Life well loved | The pet health and wellbeing podcast: Recent Episodes
Bella and Duke
The pet health and wellbeing podcast by Bella & Duke. Adventure into the world of pet ownership with us as we sniff out expert knowledge from behaviorists, nutritionists and veterinary professionals as we explore everything from pet food, training, pet health and everything you need to consider to do right by your pet. We'll also welcome Bella & Duke customers to tell us about their lives with their pets and what they do to give their pets the healthy, happy and long lives that they deserve.
In this episode, Mark Scott is joined by Dr. Conor Brady to tackle a growing issue affecting our four-legged friends – obesity. With over half of cats and dogs now overweight or obese, they explore what a healthy body shape really looks like and why those extra pounds can seriously impact your pet’s health and lifespan. From the pitfalls of processed pet food to the power of a species-appropriate raw diet, this episode is packed with practical advice. You’ll learn how to assess your pet’s body condition, the role of movement (think hydrotherapy and acupuncture!), and simple ways to make better feeding choices – all to help your best friend live a longer, happier life.
Description:
In this episode, we’re joined by Emmanuel, co-founder of Treat, to explore the fundamentals of the gut microbiome - and why it matters for both humans and pets. Emmanuel shares his unique journey from biomedical engineering into the world of microbiome research and explains how dogs may hold the key to understanding human health.
We dive deep into the role of bacteria, fungi, and viruses in our gut, the impact of diet and lifestyle, and how raw feeding could potentially reduce allergies in pets. Emmanuel also highlights fascinating insights into how the microbiome affects behaviour, chronic disease, and even skin health.
Whether you're a pet parent, science nerd, or just curious about how the gut works—this episode is packed with practical insights and big ideas.
Topics Covered:
- What is the gut microbiome, and why is it crucial?
- Similarities between human and canine microbiomes
- Dogs as models for studying human disease
- The impact of diet and antibiotics on the microbiome
- Why diversity and bioavailability matter in pet food
- The gut-brain connection: behaviour, mood, and more
- Raw feeding and its potential benefits for pets
- Early warning signs of microbiome imbalance
Key Takeaways:
- The gut microbiome plays a major role in digestion, immunity, behaviour, and overall health.
- Processed diets and modern lifestyles contribute to chronic disease in both humans and pets.
- A diverse and balanced diet supports a healthier gut ecosystem.
- Raw feeding may reduce allergies and support skin and coat health.
- Rotating food types can improve microbial diversity.
- Good gut health starts with quality, bioavailable ingredients.
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction and Background
03:01 – The Gut Microbiome and Its Impact on Health
09:00 – Canine Microbiome as a Model for Human Diseases
13:18 – Understanding the Microbiome
19:32 – The Importance of Research
22:15 – Addressing Chronic Diseases
25:01 – Why Diet Diversity Matters
27:14 – The Gut–Skin Connection
31:19 – Signs of Microbiome Imbalance
37:15 – What Bioavailability Really Means
41:50 – Gut Health & Allergy Reduction
In this episode, Mark sits down with Jude to explore the benefits of feeding cats a raw meat diet. Jude shares her journey of transitioning her cat, Moo, to raw food and the incredible changes she noticed in Moo’s health and behaviour.
They dive into key differences between commercial dry food and raw diets, highlighting the importance of high-quality ingredients and moisture in a cat’s diet. Jude also shares practical tips for cat owners looking to make the switch—emphasising the need to take it slow and introduce variety.
Plus, they discuss the potential for future research into how diet influences cat behaviour.
🎧 Tune in now for expert insights and real-life experience on giving your cat the best nutrition possible!
In this episode we sit down with Canine Behaviourist Nikki Mather from Positive Steps Dog Training, and discuss how illness can impact your dogs behaviour.
The latest episode of the Life Well Loved podcast is here! In this episode, Mark Scott and Dr. Connor Brady discuss the ever-growing issue of pet obesity. From the impact it has on our furry friends' health, to the role diet plays in maintaining a healthy weight and more.
