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In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Francis Cabana to talk pet nutrition myths, unbalanced homemade recipes online, microbiome health, probiotics, and what it’s really like working in the pet food industry. We also cover whether dogs are true carnivores, zoo kibble, affordable ways to improve your dog’s bowl, and how to confidently choose evidence-based nutrition over internet noise.

Timestamps:

0:56 – Dr. Francis’s origin story: from zookeeper to PhD animal nutritionist
8:06 – Why she started sharing about pet food on social media
13:13 – Life for dogs, cats, and pet parents in Singapore
17:16 – Unbalanced homemade recipes and misinformation online
25:31 – Encouraging pet parents (and our own parents) to try something new
32:00 – PhD in Animal Nutrition vs online nutrition certificates
40:11 – Are dogs carnivores? And what’s the deal with zoo kibble
45:10 – The microbiome, probiotics, and gut health
51:11 – Working as a nutritionist for a pet food brand
57:38 – What Dr. Francis feeds + affordable ways to improve your dog’s bowl

Links Discussed:

• https://www.instagram.com/fuelledfurlife/
• https://www.fuelledfurlife.com/
• Dr. Francis's published studies: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=francis%20cabana&sort=date&sort_order=desc

Social media:

• Kimberly: Raw Feeder Life, RawFeederLife.com
• Erin Scott: Believe in Dog podcast, BelieveInDogPodcast.com
• Raw Feeder Life, Instagram.com/RawFeederLife
• Believe in Dog Podcast, Instagram.com/Erin_The_Dog_Mom

Thanks for listening to our podcast. You can learn more about Erin Scott's first podcast at BelieveInDogPodcast.com. And you can learn more about raw feeding, raising dogs naturally, and Kimberly's dogs at KeepTheTailWagging.com. And don't forget to subscribe to The Alternative Dog Moms.

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In this episode of The Alternative Dog Moms Podcast, Kimberly responds to unexpected criticism of raw feeding and tackles a common question: if cows and horses eat carbs, should dogs too?

We also share a helpful listener resource, discuss herbs that may help reduce histamines in bone broth, and give behind-the-scenes updates, including Kimberly and Zoey joining a Jope product study and testing a new product for anxious dogs.

Plus, Daisy Girl’s playday, a blood test Erin is geeking out over, Apollo’s birthday, and a conversation about why dogs form different relationships with different people.

Episode timestamps:

• 00:55 – Responding to criticism of raw feeding
• 10:58 – Should dogs eat carbs because cows and horses do?
• 16:25 – Listener resources, Woof Creek Wellness, and cutting the cord on cable
• 26:01 – Herbs for reducing histamines in bone broth
• 33:23 – Kimberly & Zoey join a Jope product study
• 35:55 – Trying a new product for anxious dogs
• 42:55 – Daisy Girl’s playday + a blood test Erin loves
• 46:45 – Apollo’s birthday and dogs’ unique relationships with people

If you love thoughtful conversations about fresh food, holistic care, and learning alongside your dogs, this episode is for you.

Links discussed:

• Study re: Dogs in Laos eating rice (Geographically diverse canid sampling provides novel insights into pre-industrial microbiomes)
• Kimberly's article: Is Raw Dog Food a Scam? What Science Really Says About Grains, Carbs, and the Gut Microbiome
• Kimberly's post: Should dogs eat carbs because cows and horses do?
• Helpful link: http://petdiseasealerts.org/
• Mid-Atlantic friends: See Erin & Woof Creek's co-founder Lisa Monk at the World of Pets Expo
• The blood test you might want to ask your vet to check: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16pYwy6TKV/

Social media:

• Kimberly: Raw Feeder Life, RawFeederLife.com
• Erin Scott: Believe in Dog podcast, BelieveInDogPodcast.com
• Raw Feeder Life, Instagram.com/RawFeederLife
• Believe in Dog Podcast, Instagram.com/Erin_The_Dog_Mom

Thanks for listening to our podcast. You can learn more about Erin Scott's first podcast at BelieveInDogPodcast.com. And you can learn more about raw feeding, raising dogs naturally, and Kimberly's dogs at KeepTheTailWagging.com. And don't forget to subscribe to The Alternative Dog Moms.

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In this episode, Erin and Kimberly catch up on life, dogs, and the pet industry — starting with Erin’s big news and why activated charcoal is always on hand. Kimberly shares updates from home, including more human cooking, Buffy’s recent vet visit, and navigating the lepto vaccine conversation.

