Dogs Are Individuals

137: In this episode, I’m covering how far dog nutrition has come since I started feeding my first Rottweiler decades ago. I talk about the huge shift from almost no options to the amazing variety of fresh, raw, minimally processed, and ethically sourced foods we have now. But more than that, I get real about why supporting each other, no matter where you are on your feeding journey, is what truly matters. Whether you feed raw, cooked, kibble, or a mix, your dog deserves kindness, respect, and better choices. Sponsored By: → Earth Buddy  → Green Juju → Real Mushrooms  → Dr Ruth Roberts  → Goodness Gracious  → Fido’s Bone Broth → Coco Therapy → Innovative Pet Lab → Pug & Hound Apothecary → Pawdega  → AniCell BioTech → Two Crazy Cat Ladies → Rawsome Pets  Check Out Rita: → THE HERBAL DOG  → Rita’s Instagram → Facebook Group → My Courses → My Website and Store Produced By: Drake Peterson

136: In this short episode I’m covering one of my favorite herbs for female dogs, spayed or unspayed, raspberry leaf! I’ll walk you through how it works as a uterine tonic, how it can help with irregular heat cycles, false pregnancies, hormone balance, and even emotional shifts some dogs experience during their cycles. Topics Discussed: → Can raspberry leaf help regulate my dog’s heat cycle? → Is raspberry leaf safe for spayed dogs? → How do I give raspberry leaf to my dog? → What are the benefits of raspberry leaf for female dogs? → Can raspberry leaf reduce false pregnancy symptoms in dogs? Sponsored By: → Pug & Hound Apothecary → Fido’s Bone Broth → Real Mushrooms  → Dr Ruth Roberts  → Coco Therapy → Green Juju → Pawdega → Earth Buddy  → Innovative Pet Lab → Feline Essentials  → Rawsome Pets → Raw Pets → AniCell BioTech Check Out Rita: → The Herbal Dog (Book) → Rita’s Instagram → Facebook Group → My Courses → My Website and Store Produced By: Drake Peterson

135: Today’s episode is all about copper storage disease: what it is, why it’s becoming more common, and how to support your dog naturally if it shows up. I talk about the difference between natural and synthetic copper, why certain breeds are more at risk, and how commercial dog food might be doing more harm than good. I’m also sharing my favorite herbs, supplements, and phyto-embryonic therapies to gently support the liver, stimulate bile flow, and help the body move that copper out. We’ll talk bitters, binders, nervous system support, lymph flow, and all the holistic tools I’ve seen help over the years. Topics Discussed:  → What is copper storage disease in dogs? → Can dog food cause copper toxicity? → Which breeds store excess copper? → How to detox copper in dogs naturally? → What herbs help dogs with liver issues? Sponsored By:  → Green Juju → Real Mushrooms  → Goodness Gracious  → Pawdega → Innovative Pet Lab → Fido’s Bone Broth → Earth Buddy  → Coco Therapy → Dr Ruth Roberts  → AniCell Biotech → Rawsome Pets → Raw Pets  Check Out Rita: → THE HERBAL DOG  → Rita’s Instagram → Facebook Group → My Courses → My Website and Store

134: Coming to you from sunny Folly Beach, I’m covering one of my favorite healing tools: earthing. Yep, it’s exactly what it sounds like...getting those bare feet (and paws) on the ground to reconnect with the natural electrical charge of the Earth. In this episode, I share why grounding is way more than a wellness trend and how it helps reduce inflammation, balance hormones, improve sleep, and support your dog’s entire body system. Sponsored By:  → Pug & Hound Apothecary Check Out Rita: → SIGN UP FOR MY NEW BOOK → Rita’s Instagram → Facebook Group → My Courses → My Website and Store Produced By: Drake Peterson

133: We’re coming to you from the thick, damp air of Williamsburg, Virginia, where I’m reflecting on how far I’ve come in handling the heat and how our dogs can, too. I talk a bit about what “damp” means in both human and animal bodies, why mold might be a hidden culprit, and why it’s worth looking into testing if your dog seems off. I’m also sharing some remedies for dogs with endocrine issues or PLRs. I walk you through adrenal-supportive herbs like licorice root, ashwagandha, rhodiola, and holy basil, plus supportive mushrooms like turkey tail, reishi, and cordyceps..If your dog struggles with low energy, inflammation, allergies, hormone imbalances, or detox issues, this episode gives you a big-picture protocol to work from with plenty of room to go slow and adapt to your individual dog’s needs. Topics Discussed:  → What helps dogs with adrenal issues? → How does mold affect my dog’s health? → Which herbs balance dog hormones? → What is phyto-embryonic therapy for dogs? → Are humic and fulvic acids good for dogs? Sponsored By → Green Juju → Real Mushrooms  → Goodness Gracious  Check Out Rita: → THE HERBAL DOG → Rita’s Instagram → Facebook Group → My Courses → My Website and Store Produced By: Drake Peterson