In this live episode of the Life well loved podcast we're chatting with Jude all about raw feeding. Whether you're a seasoned pet owner or new to raw feeding, this episode provides valuable insights to ensure your furry friends thrive on a raw diet
Join us on this episode of the Life Well Loved podcast as we dive into the fascinating journey of Carolanne, our new Veterinary Nurse who has a passion for pet nutrition.
Carolanne tell us her story, starting with her love for animals and her journey into veterinary nursing. We'll hear about her beloved pets and what inspired her to switch from working at a kibble company to advocating for raw pet food.Discover the eye-opening truths Carolanne uncovered about the nutritional differences between kibble and raw food, and why she made the decision to transition her own pets to a raw diet.
Also in this episode, Jude and Carolanne delve into the significant benefits of raw feeding, offering insights and expert opinions on why it's a superior choice for pet health. They'll cover everything from improved digestion to shinier coats, and more.
Tune in for an engaging chat that highlights the importance of what we feed our furry friends.
In the latest episode of the Life Well Loved podcast, we’re talking to Vidivet founder Ben Sweeney about the important role nutrition plays in our pet’s health.
With years of hands-on experience as a vet under his belt, Ben founded Vidivet in 2020 so that pet-parents could receive personalised, expert advice on their pet’s health, (and to settle lots of worried minds too).
In this episode of the Life well loved podcast we're chatting with with our guest Nikki, the founder of Positive Steps Dog Training. Nikki, a qualified dog trainer and behaviourist, shares her expertise on how diet influences behaviour and the remarkable transformations she's witnessed in her clients' dogs, especially after transitioning to raw diets. From her background in canine behaviour to overcoming fussiness in dogs during training and feeding, Nikki provides invaluable insights into nurturing the bond between dogs and their owners.
In this episode of the Life well loved podcast we're chatting to Nerys who will be attending Crufts this year with her dog Pink. Listen to this episode as Nerys shares her knowledge and experience with dogs and chats about Pink's journey to the worlds greatest dog show.
In this episode of the Life well loved podcast we're chatting with Emma, who is currently undertaking a Bachelor's degree in Animal Welfare and Behaviour and has a degree in Feline Behaviour. Listen to the latest episode to find out how Emma shows her 19 cats she loves them and how their diet can play a part in their relationship.
In this episode of the Life well loved podcast we're chatting with Elizabeth, pet-parent to Belle, the 11 year old yellow Labrador. With elbow dysplasia, arthritis and an underactive thyroid to contend with, it's fair to say Belle has experienced her challenges, but she's not letting any of that slow her down! Listen to the latest episode to find out exactly what Belle's secret is to a long, happy life.
Read our other customer stories here https://www.bellaandduke.com/customer-stories/
Kim is passionate about rescuing. And she's on a mission to showcase the love and joy that pets can bring to our lives. In this episode, she shares the story of her rescue dog, Dexter, and discusses the challenges and misconceptions around rescuing too.
The festive season can be a dangerous time for pets, with an abundance of food around the house that may pose a threat. Jude McCoy - our Canine Nutritional Advisor - shares her top tips on how you can safely enjoy the festive season with your furry friend.
Dr Brendan Clarke joins the podcast this week to discuss all things RawSAFE accreditation and what it means for our pets.
We have run our annual Health & Happiness survey, speaking to 1,399 dog owners, 212 cat owners and 33 cat and dog owners to concretely understand the beneficial impact its customers have seen since switching to a raw diet for their pets.
Check out with episode with James and our CEO, Mark Scott, to find out more on the results.
In this episode we are joined by former British no. 1 tennis player - Johanna Konta.
Johanna is a long time customer of Bella & Duke for her pups Bono, Sidney & Gimzo. She joins James for a chat on all things nutrition, pet ownership and fuelling your body like an athlete and how that can also apply to our pups!
