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Meet Dr. Ambika Vaid

Dr. Ambika Vaid is an integrative veterinarian at Chewy’s first-ever pet clinic in Denver and an advisor to Badlands Ranch, the premium dog nutrition brand founded by actress Katherine Heigl. Inspired by the loss of her own dog to chronic illness, Dr. Vaid turned to holistic veterinary care and now blends conventional medicine with acupuncture, herbal therapies, and nutritional strategies. She’s currently completing advanced training in Western herbal medicine and veterinary acupuncture, with a mission to help pets live longer, healthier lives.

What We Talk About

How the loss of Dr. Vaid’s beloved labradoodle to chronic illness became the catalyst for her transition into integrative veterinary care.
The rise of chronic health conditions in pets, including allergies, gut issues, anxiety, joint problems, and cancer, and why conventional treatments often don’t address root causes.
How Dr. Vaid combines conventional diagnostics with Eastern approaches like acupuncture, Western herbal medicine, detox protocols, and nutritional therapy for comprehensive pet care.
The connection between poor gut health, leaky gut, and immune dysregulation, and how these imbalances affect mood, behavior, and physical health in animals.
The impact of common environmental stressors, such as EMFs, pesticides, household toxins, and over-vaccination, on inflammation, detox capacity, and long-term pet health.
Why she joined Badlands Ranch as an advisor and how she helps ensure clean, science-backed, nutrient-dense dog food formulations that support foundational health.
Her approach to functional lab testing, food sensitivity detection, and individualized treatment plans, including the use of Chinese herbs, supplements, and therapeutic diets.
How the autonomic nervous system plays a role in chronic illness and behavior issues in pets, and how she supports it through non-pharmaceutical tools.
Practical tips for pet parents: safe flea and tick prevention, liver support, reducing allergen load, and improving emotional regulation in anxious pets.
The future of veterinary care and why Dr. Vaid believes the next evolution lies in personalized, holistic, and preventative animal medicine.

Episode Resources

Chewy
Online pet marketplace offering a wide selection of food, supplements, and wellness products.
https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/Chewy

Higher Dose
Red light therapy and PEMF mats for humans and animals, designed to support relaxation, circulation, and inflammation recovery.
https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/HigherDose

Earthing
Grounding tools that help reduce exposure to EMFs and support nervous system balance.
https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/earthing

Tick MiTT
Reusable mitt designed to remove ticks from pets without chemicals or sprays.
https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/tickmitt

Connect With Dr. Ambika Vaid

Website:
http://badlandsranch.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drambikavaid

Keywords

Pet health, integrative veterinary care, holistic pet wellness, acupuncture, herbal medicine, pet nutrition, chronic disease, preventative care, dental health, surgery, environmental toxins, vaccine protocols, pet food quality, Badlands Ranch, Chewy clinics, functional medicine for animals.