They break down a confusing article on rising veterinary costs, reflect on lessons learned in 2025, and talk New Year’s Eve plans. The conversation then turns to growing concerns about trust in the pet and veterinary industries, including the mainstream recognition of a veterinarian whose work has been debunked.

The episode wraps with updates on their dogs and what they’re looking forward to in 2026 — with honesty, curiosity, and plenty of real-world dog-mom perspective.

CHAPTERS:

• Erin's big news and why we keep Activated Charcoal on-hand (0:55)
• Kimberly is doing more cooking [for humans], Buffy had a recent vet visit and lepto vaccines (8:30)
• A recent article about rising vet costs was rather confusing (20:08)
• New Year's Eve plans, what we learned in 2025, and other stories of the year (29:47)
• How the mainstream vet industry is honoring a veterinarian whose work has been debunked (51:37)
• Lack of trust in the pet & vet industries (56:54)
• Catching up with Kimberly's & Erin's dogs plus what we're looking forward to in 2026 (1:09:15)

LINKS DISCUSSED:

• NOW Activated Charcoal (https://amzn.to/49iWNWl)
• Justice Dept calls for affordable vet care (https://san.com/cc/justice-department-calls-for-affordable-vet-care/)
• AKC's Honoring Dr. Lisa Freeman (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1QRTuUAy3A/)
• Who Killed JFK podcast (https://pod.link/1714611578)

SOCIAL MEDIA:

• Kimberly: Raw Feeder Life, RawFeederLife.com
• Erin Scott: Believe in Dog podcast, BelieveInDogPodcast.com
• Raw Feeder Life, Instagram.com/RawFeederLife
• Believe in Dog Podcast, Instagram.com/Erin_The_Dog_Mom

Thanks for listening to our podcast. You can learn more about Erin Scott's first podcast at BelieveInDogPodcast.com. And you can learn more about raw feeding, raising dogs naturally, and Kimberly's dogs at KeepTheTailWagging.com. And don't forget to subscribe to The Alternative Dog Moms.

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Many pet parents focus on diet, exercise, and supplements to support their dogs’ health—but physical care is only part of the picture. In this episode of The Alternative Dog Moms Podcast, we sit down with dog trainer and educator Tori Mistick to explore the critical role of canine enrichment and engagement in raising emotionally balanced, fulfilled dogs.

This conversation helps dog parents understand why unmet mental and emotional needs often show up as “behavior problems,” and how small, thoughtful changes to daily routines can dramatically improve a dog’s quality of life.

CHAPTERS:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:16 About Tori Mistick's
• 03:38 Limited podcast series about engagement
• 06:37 Engagement in a multi-dog home
• 09:24 Definition of enrichment
• 10:26 Variety is important to dogs
• 11:35 Food-based enrichment - treat trail mix
• 14:11 Sound/music + engagement
• 18:15 Enrichment + senior dogs
• 20:41 Novel enrichment - The Bubble Machine
• 26:34 Social engagement
• 32:12 Understanding limits/boundaries
• 35:05 It's not about trying them out / bonding+togetherness
• 37:35 Enrichment is good for pet parents too
• 39:40 Fetching a toy by name
• 41:44 The importance of choice
• 45:00 Dogs pay attention and learn from us all the time
• 49:02 Hemangiosarcoma (another commonality)
• 52:27 Wear Wag Repeat Society

LINKS DISCUSSED:

• Dog Enrichment with Tori Mistick Podcast: https://wearwagrepeat.com/dog-enrichment-podcast/
• Tori's website: https://wearwagrepeat.com/
• Tori's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ToriMistick
• Get Tori's Dog Enrichment Activity Pack: https://wearwagrepeat.com/dog-enrichment-mental-activity-pack/
• Tori's Wear Wag Repeat Society for Petpreneurs: https://wearwagrepeat.com/society/
• Hemangiosarcoma Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A3h25H92G/

SOCIAL MEDIA:

• Kimberly: Raw Feeder Life, RawFeederLife.com
• Erin Scott: Believe in Dog podcast, BelieveInDogPodcast.com
• Raw Feeder Life, Instagram.com/RawFeederLife
• Believe in Dog Podcast, Instagram.com/Erin_The_Dog_Mom

Thanks for listening to our podcast. You can learn more about Erin Scott's first podcast at BelieveInDogPodcast.com. And you can learn more about raw feeding, raising dogs naturally, and Kimberly's dogs at KeepTheTailWagging.com. And don't forget to subscribe to The Alternative Dog Moms.

