How Discernment Can Protect Your Dog from Dangerous Misinformation

Discernment.

It’s a skill I wish I’d developed much earlier in my career.

And to be honest, I’m still refining it.

When I first started out as a new vet 24 years ago, naive, nervous, excited, and terrified, I didn’t have discernment. No one had taught me. Not my parents, not my teachers, and definitely not my professors in vet school.

That lack of discernment left me wide open and vulnerable to big pharma, billion-dollar kibble companies, and even self-serving bosses who took advantage of my hard work and dedication.

One of the biggest gaps in my veterinary education was nutrition. Despite an otherwise incredible education, we barely touched the topic in vet school. After graduation, I was bombarded with “lunch and learns” hosted by major pet food companies. They packaged their products as science-based and claimed the only way to feed a “balanced” diet was through their processed formulas.

And for a while, I believed them. It was easier. It felt safe. Recommending those diets seemed better than admitting I didn’t have a solid nutritional foundation to stand on.

But my gut wouldn’t let it go. Eventually, I listened. I sought out the education I was never given. I learned. And I began healing animals with real food.

This was the beginning of a new chapter in my career, one that opened my eyes to both the power and the responsibility that come with true discernment.

Inside our passionate holistic community, my discernment has grown, but it’s still evolving.

I want to believe in people. I want to support others doing good work. But sometimes, that kindness has clouded my judgment.

I’ve promoted a couple of individuals I believed in. People who seemed trustworthy, experienced, and aligned with the mission. But they weren’t who they claimed to be. I trusted their advice. I sent guardians their way. And more than once, that advice caused harm.

Pets got sick. Guardians were left confused, overwhelmed, and heartbroken.
And I was the one who had to step in, clean up the mess, and bring that pet back to wellness.

That’s a painful place to be. To realize your support unintentionally contributed to someone else’s suffering changes you. It woke me up.
And it reminded me that above all else, I have a responsibility to the animals who can’t speak for themselves and to the guardians doing their best to care for them.

Today, I see so many loving, committed guardians in the same vulnerable position. They are trying desperately to help their dogs but are being misled by people who pose as professionals without the education, experience, or accountability to back it up.

Some will even go as far as to dismiss or disregard veterinarians altogether, claiming to know better than those of us who’ve spent decades studying medicine and using that knowledge in practice. That mindset isn’t just disrespectful, it’s dangerous.

True holistic care doesn’t reject veterinary medicine; it integrates it. The best outcomes happen when everyone stays within their scope and works together for the good of the animal.

You can see the confusion everywhere.
At conferences, where one speaker contradicts the next, leaving guardians frustrated.
And on social media, filled with bold claims, fear-based messaging, and endless noise.

If that’s where you find yourself, please pause and look at the source.

A large following doesn’t equal expertise.
A stage doesn’t equal credibility.
A self-published book doesn’t make someone a professional.
Likability does not equal trustworthiness.

Ask yourself:

• What qualifies this person to speak on this topic?
• Do they have real clinical experience with cases like mine?
• Are they sharing firsthand results or just repeating what they’ve read?
• Do respected professionals vouch for their credibility?
• Do they clearly state their scope of practice and stay within it?

We live in a time where perception often overshadows substance. And I get it, I’ve been fooled too.

However, I’ve spent decades in ER medicine, actually treating patients, while others build “authority” from theory and secondhand research. That’s the difference between knowledge and wisdom, between theory and lived experience.

The encouraging truth is that there are incredible, ethical leaders in this holistic space.

Veterinarians who combine formal education with years of hands-on experience, applying, refining, and proving what truly helps animals heal.

There are also herbalists, holistic coaches, and nutritionists who have spent years learning, teaching, and supporting animals within their scope. Many have aligned their life’s work with a genuine mission to serve both animals and their guardians with integrity. 

Together, these practitioners, each with their own area of expertise, can help round out your dog’s healthcare team alongside your veterinarian.

But be cautious of those who:

• Promise quick fixes
• Use fear to sell products or consultations
• Promote themselves more than the animals they claim to serve
• Speak louder than they listen
• Lack the education or experience to back up their claims
• Dismiss the education of veterinarians and claim to know better

Look for humility.
Look for consistency.
Look for purpose, not ego.

Ask for references. Review their work. Do your homework before investing your trust or your money.

I’m not perfect. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve misjudged people.
But I’ve learned, and I’ll keep learning, because I care deeply about this work, these animals, and the guardians doing their best every single day.

Discernment is how we protect ourselves.
It’s how we protect each other.
And most importantly, it’s how we protect our dogs.

They can’t speak.
So we have to be their voice.
And that begins with knowing who, and what, to trust.

The Dog Mom Society

A community created by Dr. Loudon for dog guardians who want a safe, supportive space to learn, grow, and connect with other women devoted to the dogs they love.

Inside, you’ll find trusted guidance, expert advice, and real conversations that help you make confident, informed choices for your dog’s health, happiness, and well-being.

We also offer women’s wellness support and trainings designed to help you grow not only as a guardian, but as the strong, balanced woman your dog already knows you are.