Nacho Average Dog Health Coach

11/11/2025

Did you know that stinging nettle has more nutrition per ounce than almost any plant on Earth?

It's basically a multivitamin that grows wild and free :)

For cancer dogs, it addresses multiple treatment side effects naturally and has a nutritional profile that surpasses supplements:

Iron (addresses chemo-induced anemia)
Calcium (more bioavailable than dairy)
Vitamins A, C, K (immune and clotting support)
Silica (strengthens hair lost to chemo)
Protein (16% - complete amino acids)

But here's the magic: Nettle is a blood builder AND blood cleanser simultaneously.

It supports kidney function (crucial during cancer treatment), reduces inflammation via prostaglandin inhibition, and contains lectins that may inhibit cancer growth.

Nettles are also great as preventive medicine. The mineral profile (iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium) is in perfect natural ratios for absorption. No synthetic supplement matches this!

When harvesting nettles, make sure to wear gloves, and cut top 4 inches before flowering.

Blanch the leaves for 30 seconds to neutralize their sting, then freeze in portions. Or you can dry the leaves at 95°F for tea.

I harvest pounds each spring, providing year-round medicine for free.

Dosage: 1 tablespoon of blanched leaves per meal, or 1 tsp dried as tea. Start slowly - it's detoxifying.

11/09/2025

70% of immunity lives in the gut.

For cancer dogs, a healthy microbiome isn't optional - it's survival. Fermented foods provide what no probiotic pill can match.

Fermentation creates beneficial bacteria (in the trillions), bioavailable nutrients (B vitamins increase by 500%), cancer-fighting compounds (isothiocyanates in fermented cabbage), digestive enzymes (destroyed in kibble processing), and short-chain fatty acids (fuel immune cells, inhibit cancer growth).

Here are examples of some fermented vegetable recipes I provide specifically for my cancer patients:

Cabbage (glucosinolates), carrots (beta-carotene), beets (betalains), and ginger (anti-nausea).

Simple: Shred vegetables, add 2% salt by weight, massage until liquid releases, pack in jar, submerge under brine, ferment 3-7 days.

Start with 1 teaspoon per meal. Increase gradually - too much too fast causes gas.

By week 2, most dogs tolerate 1 tablespoon per 25lbs.

Results I see: Better stool quality within days, improved appetite, increased energy, better tolerance of chemo side effects.

One dog's chronic diarrhea from chemo resolved completely with daily fermented vegetables.

Ancient preservation becomes modern medicine.

Your kitchen counter becomes a probiotic factory.

11/06/2025

𝐏𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐩 #𝟓:

My favorite evening ritual is brewing reishi tea for both me and my senior dog, my sweet 9-year-old Cane Corso girl, Tofu.

We sit together, sharing this 'mushroom of immortality' that Chinese emperors once hoarded.

Tofu is luckily healthy and has no issues or cancer, but I believe that is because I'm making conscious choices every day to prevent her from ever getting sick.

𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢 (Ganoderma lucidum) contains over 400 bioactive compounds.

The beta-glucans activate macrophages - your dog's cellular janitors that engulf cancer cells. The triterpenes inhibit tumor growth and metastasis.

If you have a dog undergoing cancer treatment, reishi contains ganoderic acids that help protect the liver during that process. Another amazing benefit!

Here's how I make the tea:

Simmer 1 tsp powder in 2 cups water for 20 minutes (reishi is too tough to absorb without heat extraction).

I add a pinch of turkey tail powder and a slice of ginger.

We share the pot - 1/2 cup for Tofu, the rest for me.

More than just the anti-cancer properties, I love this ritual, the intention, and the quiet moment of healing we create together.

Studies show that stress hormones fuel cancer growth.

This peaceful routine combats that.

Some nights, I swear Tofu reminds me when it's tea time.

Medicine works better when it's wrapped in love❤️

11/05/2025

Canine Cancer Awareness Month Tip #4:

Food is medicine — especially when healing starts in the gut.

🍲 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐞 (𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲):

• Handful of Turkey wings or chicken feet
• 8 oz Shiitake mushrooms
• 1-2 Carrots + 1 stalk celery
• A strip of astragalus root (remove before serving)
• Small splash of apple cider vinegar

Simmer low + slow for 8-12 hours for deep nourishment - and flavor! Yes, dogs love good flavor too :)

Why these ingredients?

🌱 Mushrooms = immune modulation
💛 Astragalus = Qi + immune support (TCVM gold)
🍖 Collagen = gut repair + joint support

Serve warm over meals or freeze in molds for easy use.