Jude is our in-house community manager and all round superstar. She has been working at Bella & Duke for years and has recently become qualified as a canine nutritionist. Jude and her group of moderators run our online Facebook group ‘The Pack’ , an extremely engaged online community with nearly 30k members. They help and advise pet owners with any issues they may have - customers or not.
Justin is on a mission to get a million more cats adopted! To do that he teaches the easy way to have a cat! People often think cat ownership is difficult, costly and time consuming. Justin is keen to bust those myths and tell us about his cat's journey on Bella & Duke.
In this episode we speak to Leisl de Lafontaine about all things Therapy Dogs Nationwide.
Therapy Dogs Nationwide is a national charity where visiting volunteers take their own dogs into establishments to provide comfort, distraction, and stimulation. They visit places such as schools, hospice, and prisons. They are one of the few animal charities in the UK who support raw feeding.
In 2023, Bella & Duke have partnered with TDN to support the work they do in the community.
Pets and dodgy tums. If you’re a pet owner, chances are at some point you’ve dealt with them having an upset stomach. In this episode, Dr Conor Brady touches on diarrhoea diets, fasting, using stews, electrolytes, how to conduct an elimination diet properly, a bit on probiotics (the difference between soil and others and when to use).
Separation anxiety is an extremely prevalent problem for pets and pet parents often find it a real struggle to address. Hear from Canine Behaviourist, Caroline Spencer on what separation anxiety is, why it happens & her tried and tested method to ‘take the sting out of leaving’.
Meet Steph, and her Chihuahua Paddy. From a very young age Paddy suffered from multiple health issues due to his fussiness. Absolutely nothing would encourage Paddy to eat and his owner Steph was at a loss, until they found Bella & Duke. This is their story…
Dr Brendan Clarke, Vet & Chief Veterinary Consultant at Bella & Duke discussses healthy pets.
He talks through some routine health checks to consider for your pet, drawing on his background in conventional medicine and alternative therapies including homeopathy, acupuncture, herbs and nutritional support for companion animals.
At Bella & Duke, we care deeply that our pets have always been right by us. That’s why we champion pet health and well-being, challenging the status quo so that pet-centred, species-appropriate nutrition becomes the natural choice for every pet owner.
We came to be in honour of 4 deeply loved family dogs; Morpheus, Trinity, Barney and Gus. Their shared love of family walks in the woods is how our founders Tony and Mark met. Hear more about our story in this touching episode with our CEO and Co-Founder Mark Scott.
Mischa has a dachshund called Slinky, and a spaniel pup called Flo. Slinky has suffered from both allergies and IVDD, and ,Mishcha was at a loss until she found raw feeding. She's been feeding Bella & Duke for several years, and has been an active member of the community, taking part in the feeding board trial. This is their story...
The pet food industry is huge- with various options available to pet owners- dry kibble, tinned wet food, raw pet food and it can be confusing for pet owners to really understand what is best for their pet.
Chief Nutritional Officer (CNO) from Bella & Duke , Rowan Sanderson is here to discuss the differences between a common choice for pet owners (kibble) and growing in popularity raw pet food, with advice for pet owners when considering what works for their pet.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke to explain how to use a measuring stick to track your puppy’s growth. This is a key tip that will help you determine when it’s time to make the switch from puppy food to adult food.
There comes a point when a puppy reaches the peak of growth. At this stage, their nutritional needs change. If you continue to feed them “puppy levels” of food, you’ll end up with an obese dog.
Watch as Brendan demonstrates his simple but efficient method to determine precisely when your dog has reached its adult size.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke to discuss what to do if your dog or cat accidentally ingests one of the following seven toxic items:
- Chicken bones
- Chocolate
- Grapes
- Ibuprofen
- Paracetamol
- Onions
- Garlic
They cover what it is about each of these seven that makes them toxic to our pets, and also address why one of these items is actually beneficial to your dog or cat when consumed only in small amounts.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke to discuss the difference between kennel cough and whooping cough, or Bordetella and how to treat a dog who is experiencing mild coughing fits.