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In this episode of The Alternative Dog Moms, Erin and Kimberly sit down with Dr. Steve Marsden — renowned holistic veterinarian and founder of Gold Standard Herbs — to talk about what it really means to raise dogs naturally. Dr. Marsden blends Eastern and Western veterinary medicine, and his integrative approach has helped countless dogs thrive through herbs, nutrition, and a deeper understanding of how the body heals.

We dive into how herbs can support digestion, immunity, inflammation, skin health, and emotional balance — and why traditional formulas still have a place in modern pet care. Dr. Marsden also shares how Gold Standard Herbs came to be, why sourcing and energetics matter, and how pet parents can confidently use herbs alongside conventional care.

CHAPTERS:

• When did Dr. Marsden know he wanted to become a veterinarian? (2:00)
• The experiences that led Dr. Marden to learn homeopathy and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (4:23)
• What led Dr. Marsden to create the first direct-to-consumer line of Chinese pet herbal formulas? (17:13)
• Should Pet Parents be concerned about Chinese herbs interacting with medications or other treatments? (27:13)
• How long does it take for Chinese herbs to start working and make an improvement? (32:02)
• How important is our dog's diet compared to other treatments? (33:08)
• Why does the veterinary profession have such a bias against feeding fresh food? (38:14)
• What can Pet Parents incorporate from Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine in caring for our dogs? (46:21)
• How to search the Ask Dr. Steve DVM Facebook Group (1:01:04)

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Ask Dr. Steve DVM Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1158575954706282

OUR BLOG/PODCASTS...

• Kimberly: Raw Feeder Life, RawFeederLife.com
• Erin Scott: Believe in Dog podcast, BelieveInDogPodcast.com

INSTAGRAM...

• Raw Feeder Life, Instagram.com/RawFeederLife
• Believe in Dog Podcast, Instagram.com/Erin_The_Dog_Mom

Thanks for listening to our podcast. You can learn more about Erin Scott's first podcast at BelieveInDogPodcast.com. And you can learn more about raw feeding, raising dogs naturally, and Kimberly's dogs at KeepTheTailWagging.com. And don't forget to subscribe to The Alternative Dog Moms.

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It’s our annual Thanksgiving Happy Hour on The Alternative Dog Moms! Erin and Kimberly pour a glass (or two) of Mamamango wine and go completely off-script — as friends do. Once a year, we put structure aside and let the conversation wander wherever our dog-mom brains take it.

This episode is full of laughs, real talk, and those “wait… how did we get here?” moments that only happen with your closest friends. And honestly? That’s the magic. It’s also wild to think that we’re wrapping up Season 4 of the podcast — and Season 5 is just around the corner.

In this cozy, slightly chaotic holiday hangout, we talk about:
• Life updates and dog mom confessions
• The random topics that come to mind when wine is poured
• What we’re grateful for this year
• Favorite moments from past seasons
• Excitement for what’s coming in Season 5

If you love relaxed, real-life dog mom energy, this is the perfect episode to unwind with — glass of Mamamango optional, but highly recommended.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

• Instagram.com/Erin_The_Dog_Mom
• Instagram.com/RawFeederLife

Thanks for listening to our podcast. You can learn more about Erin Scott's first podcast at BelieveInDogPodcast.com. And you can learn more about raw feeding, raising dogs naturally, and Kimberly's dogs at KeepTheTailWagging.com. And don't forget to subscribe to The Alternative Dog Moms.

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In this episode of The Alternative Dog Moms, Erin and Kimberly explore the world of Ayurveda for dogs with Amanda Ree, founder of Sama Dog. Amanda introduces us to the Ayurvedic approach to understanding a dog’s unique personality, energy patterns, and overall wellness — and why this ancient system can be such a powerful tool for modern dog parents.

Before the interview, we took Sama Dog’s canine Ayurveda test with our own pups. In the episode, we share our results, what surprised us, and what made complete sense once we heard Amanda break down each dosha type.

Together, we talk about:
• The basics of Ayurveda and how it applies to dogs
• What your dog’s dosha says about their personality and needs
• How to support your dog’s energy type through food, environment & daily habits
• Practical lifestyle tips to help dogs feel more balanced
• Why small energetic shifts can lead to big improvements in behavior and wellbeing

If you’re curious about holistic healing, energy work, or simply want a deeper understanding of your dog’s unique nature, this episode will leave you inspired and ready to see your dog through a whole new lens.

