe again.

Whether trauma began in childhood, through illness, loss, or life circumstances, the body is capable of change. By addressing emotional wounds alongside physical health, we create the conditions where true healing can take place.

The journey isn't about erasing the past—it's about helping the body realize it no longer has to live there.

From Heartbreak to Healthcare Reform: How Personal Loss Inspired a Mission to Fix a Broken System

Introduction

What happens when life's deepest pain becomes the catalyst for meaningful change?

In this conversation, entrepreneur Andy Schoonover shares the deeply personal journey that transformed him from a successful business owner into the founder of a healthcare movement challenging the traditional insurance model. After experiencing both tremendous business success and unimaginable personal tragedy, Andy found himself asking bigger questions about purpose, family, and the future of healthcare.

Along the way, he discovered that some of life's greatest challenges can shape not only who we become, but the impact we're called to make.

Success Didn't Bring the Fulfillment He Expected

Andy describes himself as an unlikely entrepreneur.

Growing up, he was a rule follower who preferred staying on the traditional path. Even while attending Stanford Business School during the rise of Silicon Valley, he didn't see himself joining companies like Google or Facebook. Instead, he chose a less conventional route by raising capital to acquire and grow an existing business.

That decision led him to purchase a medical alert company serving older adults.

Rather than simply responding to emergencies after they happened, Andy shifted the company's focus toward proactive health monitoring. By helping customers monitor blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other health markers before emergencies occurred, the company grew dramatically.

Within six and a half years, the business increased in value from approximately $10 million to over $100 million.

From the outside, it looked like the ultimate success story.

But when the sale was complete and the money arrived, something surprised him.

Instead of fulfillment, he felt a sense of emptiness.

The achievement he'd spent years pursuing didn't provide the purpose he thought it would.

A Personal Tragedy That Changed Everything

Less than a year after selling the company, Andy and his wife experienced every parent's worst nightmare.

During a routine 12-week ultrasound, they learned their daughter, Grace, had a fatal condition called anencephaly. They were told she would not survive after birth.

For the next six months, they lived with the painful reality that their time with their daughter would be incredibly short.

Rather than withdrawing, they intentionally treasured every moment they had.

They traveled together, celebrated every kick, and embraced the pregnancy, knowing those memories would become priceless.

Grace lived just ten and a half hours after she was born.

The loss devastated their family.

Like many couples facing profound grief, Andy and his wife struggled to process the pain together. Each coped differently, and their marriage reached the point where divorce seemed like the easiest option.

Through counseling, faith, and time, they eventually found healing.

Looking back, Andy believes those difficult years reshaped him completely.

Instead of chasing success for its own sake, he began pursuing work that genuinely served others.

Finding Purpose Through Pain

One of the strongest themes throughout the conversation is the idea that suffering often produces unexpected purpose.

Andy explains that losing Grace softened his perspective on life.

Before, his motivation had been driven by achievement and business success.

Afterward, relationships mattered more.

Serving people mattered more.

Creating something meaningful mattered more.

He now believes the hardships his family endured prepared him for the mission he would eventually embrace.

Becoming a Father Changed His Perspective

Following Grace's passing, Andy and his wife welcomed two healthy daughters.

While grateful, those pregnancies carried understandable anxiety.

The experience also intensified Andy's desire to protect his children.

That instinct eventually extended beyond his own family.

As he watched chronic illness become increasingly common among children, he began questioning why healthcare seemed focused almost entirely on treating disease rather than preventing it.

That question would soon become deeply personal.

The Healthcare Experience That Sparked a New Idea

When Insurance Failed His Family

After selling his business, Andy no longer received employer-sponsored health insurance.

He purchased an Affordable Care Act plan for his family, believing they were protected if something went wrong.

Then his youngest daughter developed recurring ear infections.

An ear, nose, and throat specialist recommended placing tubes in her ears after fluid buildup caused her eardrum to rupture. The procedure lasted only about fifteen minutes.

Weeks later, Andy received an $8,000 bill.

Shortly afterward, his insurance company informed him they would not cover the procedure because they considered it “medically unnecessary.”

For Andy, the experience was infuriating.