Will you try it? Comment yes below or if you have any questions with regards to cooking for cancer support!

11/04/2025

Pet Cancer Awareness Month Tip #3:

If I could put one mushroom in every dog's bowl, it'd be Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor).

This humble forest mushroom contains PSK and PSP, polysaccharides that have been extensively studied in Japan, where they're approved as adjuvant cancer treatments.

Here's what's so amazing about Turkey Tail: it doesn't just boost immunity randomly, it specifically increases natural killer cell activity by up to 300%!

These are your dog's special forces against cancer cells. Start with 1/8 tsp mushroom powder per 25lbs, and build slowly from there. Mushrooms are typically very gentle on the digestive system - another reason to love them!

The University of Pennsylvania actually studied Turkey Tail in dogs with hemangiosarcoma - the median survival time more than doubled.

How to serve it?

Mix it into bone broth or yogurt or your dog's bowl or favorite treat.

Your dog's NK cells will thank you, and you'll feel empowered knowing you're doing something proactive every single day. 🍄

Comment below if you'd like the link to a great turkey tail mushroom powder I use for my own dogs!

11/03/2025

Pet Cancer Awareness Month Tip #2:

Cancer is an inflammatory disease.

Fresh food is an anti-inflammatory act of love.

You don’t need to overhaul your dog’s diet overnight. Begin with one real food addition:

🥦 Steamed broccoli (sulforaphane = anti-cancer powerhouse)

🫐 Blueberries (antioxidants fight oxidative stress)

🥕 Carrots (fiber supports healthy gut microbiome)

🐟 Sardines (omega-3s decrease inflammation)

🍲 Bone broth (gut + immune support)

Every fresh addition tells your dog’s immune system: “I’ve got you.”

Start small, stay consistent, and remember — you don’t need perfection to make a difference.

You need commitment.

So tell me: what whole food will you add to your dog's bowl today?

11/02/2025

November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month — and for me, this topic is deeply personal as it is for so many pet parents.

I lost my soul dog, Nacho, to hemangiosarcoma. His diagnosis, his courage, and his loss changed the course of my life.

He is the reason I now dedicate my work to educating and supporting pet parents who refuse to accept “there’s nothing more we can do.”

Cancer is overwhelming.

Hope can feel fragile.

But you’re not alone, and you DO have options to support your dog’s body, spirit, and quality of life.

All month, I’ll be sharing:

🌿 Cancer-supportive herbs
🍄 Medicinal mushrooms for immune intelligence
🥣 Nourishing recipes you can easily make at home
🔥 TCVM wisdom for dogs with heat, stagnation, dampness, deficiency
🐾 Heart-centered guidance from someone who’s walked this road

Healing begins in the bowl… but it continues in the heart.

Have you had a dog with cancer?

If you feel called, share your dog’s name below so we can honor them together this month 🤍🐾

❤️

10/31/2025

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘴, 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵, 𝘐𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘦’𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘸𝘯. 𝘈 𝘱𝘢𝘸𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴, 𝘈 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘰 — 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. — 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘕𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘰 🕊️

🤍 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮, 𝐍𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐨

Two years ago today, on a day I used to love — Halloween — my world shattered.

My soul dog, Nacho, left this earth far too soon at just six years old. Hemangiosarcoma stole him suddenly and brutally, and there are still moments where I can’t breathe when I remember that day… the shock, the helplessness, the love that couldn’t be contained in a body anymore.

October 31st will never be just Halloween again. It will forever be 𝐍𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐨’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 — a day where joy and heartbreak walk hand-in-hand.

I miss his eyes.
I miss his presence.
I miss the way he made the world feel safe, warm, and full of possibility.

He was my 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦-𝘪𝘯-𝘢-𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘨 — the one who cracked my heart open so wide it changed me forever.

And even though he is gone, he is still the loudest voice in my life.

✨ 𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞

Nacho isn’t “gone.”

He’s just moved into another form — my guide, my compass, my purpose.

Every day, I feel him nudging me forward.
Every decision I make, every dog I help, every grieving heart I hold — he is there.

His legacy is alive in the work I do.
He is the reason I completely changed my life, followed a calling I didn’t know I had, and stepped into this world as a holistic pet health coach.

I couldn’t save him —
but through him, I help others feel seen, supported, and never alone on this path.

That is his gift to me.
And my promise to him.

🕯️ 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮, 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬

Nacho, thank you for choosing me.
For loving me with a depth I had never known.
For breaking me open so I could become who I was meant to be.

