As Nature Intended

27/04/2026

With Diatomaceous Earth Australia – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉 I've been using this brand for over 12 yrs

26/04/2026

ANZAC Day is here and it is a day of rememberance, for those who have bravely faced what most people could not imagine today, Lest We Forget.

25/04/2026

Let's play a game. GREAT IDEA Conor..
Can you rank these food ingredients in order of "completeness" for the dog (according to AAFCO), starting with the most complete all the way to the worst?!
Answers coming up next...

Let's play a game.

Can you rank these food ingredients in order of "completeness" for the dog (according to AAFCO), starting with the most complete all the way to the worst?!

Answers coming up next...

25/04/2026

Kimberly from The Holistic Canine discusses Probiotics.
I started to show a big interest in the gut microbiome, probiotics and everything in between 5 yrs ago.
The more I learn, the more confident I am and its not just for my dogs, but also myself.
Have a question for Kimberly? Open the link, join in on the discussion and pop your question in the comments.
For any Aussies looking for a trusted brand, comment below and I'll help you out.

🔥 Probiotics aren’t all created equal…and one stands in a category of its own.

Most pet parents have heard:
👉“Give a probiotic for gut health.”

Probiotics are consistently ranked as one of the most common dietary supplements. Even among pet parents, nearly every client that comes to me is giving or has given their dog a probiotic supplement...
often numerous probiotic products!

However, what is often not discussed are important nuances...

❌ Many bacterial probiotics don’t survive stomach acid
❌ Many never colonize (they pass right through)
❌ Most formulas lack meaningful strain diversity
❌ Some may even worsen dysbiosis or contribute to SIBO in the wrong context

So it is important to ask…

👉 Is there a probiotic that actually bypasses these limitations❓️

MEET THE OUTLIER: Saccharomyces boulardii‼️

This isn’t a typical probiotic.
It is a beneficial yeast, not a bacteria: a distinction that matters.

---
🧬 Why Saccharomyces boulardii is different

✅️ Naturally Acid-Resistant
No need for fancy enteric coatings. It survives stomach acid intact.

✅️ Not Killed by Antibiotics
Because it’s a yeast, antibiotics don’t affect it. SB can be used during antibiotic therapy.

✅️ Does Not Need to Colonize to Work
It exerts effects as it passes through. No “permanent residency” required.

✅️ Low Risk of Contributing to Bacterial Overgrowth
Unlike bacterial probiotics, it does not add to bacterial load in the small intestine.

---
🐕 🔎 What the research shows in dogs

Emerging veterinary research is actually quite promising.

🔬 Supplementation has been shown to...

▪️ Reduce markers of intestinal inflammation (like f***l calprotectin)
▪️ Improve gut barrier integrity (zonulin-related effects)
▪️ Lower stress-associated markers (f***l cortisol)
▪️ Support overall intestinal health

➡️ In one controlled canine study, Saccharomyces boulardii improved gut health markers and reduced indicators of inflammation and stress without adverse effects.

➡️ It has also been studied alongside standard therapy in dogs with chronic enteropathies, with good tolerability and clinical relevance.

💩 One of its most powerful uses...
👉 Diarrhea control

This is where S. boulardii shines.

It has well-documented effects (across species) for:
✔️ Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
✔️ Acute GI upset
✔️ Dysbiosis-related loose stool

Mechanistically, it:
▪️ Helps neutralize toxins
▪️ Supports immune signaling in the gut
▪️ Reinforces intestinal barrier function

⚠️ Important nuance (because context matters)
This is not a “magic powder.”

Like everything in nutrition:
🔹️ It works best when paired with a species-appropriate diet
🔹️ It doesn’t replace correcting underlying dysbiosis drivers
🔹️ It’s a tool, not the entire protocol

📌
If you’re going to use a probiotic strategically…
👉 Saccharomyces boulardii is one of the few with a clear functional advantage❗️

Especially for:
✔️ Dogs on antibiotics
✔️ Dogs with loose stool or GI instability
✔️ Dogs needing short-term gut support

— The Holistic Canine 🐾 theholisticcanine.us

Create NRC balanced meals at home:
👉 Fresh feeding, explained—finally.

"Fresh-Food Feeding Explained eBook
Available on our website❗️
https://theholisticcanine.us/ebook/

​

25/04/2026

YOUR TWO MINUTE POTTY TRAINING RUNDOWN

11/04/2026

They trust us with everything.

Not just the obvious things like food and care…
But the things we don’t always think twice about—
their environment, their daily exposures, the choices we make on their behalf.

And the truth is, those small, everyday decisions add up.

On National Pet Day, this isn’t about perfection.
It’s about awareness.

About slowing down just enough to ask,
“Is this choice truly supporting their wellbeing… or just convenient for me?”

Because to them, we are their entire world.

And honouring that trust doesn’t require doing everything—
just choosing to do better, one step at a time. 🌿

If you’re on this journey too and want support, shared knowledge, and conversations around holistic pet care, we’d love to welcome you into our community group. Use the blue button to visit us

28/03/2026

Not all herbs are created equal. When we’re working with herbs, we have to look deeper than the label.