His daughter had gone from constant pain and sleepless nights to finally finding relief, yet the insurance company refused to pay.

Even more surprising, he later discovered the exact same procedure could have cost dramatically less if he had simply paid the physician directly in cash.

That realization led him to ask an important question:

Why was healthcare often more affordable without insurance?

Understanding the Incentives

As Andy researched the healthcare industry, he discovered what he believed was a fundamental problem.

In his view, both hospitals and insurance companies benefit when healthcare prices continue rising.

He explains that insurance companies earn revenue based on premiums. As premiums increase over time, their earnings can increase as well.

Meanwhile, hospitals also benefit from higher reimbursement rates.

According to Andy, this creates a system where neither side has strong incentives to reduce overall healthcare costs.

Patients, meanwhile, often remain disconnected from the true price of medical care because insurance obscures the actual costs.

The result is a system that many families find increasingly difficult to afford.

Building a Different Model

Creating Crowd Health

Rather than accepting the status quo, Andy decided to build an alternative.

He founded Crowd Health with a simple idea:

Instead of paying premiums into a traditional insurance company, members help fund one another's major medical expenses through a community-based model.

When significant healthcare events occur, the community contributes directly toward those costs.

According to Andy, this allows patients to negotiate directly with providers, often resulting in substantially lower prices than those charged through traditional insurance arrangements.

Over time, thousands of members have used the platform to fund medical expenses ranging from emergency surgeries to cancer treatment.

Why Prevention Matters

Another difference Andy emphasizes is prevention.

Traditional health insurance generally doesn't reward healthy behavior in meaningful ways.

Crowd Health attempts to encourage healthier lifestyles by offering discounts tied to metabolic health measurements, including fasting insulin and visceral fat levels.

The goal is simple:

Healthier members tend to require fewer expensive medical interventions, benefiting both individuals and the broader community.

Andy also explains that the community excludes smokers and individuals with obesity, believing this helps maintain affordability for everyone involved.

Community Instead of Bureaucracy

Perhaps the biggest difference Andy highlights is the human element.

Rather than interacting with anonymous insurance representatives, members work directly with dedicated care advocates who guide them through medical situations.

He shares stories of advocates supporting families not only financially but emotionally, including sending thoughtful gifts and checking in during difficult moments.

For Andy, those relationships represent the heart of the organization.

His goal isn't simply paying medical bills.

It's creating a healthcare community where people genuinely care for one another.

Lessons Beyond Healthcare

Money Isn't the Same as Purpose

One of the most memorable insights from the conversation is Andy's reflection on success.

Selling a company created financial freedom.

Losing his daughter created purpose.

While money can certainly provide comfort and opportunities, Andy believes lasting fulfillment comes from serving others and building something that improves lives.

That realization continues to shape every decision he makes.

Pain Can Become Purpose

Dr. Pompa closes the conversation by returning to the podcast's central theme: pain to purpose.

Both he and Andy reflect on how life's greatest hardships often become the foundation for our greatest contributions.

Rather than allowing tragedy to define him, Andy used it as motivation to build something he hopes will improve healthcare for countless families.

His story serves as a reminder that purpose often emerges from places we would never choose to visit.

Key Takeaways

Personal hardship can reshape priorities.

Andy believes losing his daughter transformed his focus from pursuing financial success to creating meaningful impact.

Question broken systems.

His frustrating healthcare experience led him to examine why medical costs continue rising and whether a different approach was possible.

Prevention deserves greater attention.

Encouraging healthier lifestyles may reduce long-term healthcare costs while improving overall quality of life.

Community matters.

Healthcare becomes more personal when relationships, transparency, and shared responsibility replace bureaucracy.

Purpose outlasts success.

Financial achievement can create opportunities, but meaningful service often creates deeper fulfillment.

Conclusion

This conversation goes far beyond healthcare policy or entrepreneurship.

It's ultimately about what happens when life's hardest moments redefine our purpose.

For Andy Schoonover, profound personal loss became the catalyst for challenging an industry he believes isn't serving families well. Whether or not someone agrees with every aspect of his approach, his story illustrates how pain can inspire innovation, compassion, and a commitment to helping others.

Sometimes the experiences we would never choose become the very ones that shape the work we're meant to do.