What Happens in a Dog Nutrition Consultation (Behind the Scenes)

You’re looking at the “Book a Video Call” button.

Maybe you’ve been hovering over it for days. Maybe weeks. You want to click it, but there’s this voice in your head asking:

What am I actually paying for? Is this just going to be another 30-minute Zoom call where someone tells me to feed chicken and rice? Will I get a generic meal plan pulled from a template? What if I spend the money and walk away with nothing useful?

I understand the hesitation. You’ve probably already paid for things that didn’t help. You’re tired of wasting money on solutions that sound good but don’t actually work for your dog.

So let me walk you through what actually happens when you book a consultation with me. Not the glossy marketing version—the real version.

Before We Ever Talk: I’m Already Working

The consultation doesn’t start when we get on the call. It starts the moment you book.

You’ll Fill Out an Intake Form

This allows me to get a history of why your dog needs nutritional support.

In preparation, it will help if you download the symptom tracker linked at the bottom of the page. I have many questions related to your dog. Questions that are unique to the TCVM process.

Why this matters:

I need to see the complete picture before we talk. Not just “my dog has allergies” but the whole story—when it started, what makes it better or worse, what else is going on that you might not realize is connected.

I Review Everything Before Our Call

Your intake form, any lab results you’ve uploaded, photos if you’ve sent them. I’m looking for patterns.

If you’ve got bloodwork, I’m not just checking if values are “in range.” I’m looking at trends, at values that are technically normal but on the edge, at combinations of results that tell a story your vet might not have mentioned.

From a TCVM perspective, I’m also noticing things like:

Does your dog seek out cool floors or love to sunbathe? Do they drink a lot of water or hardly any? Are they always moving or do they prefer to rest? Do they have a strong appetite or are they picky?

These details tell me about your dog’s constitution—whether they tend to run hot or cold, whether they have excess or deficiency patterns, what their body needs to come back into balance.

This isn’t fluff. It’s how I know whether your dog needs warming foods or cooling foods, whether we’re building up deficiency or clearing excess, whether gentle support or more assertive intervention makes sense.

Here’s what this actually looks like:

I had a client whose dog had chronic ear infections. The intake mentioned he panted constantly, sought out tile floors to lie on, drank water obsessively, and had a reddish tint to his coat.

Before we ever spoke, I knew we were looking at a heat pattern. The ear infections weren’t random—they were one symptom of excess heat that needed to be cleared, not just managed with antibiotics.

That pre-call review meant when we did talk, I wasn’t starting from scratch. I already had a working hypothesis about what was happening and what might help.

The Call Itself: Not a Lecture

Our call is usually 30 minutes. Sometimes longer if the case is complex.

This isn’t me talking at you, I work in partnership with you.

What We Actually Do

I listen. A lot.

I want to hear what’s worrying you. What you’ve already tried. What you think is going on. What your gut is telling you even if you can’t articulate why.

You know your dog better than anyone else. I’m not there to dismiss what you’re seeing or tell you you’re wrong. I’m there to help you make sense of it.

I ask questions you might not expect:

Not just “what’s the symptom” but “when does it get worse? When does it get better? What was happening in your dog’s life when this started? What else changed around that time?”

I’m connecting dots you might not have connected. Looking for patterns that aren’t obvious when you’re in it every day.

I explain what I think is happening—and why:

Not in technical jargon. In language that makes sense.

If I see a Spleen Qi deficiency pattern, I’m not just throwing that term at you and moving on. I’m explaining what it means—that the digestive fire is weak, that food isn’t being transformed properly, that this is why your dog has soft stools AND low energy AND a dull coat. It’s all connected.

We talk about what’s realistic for you:

I need to know what you can actually do. Do you have time to cook? What’s your budget for ingredients? Are you comfortable handling raw meat? Do you have access to good-quality proteins?

There’s no point in me designing an elaborate meal plan that requires ingredients you can’t find or a time commitment you can’t sustain.

A Real Example

I worked with someone whose dog had kidney disease. The vet had prescribed Hills k/d. The dog wouldn’t eat it.

During our call, she told me her dog used to love chicken but now turned away from food entirely. She was terrified her dog was starving but didn’t know what else to do.

We talked through the kidney disease—what the body needs, what we need to restrict, why the prescription diet is formulated the way it is. Then we talked about her dog specifically—the loss of appetite, the stress, the fact that not eating at all is worse than eating something imperfect.

We designed a plan with low-phosphorus proteins her dog would actually eat, cooked gently to support weak digestion, with foods that from a TCVM perspective support Kidney Yin and clear deficiency heat.

The consultation wasn’t about me showing off what I know. It was about solving her specific problem with her specific dog.

After the Call: You Get Actual Plans

Within a few days after our consultation, you’ll receive:

Customized meal plans based on your dog’s specific needs and your specific capacity. Not generic templates. Recipes I’ve tested in my own kitchen, written clearly, with substitutions noted. (This is for the larger packages)

Feeding guidelines tailored to your dog—, what to watch for. (This is for those that don’t need recipes but book a wellness call only)

Supplement recommendations if needed, with specific brands and dosages. I only recommend what actually serves a purpose for your dog’s pattern.

A clear roadmap of what to expect, how long to try things before adjusting, what signs of improvement to look for.

But Here’s What’s Different About How I Write These Plans

Every recipe I give you, I’ve cooked myself first.