CHAPTERS:

• How Amanda was introduced to Ayurvedic Medicine for people and for pets (it involves Deepak Chopra!) (0:54)
• The connection between ourselves and our pets - both physically and emotionally (7:36)
• The 3 Doshas and the characteristics of each - and where to take the quiz to determine your dog's dosha (15:27)
• Qualities in Erin & Kimberly see of their dogs' doshas and strategies for balancing these (23:49)
• Do doshas impact relationships between dogs? and balancing dosha personalities in a household (33:28)
• How to incorporate Ayurvedic principles in our dogs' daily lives (39:52)
• Qualities of each dosha commonly seen in people (50:16)
• Can doshas change throughout our dogs' lives? And can life experiences impact our doshas? (53:40)
• Amanda's experiences as an Animal Chaplain (1:00:14)

LINKS DISCUSSED:

• Sama Dog (https://www.samadog.com/)
• Quiz: Find Your Dog's Dosha (https://www.samadog.com/quiz)
• Animal Chaplaincy at the Compassion Consortium (https://www.compassionconsortium.org/act)
• Canadian government kills ostriches affected by Avian Flu (https://www.science.org/content/article/canadian-government-kills-ostriches-afflicted-h5n1-despite-appeal-rfk-jr)

SOCIAL MEDIA:

• Instagram.com/Erin_The_Dog_Mom
• Instagram.com/RawFeederLife

Thanks for listening to our podcast. You can learn more about Erin Scott's first podcast at BelieveInDogPodcast.com. And you can learn more about raw feeding, raising dogs naturally, and Kimberly's dogs at KeepTheTailWagging.com. And don't forget to subscribe to The Alternative Dog Moms.

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In this episode of The Alternative Dog Moms, Erin and Kimberly sit down with Sean from Earth Buddy Pet to talk about one of the most powerful antioxidants in the dog world: glutathione. We break down what glutathione is, how it supports liver health, detoxification, immune function, and why so many dogs today are running low on it.

Sean explains how environmental toxins, chronic inflammation, poor nutrition, and everyday stress deplete glutathione — and how supporting your dog’s natural glutathione levels can make a big difference for seniors, allergy dogs, cancer-prone breeds, and dogs recovering from illness.

You’ll learn:
• What glutathione does in your dog’s body
• Signs your dog may need extra antioxidant support
• The difference between liposomal and S-acetyl glutathione
• When supplementation makes sense
• How Earth Buddy Pet formulated Maxx Life (and why it’s a favorite among senior dog parents)

If you're passionate about natural wellness, functional supplements, and practical, science-backed ways to support your dog’s long-term health, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

CHAPTERS:

• Sean Zyer, founder of Earth Buddy Pet returns (0:55)
• Why do our dogs need to detox? (3:39)
• The difference between Earth Buddy's 2 different glutathione products - and when to use each (8:13)
• Understanding why liposomal glutathione is an ideal product for our dogs (11:52)
• Are there any contraindications or side effects to using glutathione? (17:32)
• Kimberly's experience using Earth Buddy's glutathione with her dogs (21:12)
• Did you know CBD can cause increased liver values in dogs? (26:38)
• Glutathione production decreases as pets (and people) get older (32:34)
• Which pets would benefit from glutathione (36:58)
• What is the sourcing of Earth Buddy's glutathione? (45:17)
• The importance of sleep to our dogs' health (46:47)
• What else is Earth Buddy working on? (52:19)

LINKS DISCUSSED:

• Earth Buddy Liposomal Glutathione for Dogs - Liver Detox System (https://www.earthbuddypet.com/)
• Earth Buddy Maxx Life (https://www.earthbuddypet.com/)
• Erin's Dog Health Journal (https://believeindogpodcast.com/dog-health-journal)

SOCIAL MEDIA:

• Instagram.com/Erin_The_Dog_Mom
• Instagram.com/RawFeederLife

Thanks for listening to our podcast. You can learn more about Erin Scott's first podcast at BelieveInDogPodcast.com. And you can learn more about raw feeding, raising dogs naturally, and Kimberly's dogs at KeepTheTailWagging.com. And don't forget to subscribe to The Alternative Dog Moms.