You are my heart, my teacher, my spirit companion.
Two years without your paws beside me,
but never one second without you guiding me.

I carry you everywhere.
And I always will. 🤍🐾

10/30/2025

This time of year is very emotional for me because tomorrow marks the 2nd anniversary of my beloved Nacho’s passing.

While I never thought I could live through a day without enormous pain, I’m glad to say that I’m slowly starting to see how he is continuing to be present in my life and guiding me on the right path.

Although he’s no longer here with me in the physical realm, I still talk to him every day and he’s leading me right to where I need to be in my life.

I’ll share more about this in our upcoming pet memorial event this coming Sunday, November 2 at 2 PM ET that I’m cohosting with my friend and colleague Melissa of Melissa Sherman - Calming Creek.

if you’ve experienced the loss of a pet that deeply touched you and if you can relate to this post, we would love to see you there. It’s free to join through our Compassionate Paws Facebook group - link in bio.

Our best friends deserve to be memorialized and talked about daily, in our group we do the best we can to honor them.

See you Sunday? 💜🐾

📷 credit: .society

10/29/2025

There’s something sacred about being in a space where you don’t have to explain.

Where you can say, «I still set out their bowl sometimes» and people nod because they understand.

Where grief and gratitude can exist in the same breath.

This Sunday, we’re creating that space together.

Whether your animal companion crossed last week or years ago, whether you had them for two months or twenty years, whether you said goodbye in your arms or came home to an empty house—your experience is valid, your grief is real, and you deserve to be held by a community that understands.

Melissa and I have both walked this path. We know the specific ache of it.

And we know how powerful it is to grieve in community rather than in isolation.

This event is not a class or a webinar, it’s simply a gathering of hearts who know what it means to love an animal deeply and to honor what that love means.

Bring their photo, a candle, your memories and yes, even your tears. Bring whatever you need.

Sunday, November 2nd at 2 PM ET

Live on Zoom (link will be posted in our Compassionate Paws: Pet Grief Support Circle group)

Free event - hosted by Sunny Gandara of Nacho Average Dog Health Coach & Melissa Sherman of Melissa Sherman - Calming Creek

Let’s honor them together. ❤️

❤️‍🔥

Send a message to learn more

10/28/2025

I came across this memory and picture of my boy Nacho, receiving one of his acupuncture treatments during his journey with hemangiosarcoma — part of his protocol in his holistic care of supporting his body, not just treat his symptoms.

In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), acupuncture is used to restore balance and the smooth flow of Qi (energy) through the body.

By inserting fine, sterile needles into specific points, we can help stimulate healing, reduce pain and inflammation, support the immune system, and improve overall vitality.

For dogs with cancer, acupuncture can be incredibly supportive. It helps:

🐾 Ease pain and discomfort
🐾 Boost appetite and energy
🐾 Calm anxiety and improve sleep
🐾 Enhance the body’s natural healing response

Modern research shows that acupuncture triggers the release of endorphins and natural anti-inflammatory compounds — a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern science.

For Nacho, acupuncture helped bring his body back into balance, comfort, and peace.

💛 Sometimes, the most powerful medicine isn’t found in a pill, but in the body’s own ability to heal when we give it the right support.

If you are curious about how you can support your dog holistically, feel free to get in touch!

10/27/2025

Someone asked me recently, "𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒕?"

And I realized: I don't want to be "over it."

Our animals aren't experiences to get over.

They're not phases of our lives to move past.

They're souls who chose us, loved us unconditionally, and changed us forever.

The grief we feel isn't weakness—it's the other side of profound love.

But so many of us grieve in isolation.

We return to work the next day.

We hear well-meaning people minimize our loss.

We scroll past photos while our hearts are breaking, pretending we're fine because the world doesn't always understand that losing them is losing family.

This Sunday, November 2nd, we're gathering to break that isolation.

Not to "move on," but to honor what was.

To say their names out loud.

To let the tears fall without apologizing.

To be in a room—even a virtual one—where everyone understands exactly how much they meant.

You don't need to explain your grief here. You don't need to justify the depth of your love. You just need to show up as you are.

We're also creating a digital altar to celebrate our animal companions. If you'd like to share a photo, submission details are listed in our free-to-join FB group Compassionate Paws: Pet Grief Support Circle

But whether you share a photo or not, your heart and your story are welcome.

You're seen. You're heard. You belong here.

🕯️ 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭:

Sunday, November 2nd at 2 pm ET (note the time change is this weekend!)

Free live gathering. Link coming soon.

Melissa Sherman - Calming Creek