Listen in as Brendan explains how to tell whether you need to take your dog to the vet or to let the cough pass after a few days with the help of natural remedies.
In particular, he discusses how to offer your dog honey to soothe a sore throat and echinacea to support their immune system.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke to discuss a common issue that many pet owners have when transitioning their dog or cat from processed food onto raw: fussiness.
The food industry as a whole has evolved into churning out addictive meals and snacks which are, more often than not, far from whole and healthy. Rowan reminds us that, like children, “animals don’t always know best and they need your guidance.”
Check in with your vet in case your pet is experiencing other complications such as dental problems or organ function issues.
Otherwise, be patient with your pet as you lead them through the weaning process. Remember that, by switching them onto raw, you have just made one of the best decisions possible for your furry friend.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke to empower you with the facts you need to know if you have made the decision to feed your dog or cat raw.
Most vets have been taught to focus on medicine over nutrition. This is one of the reasons that the magic of raw feeding is often underappreciated in the veterinary industry.
But, as Brendan says, “Nutrition is the first step to health.” Prevention should always take precedence over cure. Build a bridge with your vet to help them open their eyes to this fact. After all, your vet only wants the best for your pet.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke to shatter the myth that grain-free dog food causes heart disease.
In fact, grain-free dog food has nothing to do whatsoever with heart disease. The simple matter is that your dog is a carnivore and cannot adequately digest grains and related foods.
Listen in as Rowan and Brendan address the three primary factors that people need to understand concerning this issue—including ingredients used to replace grain in grain-free foods, lack of taurine, and the types of heart disease people generally talk about with regards to this myth.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Nick Benger, an expert dog trainer known for his appearance on Amazon's TV series "The Pack". He is also the host of the Dog Talk with Nick Benger Podcast. Nick walks us through his natural training methods.
The term “natural training” is often misunderstood to mean taking advantage of your dog’s instincts to the point of harming them just to get them to learn a new trick.
Nick says that natural training “should be more about relationships”. Owners, he believes, must always try to strengthen the bond they have with their dogs.
Listen in as Rowan and Nick discuss what types of punishment are acceptable in natural dog training and how to incentivize your dog to exhibit healthy behaviors without having to resort to punishment in the first place.
It’s Bella & Duke’s birthday! In this special episode, Rowan Sanderson sits down with co-founder Tony Ottley to reflect on the company’s road to 30 million meals after just five years!
“What keeps us going,” says Tony, “are the stories that we hear from our customers telling us what a difference it has made moving their pets onto Bella & Duke.”
Listen in as Tony goes down memory lane and shares how the idea to start a raw pet food subscription service was born out of sadness. Rowan then speaks on the company’s rapid success and widespread acceptance in the wider market.
Finally, Tony answers a few questions from the Bella & Duke community.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke to discuss how to identify heatstroke, what are the symptoms, and how to prevent it, and what to do if your dog is currently experiencing it.
Heatstroke takes place when an animal is not able to adequately in a hot environment. For many animals, their normal temperature is around 38 degrees. If their core temperature elevates above 40 degrees, a variety of physiological changes occur and they may exhibit symptoms such as nausea, loss of energy, or, in the worst case scenario, seizures.
Listen in as Rowan and Brendan give their pointers on how to minimize your pet’s risk of heatstroke and what you can do if you don’t have immediate access to the vet while your dog is overheating.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke to discuss the often-overlooked but vital topic of toxic blue-green algae. They define exactly what it is, what to look out for, and how to ensure a safe environment for your dog whilst swimming.
Listen in as Brendan explains how to spot toxic algae and how they may potentially stick to your dog’s fur. He also offers advice on mitigating contamination if your dog does come into contact with an algal bloom, as well as symptoms to watch out for and when it is time to visit the vet.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke to discuss how to prevent your dog from overheating as they explore and play under the hot summer sun.
