Functional Canine

06/12/2025

Dr Ian Billinghurst’s philosophy. Ultra-processed pet food isn’t doing our pets any favors. Simpler, real ingredients make a real difference.

Repost from our friends at 🐾

05/12/2025

Most dogs are aging faster than they should, not because of genetics, but because their food forgot the essentials.
Omega-3s are cellular medicine for the joints, brain, skin and more.

Not all Omega-3s are created equal.
Purity matters. Freshness matters. Real sourcing matters.
Oxidized fish oil (the kind sitting on most shelves) delivers zero benefits and potentially causes harm. If it smells fishy or rancid, your dog’s body can’t use it.

The solution? Be selective with your fish oil supplement… or…
Feed the real thing!
🐟 Wild-caught mackerel
🐟 Sardines
🐟 Green-lipped mussels
🐟 Wild salmon

Swipe through to learn:
→ Why Omega-3s are essential for every cell
→ The 5 body systems they support
→ How to spot oxidized (useless) fish oil
→ The best fresh food sources
→ How to get started today

💬 Drop a comment: What’s your dog’s favorite fresh source of Omega-3s? Have you noticed changes after adding them to their bowl?

Want more science-based canine nutrition + wellness breakdowns?
Follow for daily guidance your dog’s body will thank you for.

04/12/2025

You wouldn’t feed your child a highly processed, fortified cereal every day for every meal. So why is this the standard for our dogs?

28/11/2025

Certain foods can help reduce inflammation in your dog’s body. Chronic inflammation is linked to joint stiffness, digestive concerns, skin concerns and premature aging in dogs. Specific foods and herbs used therapeutically can help mitigate inflammation in the body.

How these foods work:

🫐 Berries are packed with polyphenols that combat oxidative stress

💪 Omega-rich raw seeds and appropriate cold pressed oils support joint health and skin condition

🥕 Fermented foods promote a healthy gut microbiome

🫚 Spices warm and boost circulation in the body

🥦 Colourful vegetables provide essential antioxidants

🍃 Herbs like parsley and marjoram have natural anti-inflammatory properties

Important reminders:
Start with small amounts when introducing new foods. Every dog is different, so watch for any digestive sensitivity.

These are meant as occasional additions to a complete diet, not replacements for balanced meals. Think of these as nutritional “boosters” you can rotate throughout the week! Even adding 1-2 of these to your dog’s bowl can make a difference over time.

Which ones have you tried with your pup? I’d love to hear what works for your dog! 💬

Follow for more simple, science-backed dog nutrition tips 🐾💛

dogparent

28/11/2025

Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), 4-Methylimidazole (4-MIE), Tartrazine (yellow 5)….

If the ingredient list sounds like a chemistry test… your dog deserves better 😅

26/11/2025

Did you know that up to 70% of your dog’s immune system lives in their gut?

Just like in humans, a healthy digestive tract, specifically GALT, plays a major role in fighting off illness, reducing inflammation, and keeping your pup energized and happy. Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT) is a vast network of immune cells that lines the intestines and acts as your dog’s first major defense against harmful bacteria, viruses, and toxins that enter through food or the environment.When the gut is balanced, beneficial bacteria can thrive — cultivating a general state of health and wellbeing.

One of the easiest ways to support your dog’s gut and immune system is through species appropriate wholefoods. Fresh meats, vibrant organic plants (leafy greens, berries) and unprocessed ingredients provide natural vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants that ultra processed dry and canned food often lacks. These nutrients feed the gut microbiome and help strengthen your dog’s natural defenses.

You don’t need to overhaul your dog’s entire diet overnight. Start small: add a spoonful of pumpkin, a handful of blueberries, or lightly steamed veggies to their bowl. Every fresh ingredient is a boost to their microbiome — and a stronger gut means a healthier, happier dog.

25/11/2025

🙄🙄🙄

24/11/2025

What a pleasure it is to be back again 💫

The Decoding Fear and Anxiety Summit hosted by is Ness Jones is fast approaching!

Held on the 1st of December, this comprehensive summit covers a range of wellness and training topics for managing fear and anxiety in your dog. As a professional in the industry, I will be discussing the impact of diet and how that can play a role in anxiety, fear, learning and training with specific tips and tricks to have your dogs behaviour on your side. Not only will you gain insight from me, but also 14 other highly regarded professionals in the industry including Dr Jeff Grognet, Dr Ed Bassingthwaighte, Dr Odette Suter, Dr Meghan Barrettamd more.

This is a paid product at $47 US price tag for the more than 15 hours of education information from 15 professionals across the globe, each offering actionable tips and a free digital gift.

Follow the link in the comments for details 👇

23/11/2025

A move in the right direction 👏

“The toxicological database for dimethoate is extensive and consists of unpublished reports generated by industry, as well as numerous studies in the published literature. Since the toxicological database for dimethoate was last reviewed in 1988, new information considering a range of toxicological endpoints have become available. In particular, there are now behavioural studies that quantify the extent of functional (task performing) impairment in rats following exposure to dimethoate, as well as reproductive and dermal toxicity studies.”

https://www.apvma.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication/15166-dimethoate_human_health_tox.pdf

Australians' surging appetite for berries has prompted the national farm chemical watchdog to suspend the use of the insecticide dimethoate.

Dimethoate has been used in Australia since the 1950s to control more than 80 pest insects in fruit, vegetables and grains.

Read more: https://ab.co/4id8LU1

21/11/2025

🙄 The shops are literally 5 minutes away 🙄

20/11/2025

As dedicated pet parents, we often get hung up on whether we are feeding the most nutritious, balanced meals. And to some extent, this is a very important piece of the puzzle. However; digestion and assimilation are imperative as to whether your dog is able to utilise these nutrients.

Poor digestion or uptake of nutrients can cause deficiency. This is often a catch 22 - deficiencies can cause low stomach acid and poor detox pathways, impairing digestion which in turn cause further deficiency. Stress and emotional wellbeing also play a role.

Nutrients from species appropriate, animal based and appropriately prepared pant material are easier to assimilate than ultra processed dry and canned food. This is because the nutrients are in their natural state, not heat treated, not from synthetic supplements.

When feeding a home made diet, aiming to feed the nutrients required as well as promoting digestive processes is essential. This is what we aim to educate here at Functional Canine.

Got questions? Need help with balancing? Want more detailed numbers? Reach out to Jackie anytime and follow for more nutritional tips.