my Story
About
Animals have always been a huge part of my life. I’ve always been the person who stops to say hello to every dog or cat I pass (still am).
Over the years, through the long and happy lives of four cats and a dog, I did everything “right” for my pets — regular vet visits, annual vaccines, medications when needed.
My dog LeBron, a rescue hound puppy, changed everything.
From the start, he had digestive issues: vomiting, diarrhea, constant stomach upset and “gurgly tummy.” We made multiple vet visits early on, were given medications to fix the problem, and like many pet parents, I trusted the process. Eventually I realized something as simple as toxic plants in our yard was part of the problem. That was my first glimpse into how much environment and diet matter.
Once removed, his symptoms improved, but he continued to show signs of underlying sensitivity, including poor reactions to medications, a gray muzzle by age 2, and ongoing digestive issues. Looking back, it was clear he wasn’t thriving, but he was stable and seemed happy.
At seven, after a series of routine medical treatments – vaccines, a dental procedure with anesthesia and antibiotics – his health took a sharp turn. He developed bloat and needed emergency surgery. After that came recurring skin issues, treated over and over with antibiotics, steroids, and Apoquel.
Each time, we’d get temporary relief, but nothing truly resolved. The flare-ups kept coming, stronger and closer together. I started asking different questions: Why is this happening? What’s driving it? But my vet didn’t have any clear answers.
That’s when I began digging deeper.
I shifted his diet to fresh, home-prepared food and started working with a more holistic vet. I spent hours searching online, trying to understand how everything connected – gut health, immune function, inflammation. And for the first time, things started to make sense.
I could see how years of medications, combined with underlying sensitivities, may have overwhelmed his system – especially his gut, which plays such a huge role in overall health.
There were moments where he improved, and I truly believed we were on the right track. But managing chronic issues without a clear roadmap is incredibly challenging, and his system remained fragile – too much damage had been done.
That experience forever changed me.
It showed me how hard it is to navigate chronic health issues as a pet parent, especially when you feel like you’re piecing things together on your own, throwing darts in the dark. It also showed me how much is missing when we focus only on managing symptoms instead of supporting the whole animal.
That’s why I became a holistic pet health coach and created Root and Paws HPHC.
I want to help other pet parents feel more confident and less overwhelmed. To understand how to support their pet’s health from the inside out – starting with nutrition, but looking at the whole picture.
Not instead of veterinary care – but alongside it.
Because our pets deserve more than just getting by. They deserve to thrive, and to feel good, every day.
LYDA CRUDEN
My Background
Certified Holistic Pet Health Coach™
I am certified through Dr. Ruth Roberts’ Certification Program, with training to help identify root causes, not just symptoms.
International Holistic Pet Health Coach Association
I am a member of the IHPHCA. The association supports pet health practitioners like me with ongoing education and community resources.
My Approach
A lot of my approach is rooted in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), which looks at the whole body – not just symptoms, but constitution, balance, and the connections between everything. When I look at your pet through this lens, I’m not just asking “What’s wrong?” I’m asking what your pet’s whole constitution is telling us, and how everything fits together.
Behavior and health are connected. We look at both, together.
What your pet eats matters more than most people realize.
Every pet parent deserves support, not pressure or judgment.