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We’re kicking off Season 5 of The Alternative Dog Moms with our annual deep dive featuring Billy Hoekman, Vice President of Nutrition & Formulation at Green Juju Kitchen… and let’s just say, this one is packed.

From celebrating FOUR YEARS of the podcast to unpacking the nuances of raw feeding, gut health, and supplement trends, this conversation goes way beyond the surface.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting advice in the dog nutrition space… this episode is your reality check.

CHAPTERS:

• Celebrating 4 YEARS of The Alternative Dog Moms, what's new with Green Juju and thiaminase depletion (0:55)
• Nutrients, sourcing, and the quirks of lab testing you only discover when formulating raw food (8:10)
• Plant fiber vs. animal fiber: Billy's take (20:18)
• What Billy has learned about gut health resilience with Huckleberry (24:13)
• In which Billy teases early results from Green Juju’s Soil probiotic study (and the findings are worth paying attention to!) (27:27)
• Weighing in on a social media discussion that probiotics are often misused or misunderstood. Is there such a thing as too much? (32:31)
• Mushroom broth, upcoming events and Green Juju's continuing evolution (40:25)
• Deciphering shady claims in social media ads (45:55)
• Billy's experiments with his own diet, as well as Huckleberry's (51:04)

LINKS:

• Green JuJu Kitchen
• Green JuJu on Instagram

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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What if everything you’ve been told about fiber, probiotics, and gut health in dogs is only part of the story?

In this episode of The Alternative Dog Moms Podcast, we sit down with canine nutrition researcher and author Dr. Conor Brady to break down the difference between meat fiber and plant fiber and why it matters more than most dog parents realize.

We explore what “fiber” really means in a dog’s diet and how meat-based fiber (like connective tissue, cartilage, fur, and feathers) interacts with the gut microbiome differently than plant fiber. From there, we dive into probiotics, pathogens, and gut bacteria, including why Dr. Brady questions the need for routine probiotic supplementation.

We also tackle the big question: are dogs carnivores or omnivores? Along with a few entertaining detours, this conversation challenges common feeding beliefs and encourages a more nuanced view of canine nutrition.

CHAPTERS:

• Introducing Dr. Conor Brady and the topic of meat fiber vs plant fiber (0:54)
• Probiotics, pathogens, and bacteria: how these relate to meat fiber (3:38)
• Dr. Brady on whether dogs are carnivores or omnivores plus cow farts and private planes (10:32)
• What Dr. Brady recommends instead of probiotics and why (20:04)
• 5 potential downsides of plant fiber (32:06)
• Will there be a Feeding Dogs 2.0 book? Plus blueberries & antioxidants and meat fiber for cats (43:04)
• Dr. Brady’s honest reflections on sharing science in a marketing-driven industry (49:00)
• What Dr. Brady is feeding his dog during a busy season of life (55:37)

FIND DR. BRADY:

• Website: https://www.dcbholistic.com/
• DogsFirst: https://dogsfirstshop.ie/
• Book: Feeding Dogs (https://amzn.to/4sioZiX)
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogsfirstireland
• RawPetMedics: https://www.facebook.com/rawpetmedics
• Dr. Brady's Substack: https://substack.com/home/post/p-187500789?_bhlid=1d63f7f4c7b619863dd9f78e09403d82a6f04d1f
• Study: The feline carnivore and their prey: how important is animal fibre and its structure in their diet? (https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/the-feline-carnivore-and-their-prey-how-important-is-animal-fibre/)
• Chimp Empire on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81311783?source=35&fromWatch=true

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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Can red light therapy improve your dog’s health?

In this episode of The Alternative Dog Moms, we talk with Jackie from AnimaSol about how red light therapy works, how to choose a safe device, and what pet parents should know before using it with their dogs.

We explore the science behind red light therapy, the debate around sun exposure, and the key terms to understand when comparing devices. Jackie also explains why AnimaSol created a full-body red light therapy blanket for dogs and how their products differ from others on the market.

Plus, we discuss whether red light therapy may help with common concerns like mobility issues, skin lumps, and inflammation, along with real stories from pets who have benefited from these devices.

If you’re curious about adding red light therapy to your dog’s wellness routine, this episode breaks down the research, myths, and practical tips every dog parent should know.

CHAPTERS:

• Jackie's personal red light therapy origin story (0:55)
• A rabbit hole on the conflicting research and opinions around sun exposure — is it beneficial, harmful or both? (5:24)
• Decoding the vocabulary of red light therapy (17:54)
• Safety and usage tips when choosing a red light device (21:30)
• Why AnimaSol designed a dog blanket and how their products are different from others on the market (27:30)
• Will AnimaSol's products help with skin issues such as lipomas or tumors? (30:40)
• How exactly does red light therapy work? and learning about AnimaSol's product line and the research behind it (32:44)
• Personal experiences with red light products, understanding the ROI on the pricing and what to look for when comparing between different brands (41:25)
• Myth-busting a common - but incorrect - assumption about red light therapy (53:35)
• Can you use red light therapy with cancer? (56:15)
• Favorite stories about pets that AnimaSol has helped (57:49)

LINKS:

• Website: https://www.animasol.life/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anima__sol/

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.