13. If You’ve Ever Had a Soul Dog…This One’s for You
Unapologetically Wild with Mary Giordano
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Show Notes
This episode isn’t about morning routines, mindset shifts, or microshifts.
It’s about my dog.
My almost 14-year-old yellow lab, Phoebe.
My trail companion, road trip partner, rock-diving enthusiast, and soul dog.
And what happens when the one who’s always held space for you, suddenly needs you to hold space for them.
In this personal and emotional episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what’s been going on behind the scenes these past few months. It’s a story I haven’t told until now.
We’re talking terrifying respiratory episodes, multiple vet visits, near-death moments, a full workup at CSU, and the decision between two very different surgeries.
But it’s also about listening to your gut. Pausing when you need to. And what it means to choose presence...especially when it’s inconvenient.
💬 In this episode, I share:
🐾 What laryngeal paralysis (Lar Par) is and how it affects senior dogs - especially Labs
🐾 Early warning signs I missed with my last lab, Zoe
🐾 The day Phoebe collapsed in the backyard and I thought it was the end
🐾 What made me stop working, traveling, and creating
🐾 How I chose between tie-back surgery and a silicone stent
🐾 Why this gave Phoebe a second chance and me a whole new perspective
This one’s for the dog lovers.
The caretakers.
The ones who’ve hit pause not because they’re stuck, but because they’re showing up for what matters most.
🩺 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
This episode is real. It's raw.
And it’s proof that sometimes the bravest thing you can do…
is pause everything and then come back.
🎧 If this resonated, share it with a fellow dog mom, leave a review, or hit follow. Your support means everything.
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Let’s get this message out to more dog lovers!
Until next time...
Stay wild ⛰️💫🌵