
Dogs Are Individuals
Ramblings and Guidance From an Herbalist Whose Life Has Gone To The Dogs.
Latest episodes

Apr 9, 2025 • 16min
This One Brain Pathway Could Change Your Dog’s Life (And Yours Too!) | Short
123: In this episode, I’m covering a fascinating topic: the glymphatic pathway. Think of it as your (and your dog’s!) brain detox system—kind of like the lymphatic system, but for the brain. We’ll explore how it works, why it matters for cognitive clarity and emotional regulation, and what you can do to support it naturally, especially in your dog.
I’ll also share updates from my book tour and some thoughts on dog dementia. We’ll touch on essential oils, phytoembryonic therapy, and lifestyle practices that help keep this system flowing.
If you're curious about how sleep, side-sleeping, herbs, and even breathing techniques can impact brain health—this one’s for you.
Sponsored By:
Real Mushrooms
Green Juju
Earth Buddy
Dr Ruth Roberts
CocoTherapy
Pawdega
Fidos Bone Broth
Check Out Rita:
THE HERBAL DOG
Rita’s Instagram
Facebook Group
My Courses
My Website and Store
Produced By: Drake Peterson

Mar 26, 2025 • 32min
Conditioning The Gut For Probiotics
122: In today’s episode, we are going to talk about preparing the gut for probiotics. A lot of people don’t realize that we have to prepare and strengthen the gut before it’s ready for probiotics, which I talk about a lot in my new book The Herbal Dog.
Strengthening the glycocalyx and IGA builds a resistant gut barrier before introducing probiotics. This is especially true in sensitive or immune compromised individuals. Strengthening these allows for commensal bacteria, which is good bacteria, can actually stick to the gut wall.
Tune in to learn how natural remedies can help strengthen your dog's gut, making it the perfect environment for probiotics to thrive and support their overall health.
Sponsored by:
Goodness Gracious
Green Juju
Fido’s Bone Broth
Check Out Rita:
BUY THE HERBAL DOG
Rita’s Instagram
Facebook Group
My Courses
My Website and Store
Produced By: Drake Peterson

Mar 19, 2025 • 16min
Supporting Spay + Neuter | Short
121: In this episode, I explore natural ways to support your dog’s health after spay or neuter surgery. We’ll discuss how herbs like ashwagandha and rhodiola can help balance hormones and keep your pup healthy and happy. I’ll also highlight how herbs can complement veterinary care, not replace it. Whether your dog’s surgery was recent or some time ago, I’ll share practical tips for aiding their recovery and promoting long-term well-being. Tune in to learn how natural remedies can support your dog’s health and keep them feeling great.
Sponsored By:
Goodness Gracious
Check Out Rita:
BUY THE HERBAL DOG
Rita’s Instagram
Facebook Group
My Courses
My Website and Store
Produced By: Drake Peterson

Mar 12, 2025 • 43min
The Things We Forget We Are Doing To Our Dogs
120: In this episode, we're diving into often-overlooked aspects of canine care that can significantly impact your dog's health and well-being. We'll discuss why it's worth rethinking conventional practices like spaying and neutering, along with natural approaches to heartworm prevention, antibiotic recovery, and building a healthy microbiome. I'll also share effective, environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional flea and tick medications — plus insights on reducing pharmaceutical reliance for long-term health.
Topics Discussed:
Rethinking spaying and neutering
Natural heartworm prevention and antibiotic recovery
Supporting your dog's microbiome with diverse probiotics
Alternatives to pharmaceutical treatments and conventional flea/tick meds
Sponsored By:
Goodness Gracious
Green Juju
Real Mushrooms
Fidos Bone Broth
Coco Therapy
Rawsome Nutritional Excellence
Raw Pets
Dr Ruth Roberts
Earth Buddy
Innovative Pet Lab
Feline Essentials | Two Crazy Cat Ladies
AniCell Biotech
Check Out Rita:
BUY THE HERBAL DOG
Rita’s Instagram
Facebook Group
My Courses
My Website and Store
Produced By: Drake Peterson

Mar 5, 2025 • 21min
HPP vs Traditional Raw Food: Which Diet is Best for Your Dog’s Health?
119: Today’s episode explores how plant medicine and raw food nutrition can boost your pet's health. We’ll break down High Pressure Pasteurization (HPP), what it means for your dog’s diet, and how it keeps food safe while maintaining key nutrients.
Throughout this episode, I’ll share my own experiences with HPP-treated and traditional raw food diets, along with insights from my book tour. Tune in to learn how HPP works, what nutrients it affects, and why variety is so important in your pet’s meals.
Topics Discussed:
High Pressure Pasteurization (HPP) and its benefits
How HPP preserves nutrients while improving food safety
Book tour updates!
The role of HPP in the all-natural pet food industry
Why vitamin B12 and other nutrients are impacted by HPP
Tips for a balanced, personalized raw food diet for pets
Sponsored By:
Green Juju
Goodness Gracious
Real Mushrooms
Innovative Pet Lab
Dr. Ruth (the original crockpot vet)
Cocoa Therapy
Paudega
Anacel Biotech
Feline Essentials (The Two Crazy Cat Ladies)
Rawsome Pets
Check Out:
EarthBuddy Pet
Raw Pets in Tampa
Check Out Rita:
Get The Book
Rita’s Instagram
Facebook Group
My Courses
My Website and Store
Produced By: Drake Peterson