This week on the podcast, I’m starting a three-part series on Heavy Metals in Herbs. In this first installment, we explore the biological reality of how plants interact with their environment. Plants are master communicators with the earth, but their ability to pull nutrients also means they can accumulate heavy metals if the soil isn't clean.

This is about building your knowledge base so you know how to source safe, high-quality herbs for your dogs.

Join Rita for the full episode on our website or anywhere you stream podcasts.

28/03/2026

I do see this in groups. Susan's blog post digs deep into what’s really going on. Includes a helpful infographic, and shares simple ways to help each dog grow into their own capable learner.🐶

Two puppies can look like twice the fun. But when they grow up relying on each other, it can make it harder for them to build confidence, independence, and focus on us.🤩

This blog breaks down what’s really going on, includes a helpful infographic, and shares simple ways to help each dog grow into their own capable learner.🐶

28/03/2026

Pug & Hound Pet Apothecary

✨ BIG NEWS for our pet-loving community! ✨

We’re so excited to share that we are the first to carry the frozen Extras line from our friends at in the entire country! 🐾

The Extras Line is designed for pets who thrive on variety—blending high-quality proteins with a vibrant mix of organic fruits and veggies to create a truly well-rounded bowl. 🌈🥩🥕

This means deeper nutrition, a wider range of micronutrients, and still keeping things low-carb and high-quality—just the way your pets deserve.

Stop in and see what all the excitement is about… your pets will thank you! 🐶🐱💚

Pug & Hound Pet Apothecary
We carry the best for your pets!

27/03/2026

With The Holistic Canine – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉
Thats because her content is informative and educational.

Highly recommend Kimberly as a nutritionist. If you're looking at learning more about nutrition, check out her Page and ebook ..

Check out Kimberly's ebook, I'm currently reading it and recommending.

"Fresh-Food Feeding Explained" ebook: Available NOW
DIY fresh-food feeding has become widely popular—but proper fresh feeding is still widely misunderstood. It shouldn’t feel confusing, intimidating, or risky—and it definitely shouldn’t rely on internet ratios or guesswork.

Many pet parents are told to follow ratios, trust balance “over time,” or copy meals they see online—without ever being taught why those approaches may fall short nutritionally. The result? Confusion, fear of “doing it wrong,” and well-intentioned diets that quietly miss essential nutrients.
After years of seeing well-meaning pet parents struggle with conflicting advice, rigid formulas, and incomplete information, I wrote "Fresh-Food Feeding Explained" to do something different:

✅Teach you how canine nutrition actually works

✅Show you how to build balanced fresh-food meals using real foods

✅Help you move beyond trends and into confidence and clarity

This is not a raw feeding ebook.
It applies to raw, cooked, gently prepared diets, Frankenprey, and whole prey—with or without supplements. The focus isn’t what the bowl looks like, but what nutrients your dog is truly receiving.

Inside the ebook, you’ll learn how to

✅Understand canine nutrient requirements using NRC principles in a practical, real-world way

✅Identify which foods provide which nutrients—and in what amounts

✅Use ratios appropriately—without treating them as formulas

✅Build meals based on nutrients per 1,000 kcal, not guesswork

✅Recognize and correct nutrient gaps when food alone falls short

✅Decide when supplements are necessary—and how to use them responsibly

✅Know when food is enough… and when it isn’t

✅Rotate ingredients to support long-term nutritional resilience
This is a teaching guide, not a recipe dump.

You’ll be guided through meal construction logic, ingredient selection, raw meaty bone math, nutrient auditing, and real-world formulation examples. By the end, you won’t just follow instructions—you’ll understand how to build your own balanced meals and why you’re feeding what you’re feeding.

"Fresh-Food Feeding Explained" bridges academic nutrition standards and real kitchens. It acknowledges that food sourcing is imperfect, databases are averages, and no meal is ever “perfect”—and teaches you how to feed well despite those realities.
If you’ve outgrown “80/10/10,” are overwhelmed by online advice, or simply want to feed fresh food responsibly, this ebook was written for you.

Fresh feeding, explained—finally.
Available NOW HERE

https://theholisticcanine.us/ebook/

AND learn more here about Kimberly's services.
Is Clinical Nutrition Right for Your Dog?
This service is appropriate if your dog:
* Has a diagnosed medical condition
* Requires long-term dietary management
* Has not responded well to commercial diets
* Needs a personalized therapeutic approach
* Is a service or working dog with medical considerations

If you are unsure whether clinical nutrition services are appropriate, this can be determined through an initial consultation.
https://theholisticcanine.us/services/clinical-canine-nutrition/

25/03/2026

Herbalist 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗹𝗳𝗼𝗿d live Q&A on natural approaches to skin and coat health.
From flea sensitivities to ongoing skin challenges—and learn how to support your pet from within.

𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟲 | 𝟭𝟭 𝗔𝗠


Bring your questions. Get real answers.

Join herbalist 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗹𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 for a live Q&A on natural approaches to skin and coat health—from flea sensitivities to ongoing skin challenges—and learn how to support your pet from within.

𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟲 | 𝟭𝟭 𝗔𝗠


Bring your questions. Get real answers.