Meet Rachel Walsh, DVM: Veterinarian and CEO of Replenish Dog Water Supplement

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Walsh, DVM and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I first constructed the idea of Replenish water supplement one hot Houston day when I was at the dog park with my dog, Sammy, and he became overheated and dehydrated. It was at that moment I realized there needed to be a safe and effective method to rehydrate dogs to prevent them from having a heat stroke and having to go to the vet. That experience inspired me to research what nutrients have been proven to effectively help canine athletes recover faster after activity and to enhance their performance. With my background in Biochemistry and veterinary medicine and my experience as an All-American track athlete, I developed the ideal formula to rehydrate, re-energize, prevent injury, and improve your dog’s performance which I named Replenish. 

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Replenish Dog Water Supplement is an on-the-go powdered supplement that is designed to be quickly mixed with your dog’s water in order to help prevent heat stroke, prolong stamina during activity, and increase tracking ability. It is also designed to be used to help sick dogs recover faster from illness. The appetizing chicken flavor entices any dog to drink, even when they are panting heavily. The science based simple ingredients include protein, carbohydrates, antioxidants, and B vitamins designed to replenish your dogs body at the cellular level. I created Replenish Dog Water Supplement to fill a void in dog nutrition. When I researched existing products related to dog dehydration it was apparent that most items on the market were not made by a veterinarian and did not have research to support their efficacy. I saw an immediate need for a tailored, all-natural product that would be safe for my patients. After intensive research, I found the ingredients that have been scientifically proven to enhance recovery and formulated a simple and effective product that is manufactured here in the USA. Creating my own company has been an exhilarating journey however, it has not been easy in the least. As a mother of three children, four years and under, and while working a full time job as a veterinarian, finding free time to work on my company is one of my biggest challenges. However the excitement of learning new research, building my own brand, and learning so many new skills keeps me wanting to use any spare minute to “work” more. Working on Replenish never even feels like a job, it’s a creative outlet for me to expand my knowledge and interest in veterinary medicine and to help dogs in more ways than just in the clinic.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Houston is an amazing city and has pretty much everything you would ever want to do! My favorite outings are enjoying the outdoors with my family, friends, and dog at the new Eastern Glades at Memorial Park. I also love Walking around my alma mater, Rice University and the nearby Hermann Park. We also like to ride bikes or canoe down Allan Parkway. If it is raining, its great to grab a cycle class or yoga class at Revolution Studio. Or in the evenings it is also fun to catch a musical or play at the Hobby Theater under the stars. When we get hungry, I love starting off with brunch at Betsy’s at Evelyn Park or the Dunlavy on Allen Parkway. Later in the day I love to grab some raw oysters for appetizers at Eugenes and then grab a full meal at either El Tiempo or our favorite sushi restaurant called Hokkaido in Sharpstown. If we are looking for a fancy night out, I choose to go to dinner at the best steakhouse in Houston, Vic and Anthonys. There are so many places to grab a drink or dessert but our top choices would be either Brenner’s on the Bayou for an awesome scenery or go to the Oaks Room at the Post Oak Hotel.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to give a shoutout to all of my family and friends who are providing so much support to make my dreams come true! Firstly to my husband, who continues to believe in me and is my biggest supporter! He makes multiple sacrifices for me from taking extra shifts with our 3 beautiful children when I need some additional time to work and also using his own free time to help me work through Replenish strategies. I would also like to give a shoutout to my parents who were extremely supportive of my dream to become a veterinarian and who use their free time to promote my supplement company. My brother and sister-in-law have also been instrumental in helping me with marketing efforts that I cannot do on my own. And my father in law and mother in law who are always thinking creatively to help me expand my company.  And lastly, to my neighbor with Tangelo Studio, who gave me the initial nudge to get my whole company started and to Heather Sholl at the Villages Gym who has been extremely supportive of my entrepreneurial ventures. I am very thankful to have such a wonderful support group!

Website: www.replenishdog.com
Instagram: @dogreplenish
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-greff-walsh-8a763951/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/replenishdog
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDAojZO-Kzuxo6zqfcHBMJw

Image Credits
Rachel Walker, Girls with Pearls (Headshots) Great Dane Pictures (Dog Agility Pictures) Tangelo (Created box design)