Listen in as Rowan and Brendan offer several quick tips to becoming more aware of what can cause your dog to overheat, including why you must be extra careful if you have a short-nosed dog, why you should never leave your dog in the car, a simple test to see if the ground you are walking on is too hot, and when it is time to call your vet.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke to discuss your pet’s mental health and, specifically, why raw feeding is far more beneficial for your pet and its well-being.
Your pet’s well-being is a cornerstone of the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare, and healthy feeding plays an active role in this.
Listen in and learn why raw, minimally-proceeding feeding is the best option for your dog’s mental health. Our hosts also discuss the magic of feeding your dog meaty bones and bone broth on top of their usual raw meals.
Finally, Rowan and Brendan touch on Bella & Duke’s initiative in honor of “Pet Mental Health Awareness Month” in June 2021.
Why does my dog eat poo?
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) and Co-Host of Raw Pet Medics to discuss all you need to know about the common Coprophagia, commonly known as eating poo.
Dogs can be led by zoopharmacognosy, which is the ability in animals to smell good nutrients anywhere even in poop. But sometimes, they are driven by flavour in additives found in commercially processed foods that don’t get digested and come out with the same attractive scents as the food.
It is important to feed your dog with a varied diet to make sure it’s getting enough nutrients to avoid it seeking them in its environment. Apart from keeping your environment clean and pick up after other dogs, there are other nutritional steps you can take to protect your dog from eating poop. Listen in to this episode to learn what they are and much more!
Today’s special episode of Mythbusters features a compilation of conversations between Rowan, our chief nutritionist, Mark our CEO and raw feeding vet Brendan Clarke tackling several common myths around raw!
Listen in as we bust the idea that…
Cats Aren’t Carnivores and Can’t Eat Raw Meat
There is No Evidence for the Benefits of a Raw Diet
Raw is Not Good for Your Dog Because It is Filled with Bacteria
Raw is Expensive
“My dog is too old/young to start on raw.”
You Cat Will Thrive on a Specially-Formulated Biscuit
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) and Co-Host of Raw Pet Medics to discuss all you need to know about bone broth.
Listen in as Brendan lists the many benefits of bone broth to your dog or cat and how you can make some right at home. He also explains when and how to feed bone broth to your pet, whether they are suffering from diarrhea or transitioning onto a raw diet.
Finally, Rowan and Brendan go into the science of bone broth, describing the value of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and how you can make sure that you tailor your bone broth recipe around your particular pet’s needs and preferences.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, Co-Host of Raw Pet Medics and member of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss all you need to know about apple cider vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar is widely available, and is relatively inexpensive; but Brendan recommends sticking to an organic product that is not reconstituted with acetic acid or has had the apples sprayed with chemicals to deter pests or keep them from growing molds or shield them from various diseases.
Listen in as Rowan explains exactly what apple cider vinegar it is and what to look for in a product depending whether you intend to apply it topically or to ingest it. He then describes the main benefits of apple cider vinegar and his recommendations for using it topically on your dog.
This episode we bust the myth that cats can live happily and healthily on ‘specially formulated’ biscuits. Dr Brendan Clarke and Rowan, our Chief Nutritional Officer, go through 3 major reasons why feeding dry cat food, especially biscuits, is suboptimal for your feline friend’s health.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, Co-Host of Raw Pet Medics and President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss five tips and tricks to getting your cat used to a raw diet.
Pet food manufacturers often throw in extra ingredients that Rowan and Brendan refer to as “cat crack”: amino acids or salt that are added to their meals that make what would otherwise taste like mush enticing and addicting once a cat has had a taste.
This is why your cat is “fussy” when it comes to trying different foods. Be patient with them and work to gradually decrease their addiction to their regular meal because, as Rowan explains, you will literally be saving your cat’s life by switching them onto raw.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Nick Benger, an expert dog trainer known for his appearance on Amazon's TV series "The Pack". He is also the host of the Dog Talk with Nick Benger Podcast. Nick discusses best practices for dealing with separation anxiety between dog and owner.