132: In this short episode I’m covering NERS Syndrome, also known as Lector Syndrome. I explain what it is, the symptoms to watch for, and why this theory of endocrine-immune imbalance matters when it comes to your dog’s long-term health. From chronic allergies and thyroid issues to anxiety and immune dysfunction, NERS might be part of the picture. Whether or not your vet recognizes it, I believe it’s important to consider the role of the nervous system and cortisol regulation in your dog’s overall wellness. Next time, I’ll share herbal support strategies for dogs with these symptoms - so stay tuned! Topics Discussed:  → What is NERS Syndrome in dogs and how is it diagnosed? → What are the symptoms of endocrine-immune imbalance in dogs? → How does cortisol dysregulation affect a dog’s health? → Can adrenal and thyroid issues in dogs be linked to immune dysfunction? → What holistic approaches support dogs with NERS or Lector Syndrome? Sponsored By:  → Earth Buddy  → Green Juju → Real Mushrooms → Goodness Gracious   → Pawdega  → AniCell Biotech  → Two Crazy Cat Ladies  → Dr Ruth Roberts  → Fido’s Bone Broth → Coco Therapy → Innovative Pet Lab → Pug & Hound Apothecary → Rawsome pets → Raw Pets Tampa → Farm Dog Naturals Check Out Rita: → The Herbal Dog → Rita’s Instagram → Facebook Group → My Courses → My Website and Store Produced By: Drake Peterson

131: On this episode of Dogs Are Individuals, I’m unpacking the complex world of leaky gut in dogs. From energetic patterns like dampness and heat to key causes like antibiotics, stress, and candida overgrowth, we’ll talk about how this condition affects digestion, allergies, immune health, and even behavior. Learn how to recognize the signs, understand the role of the lymphatic system and digestive enzymes, and explore natural recovery protocols using herbs, probiotics, and supportive testing. Whether you're just starting your dog’s healing journey or looking for deeper insights, this episode is important for any dog owner.  Topics Discussed: → How leaky gut develops in dogs → The role of the lymphatic system → Herbal remedies and supplements to support dogs with leaky gut → Energetic patterns and how they influence gut issues → Step-by-step protocols for gut recovery Sponsored By: → Earth Buddy  → Green Juju → Real Mushrooms → Goodness Gracious → Fido’s Bone Broth → Innovative Pet Lab → AniCell Biotech → Pawdega → Rawesome → Raw Pets Check Out Rita: → SIGN UP FOR MY NEW BOOK → Rita’s Instagram → Facebook Group → My Courses → My Website and Store Produced By: Drake Peterson

130: This week I’m coming to you from the road—literally—while on my Herbal Dog Tour! In this episode, I dig into a question I was asked on tour: Can our dogs intuitively choose their energetics like wild animals do? I unpack why our dogs aren’t wolves, how seasonal eating plays into health, and why commercial diets make energetics more important than ever.  Topics Discussed: → Can dogs choose their own food based on energetics? → What’s the difference between wild wolves' diets and domestic dogs’ diets? → Why are food energetics important in commercial dog diets? → How do seasonal foods affect your dog’s health? → What proteins and herbs support energetic balance in dogs? Sponsored By: → Earth Buddy  → Green Juju → Real Mushrooms  → Dr Ruth Roberts  → Goodness Gracious  → Feed Real → Fido’s Bone Broth → Coco Therapy → Innovative Pet Lab → Pug & Hound Apothecary Check Out Rita: → SIGN UP FOR MY NEW BOOK → Rita’s Instagram → Facebook Group → My Courses → My Website and Store Produced By: Drake Peterson

129: In this episode, we’re getting real about those “oh no” vet moments—the kind that leave you sweaty, stressed, and maybe yelling at your dog’s doctor (oops). Emergency vet Dr. Lynda Loudon joins us to chat about how to be a more prepared, less panicked pet parent and how to navigate difficult conversations with your vet.    Topics Discussed:  → What should I ask my vet before a procedure? → How do I prepare for an unexpected vet visit? → Why is communication with your vet so important? → What mistakes do pet parents make at the vet?   Sponsored By:  → Pawdega → Pug & Hound → Green Juju → Real Mushrooms → Goodness Gracious  → Fido’s Bone Broth → Dr Ruth Roberts  → Earth Buddy  → Innovative Pet Lab → Coco Therapy → Rawsome Nutritional Excellence  → Raw Pets → Feline Essentials | Two Crazy Cat Ladies → AniCell Biotech  → Farm God Naturals  → My Pet Carnivore    Check Out Dr. Lynda:  → Website  → Canine Experts Academy  → Instagram    Check out Rita:  → BUY MY BOOK!  → Rita’s Instagram → Facebook Group → My Courses → My Website and Store   Produced By: Drake Peterson  

128: In this episode, I’m jumping right into seasonal allergies — and why they might not be all about the pollen. I never thought I’d be taken down by allergies, but here I am, sounding like a frog underwater. I’m sharing what I’ve learned from my own experience and how it relates to your dog’s health. Seasonal allergy symptoms are often a reflection of what’s going on inside the body, especially the liver and lymphatic systems. I dive into how histamine is processed, why liver function matters, and how to support your dog’s internal terrain naturally. No Benadryl here — just herbs, immune support, and some real talk from someone currently swimming in mucus. Topics Discussed:  What Causes Seasonal Allergies Besides Pollen? How Are the Liver and Lymphatic System Linked to Allergy Symptoms in Humans and Dogs? Which Nutrients Help the Body Clear Histamine Naturally? What Are the Best Natural Herbs to Support Your Dog’s Immune System During Allergy Season? Sponsored By:  Pug & Hound   Green Juju Real Mushrooms    Check out Rita:  SIGN UP FOR MY NEW BOOK Rita’s Instagram Facebook Group My Courses My Website and Store   Produced By: Drake Peterson