Feb 26, 2025 • 14min
Moringa & Your Dog: Benefits, Risks, and Dosage | Short
118: In this episode, I’m answering a listener question from Caroline about moringa. This trendy herb is often called a superfood, but is it the right fit for your dog? As a canine herbalist, I’m breaking down what you need to know before adding moringa to your dog’s routine. Tune in for the full scoop!
Topics discussed:
Moringa’s natural habitat
Superfood category
Health benefits of moringa
Recommended dosage
When moringa is a bad idea
Sponsored By
Green Juju
Check Out Rita:
BUY MY BOOK
Rita’s Instagram
Facebook Group
My Courses
My Website and Store
Produced By: Drake Peterson

Feb 19, 2025 • 29min
How Clean Is Your Water? The Benefits of Drinking Filtered Water
117: In this episode, I’m diving into the importance of filtered water for both pets and humans. Whether you're at home or traveling, contaminants like chlorine, fluoride, and heavy metals can have a major impact on our health. Filtering your water helps reduce exposure to toxins, supporting a stronger immune system and overall well-being. It’s especially important for pets, as they can be more sensitive to the chemicals in unfiltered water. I’ll also share some practical tips for keeping your water clean on the road, so you and your pets can stay hydrated and healthy wherever you go.
Topics discussed:
The importance of filtered water for pets and humans
How contaminants like chlorine, fluoride, and heavy metals impact health
The dangers of plastic water bottles and microplastics
The role of water in supporting immune health
Practical tips for filtering water while traveling
Sponsored By:
Real Mushrooms
Check Out Rita:
BUY MY BOOK
Rita’s Instagram
Facebook Group
My Courses
My Website and Store
Produced By: Drake Peterson

Feb 12, 2025 • 17min
Choosing the Best Kibble: What to Look for in Your Dog’s Food | Short
116: In this episode, I dive into the Kibble Hierarchy—what separates a quality kibble from the bottom-of-the-barrel options. I break down ingredient labels, key red flags to watch for (like rendered meals and non-descript meats), and how to make better choices for your dog’s health.
This episode is especially for those who can’t feed raw or home-cooked meals exclusively. I also share some of my top kibble recommendations and tips for evaluating dog food brands.
Topics Discussed:
Understanding the Kibble Hierarchy—what makes a kibble good or bad
Ingredients to avoid, including rendered meals and vague meat sources
How to read and analyze dog food labels
The importance of sourcing and ethical considerations in pet food
My top kibble recommendations for those who can’t feed raw or home-cooked meals
The role of carbohydrates in kibble and what to look for
Questions to ask pet food companies about their ingredients and sourcing
Why less is more when it comes to kibble ingredients
Show Links:
Kibble
Sponsored By
Green Juju
Check Out Rita:
BUY THE HERBAL DOG
Rita’s Instagram
Facebook Group
My Courses
My Website and Store
Produced By: Drake Peterson

Feb 5, 2025 • 24min
Avian Flu: Fortifying Your Dog’s Health
In this episode of Dogs Are Individuals, I’m sharing how to boost your dog’s immune system with natural remedies—no need to panic about things like bird flu! I talk about the power of mushrooms, why they’re safe for dogs of all ages, and how to protect your pets with herbs like Agarikon, Andrographis, and elderberry. I’ll also give you an update on my book tour (so excited!) and remind you to focus on self-care and staying calm, especially when stress is high.
Show Links
Book Tour
Agarikon Mushroom
Andrographis
Elderberry Phytoembryonic Therapy
Sponsored By:
Real Mushrooms
Goodness Gracious
Green Juju
Check Out Rita:
BUY MY NEW BOOK
Come To The Book Tour
Rita’s Instagram
Facebook Group
My Courses
My Website and Store
Produced By: Drake Peterson

Jan 29, 2025 • 16min
Just Say No To Sugar: Why Dogs Should Never Eat Sugar (And Neither Should You) | Short
In this episode, I’m talking about a topic that’s really important but often overlooked—sugar and its negative effects on dogs. I explain why sugar weakens the immune system, causes inflammation, and contributes to chronic diseases like cancer. I also share my own experiences with sugar and how I’ve learned to manage it, both for myself and for my dogs. If you’re feeding your dog anything with added sugars, you might want to rethink it.
Key points in this episode:
Sugar weakens the immune system and promotes inflammation in both dogs and humans.
Processed sugars like glucose, sucrose, and honey-coated treats are particularly harmful.
Sugar contributes to chronic diseases such as cancer and can lead to high blood sugar in dogs.
Always check labels—sugar is sneaky and often hides in dog food and treats.
Sponsored By:
Green Juju
Check Out Rita:
PRE ORDER MY NEW BOOK
Rita’s Instagram
Facebook Group
My Courses
My Website and Store
Produced By: Drake Peterson
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