Now that more and more people are going back to work, separation anxiety amongst dogs has been on the rise. Nick says that you should not distract your dog as you leave the home. Rather, acclimatize them to your departure.
He also recommends keeping a pet camera to allow you to monitor their behavior while you’re out of the home, and lists a few signs to watch out for on your camera that may point to anxiety.
Listen in as Nick also throws a few questions at Rowan about the benefits of raw in general.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, Co-Host of Raw Pet Medics and President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss when to wean your kitten or cat onto raw.
Brendan offers best practices for making this transition whether your kittens were born at home, you acquired your kittens from a breeder, or you are weaning an adult cat that will only eat what it is familiar with.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, Co-Host of Raw Pet Medics and President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss kidney disease in cats.
The kidneys are responsible for reducing toxin buildup in the body from whatever is ingested. They also are responsible for fluid balance (to make sure the person or animal is well-hydrated and excreting the right amount of urine), salt balance, and the management of a variety of hormones such as those that reduce blood pressure.
Listen in as Brendan lists the principal causes and signs and symptoms of kidney disease in cats, what to expect at your visit to the vet, how to treat your cat, and ensure its long-term health.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Nick Benger, an expert dog trainer known for his appearance on Amazon's TV series "The Pack". He is also the host of the Dog Talk with Nick Benger Podcast. Nick discusses best practices for encouraging healthy behaviors from your dog and keeping aggression at bay.
“We need to put more emphasis on engagement with the dog,” says Nick. He believes that the best way to impart good behavior is by adhering to first principles: By being deliberate with the routine, training, and even the types of food you feed, owners effectively nip “bad” behavior in the bud.
Nick shares tips on how to use classical conditioning to reinforce good behaviors and differential reinforcement to curb aggression. He also explains why lack of socialization or, in many cases, socialization gone wrong are the number one cause of deep-seated aggression in dogs.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, Co-Host of Raw Pet Medics and President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss how to transition your cat to raw.
As obligate carnivores, cats are more likely to be affected by carbohydrates found in processed foods. If anything, cats benefit more from a raw diet than dogs.
Cats are also much more fastidious about what is in front of them, and they rely heavily on their sense of smell. Cats would much rather eat foods with an aroma that they are familiar with. Strange smells will make cats suspicious until they get used to it.
Ultimately, every cat is different; so you will have to adapt these tips to what suits your individual cat.
Listen in and learn Brendan’s five top tips for getting your cat to switch over to raw.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, Co-Host of Raw Pet Medics and President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss five reasons to feed your cat raw.
Not only is eating raw the healthiest option for your cat, but you as its owner may be surprised to learn that 90% of cats are already eating raw, including yours, thanks to its tendency to snack on the odd bird or rat in-between the meals you feed them!
Listen in and learn why feeding your cat raw is more important than feeding your dog raw and how making this switch may positively impact its mental wellbeing.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, Co-Host of Raw Pet Medics and President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss Lyme disease in dogs.
Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by a type of bacterium called spirochete, which is carried in the digestive tract of ticks. The ticks regurgitate materials, including this bacteria, into the skin of whatever they are feeding on.
Listen in as Rowan and Dr. Clarke run through tick hotspots in the U.K., signs of Lyme disease to look out for, how to address Lyme disease, how to remove ticks, and why to avoid products that assure “100%” protection against ticks.
If you dog eat’s grass you may be told they are doing it to supplement their diet with vitamins and minerals. This is a myth, Dr Brendan Clarke explains why.
If you would like to learn more about this topic and whether or not you should worry when your dog exhibits this behaviour, we have a longer, in depth podcast called Why do dogs eat grass?
Rowan Sanderson and Dr. Brendan Clarke dispel the myth that puppies do not need offal or organ meat for the first 24 weeks of their life. This period is, in fact, the most important growth phase of the dog’s life. How could it possibly not benefit from organ meat during this crucial time?