Not just tested the ratios on paper. Actually cooked it. Tasted it (yes, I taste dog food—it should smell and look appealing). Made sure the instructions make sense. Simplified anything that was unnecessarily complicated.

If you’re going to be making this food regularly, it needs to be doable. Not some elaborate chef-level process that sounds impressive but you’ll never actually sustain.

The TCVM piece gets woven in naturally:

I’m not just hitting nutritional targets. I’m choosing specific ingredients for their energetic properties.

If your dog is running cold with deficiency, we’re using warming proteins and spices. If they’re dealing with dampness and heat, we’re incorporating cooling vegetables and damp-draining foods.

But I explain why. You’re not blindly following instructions—you’re understanding the logic so you can make adjustments as your dog’s pattern shifts.

The Follow-Up: This Doesn’t End When the Call Does

Here’s something most nutritionists don’t tell you upfront: the first plan is rarely the final plan.

Your dog’s response gives us information. Maybe the chicken you thought they’d love causes more itching. Maybe the portion size needs adjusting. Maybe symptoms shift as one pattern clears and another becomes more obvious. Your dog’s body will reveal what is true for them.

This is normal. This is the process.

I build in follow-up because I need to know how your dog is responding. You can email questions. Send photos of stools (glamorous, I know, but genuinely useful). Report changes in symptoms.

I review this information and we adjust.

Sometimes that’s a simple tweak—switch proteins, adjust ratios. Sometimes it’s recognizing a new pattern has emerged and we need to shift approach.

You’re not abandoned with a plan and a “good luck.” You have ongoing support while we dial this in.

What This Process Isn’t

Let me be clear about what you’re NOT getting:

This isn’t a quick fix. If you want someone to tell you to feed X supplement for 2 weeks and your dog will be cured, I’m not your person.

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all template. I don’t have “the allergy protocol” or “the kidney disease recipe” that I give everyone. Your dog’s plan is specific to your dog.

This isn’t me overriding your vet. I work alongside veterinary care, not instead of it. If your dog needs medication or medical management, that stays in place. Nutrition supports healing—it doesn’t replace necessary medical treatment.

This isn’t passive. You’ll need to cook (or at least prep food). You’ll need to observe your dog and report back. You’ll need to follow through on the plan. I can’t do the work for you—I can only guide it.

What Happens If It’s Complicated

Sometimes during the intake review or the call itself, I realize a case needs more research.

Maybe it’s a rare condition I haven’t worked with extensively. Maybe the lab results show something unusual that I want to understand better. Maybe the TCVM pattern is complex and I need to consult texts or colleagues.

I tell you this.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers on the spot. If I need to dig deeper after our call to ensure my recommendations are solid, I do that.

You’ll get my preliminary thoughts during the call, and then I’ll send updated recommendations once I’ve done the research.

This might mean your plan takes an extra few days. But it also means you’re getting thoughtful guidance, not off-the-cuff guessing.

The Practical Stuff You’re Probably Wondering

“What if I can’t find the ingredients you recommend?”

I’ll help you find alternatives. Local stores, online options, substitutions that work. I’m not giving you a plan that requires ingredients you can’t access.

“What if my dog won’t eat what you recommend?”

We adjust. Try different proteins, different textures, different preparations. The plan serves your dog—your dog doesn’t serve the plan.

“What if my vet doesn’t support this?”

I’m happy to talk to your vet if that helps. Most vets are open to collaboration if they see you’re working with someone knowledgeable who respects their role. Most vets are always on board when they hear how my recipes are meet all the nutritional guidelines set by AAFCO and NRC.

If your vet is completely opposed to any nutritional approach other than prescription food, you might need to decide whether that’s the vet relationship you want. But that’s your choice, not mine to push.

“What if I’m confused about something after the call?”

Email me. Text if we’ve established that. I’m not available 24/7, but I respond to questions. This isn’t a one-and-done transaction.

“What if the plan isn’t working?”

We adjust. This is why follow-up matters. Not working doesn’t mean failure—it means we need different information to dial it in.

Why I Do It This Way

Years ago, my own dogs had issues I couldn’t figure out. I was doing everything I thought was right—feeding raw, avoiding chemicals, being so careful.

And they were still struggling.

I took them to an integrative vet who handed me a folder of cooked diet ideas and explained food in a way that made sense. That moment changed everything. I realized the power of food.

When my dogs healed, I couldn’t unknow what I’d learned. I became a certified canine nutritionist and also trained in TCVM because I wanted to give other people what that vet gave me: clarity, practical guidance, and hope that things could actually get better.

This consultation process exists because of that experience.

I remember what it felt like to be overwhelmed, confused, scared I was doing it wrong. I remember how much it mattered to have someone who listened, who explained things clearly, who gave me a plan I could actually follow.

That’s what I’m offering you. Not just nutritional advice—a partnership in your dog’s healing.

What Happens Next

If you’re reading this and thinking “okay, this sounds like what I need,” here’s what you do:

Book the consultation. Pick a package that makes sense for your situation.

Fill out the intake form honestly and completely. The more I know, the better I can help.

Show up for the call ready to talk. About your dog, your concerns, your capacity, your goals.

Implement the plan we create together. Not perfectly—just consistently.

Give feedback so we can adjust. Your dog’s response tells us what we need to know.

This isn’t magic. It’s a process. But it’s a process that works when we work it together.

Book your consultation here →

Not quite ready? Download the free TCVM Symptom Tracker below to start identifying your dog’s patterns yourself →

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