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Conor Brady, Founder and Independent Canine Nutritionist at Dogs First. Fresh off the publication of his book Feeding Dogs Dry Or Raw? The Science Behind The Debate, Dr. Conor answers the question: “Can dogs eat carbohydrates?”
The quick answer: no. Although dogs can digest carbohydrates, they “are happy enough to work away on protein and fat.” They make their own blood sugar and glycogen. In fact, feeding carbohydrate-derived products have been seen to increase the risk of pancreatitis, diabesity (diabetes and obesity), arthritis, and other related diseases. It has even been observed that sled dogs have a higher risk of injury from inflammation caused by a high-carbohydrate diet.
Until more studies demonstrate evidence of the benefits of feeding your dogs carbohydrates, it is best to stick to protein and fats.
Can dogs get COVID 19? Can cats get COVID 19? Should we vaccinate them for it? Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, Co-Host of Raw Pet Medics and President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to dispel myths around COVID 19 in pets and vaccinating them against it.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to cover how, and how much to feed a puppy.
Remember that your puppy is growing. You will have most likely received your puppy at eight weeks old, during which they are growing as fast as they ever will until around four-to-five months. Expect that your puppy will need lots of energy throughout that time.
Listen in as Rowan and Brendan discuss how much to feed your dog depending on its age and corresponding body weight, and guidelines for tapering meals and meal frequency as they age.
Finally, Brendan gives three criteria for checking your dog’s body condition score for evaluating whether they have healthy amounts of fat and muscle on them.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss why dogs eat grass.
Many believe that dogs may be eating grass as a way to engage in zoopharmacognosy, which is self-treating according to a sense of smell and intuition. However, dogs cannot actually digest grass without doing themselves harm. More likely, they are eating grass to purge the system or calm themselves.
If your dog is eating grass, do not panic. Investigate why they are eating grass in the first place. Only call your vet if you see abdominal discomfort, signs of colic, or vomiting of food beyond the grass.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Caroline Spencer, Canine Behaviorist at Bella and Duke, to discuss best practices for training your puppy.
It all starts with you. Puppy owners should educate themselves in the way of the canine. Observe everything your puppy does, since their behavior is communication. By understanding their language, you can make them feel safe and understood.
Most importantly, be in touch with your own emotions, because dogs mirror us. How we feel is mirrored in our dogs: If we’re anxious, our dogs are going to be anxious. Always remember that your puppy is actually being “trained” every second they are with you.
Take things day by day and be patient as you educate your puppy to become their best. Be that anchor—that guide—that your puppy looks up to for safety and companionship.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss whether dogs can eat vegan. They examine four issues that make this movement harmful in the long run, not only to your dogs, but to humans and the planet itself.
Firstly, you should not impose your ethos at the expense of your dog’s welfare. Secondly, it is very difficult to get adequate amounts of nutrients from a vegan diet. Thirdly, advances in technology has a dark side. Finally, a middle ground may or may not even be possible.
Can your dog eat vegan? Yes it can, but at the long-term expense of its health and, potentially, the planet, if this issue is not looked at in a holistic fashion.
Rowan Sanderson chats with Helle Espensen, a world-acclaimed certified BodyTalker and nonverbal communicator. She explains how this area of expertise allows her to communicate directly with animals and help them to heal, among other things.
BodyTalk, as the name suggests, is communication with the body—whether those of animals or humans. The practice does not look for problems, but instead asks the body for its priorities. It goes straight to the cause of the symptoms instead of trying to address only the symptoms. It requires listening to the body to unearth the specific origin of issues.
Some are physiological, neurological, environmental, or even epigenetic. BodyTalk aims to discover the potential mix of these factors that are contributing to the symptoms in question, which finally allows the client to seek the best solution to the problem.
Rowan Sanderson chats with our Natural Canine Behaviorist at Bella and Duke, Caroline Spencer, on her top tips for your first week with your new puppy.
One of the positives that has come from this year’s repeated lockdowns is a surge in interest in owning a new dog. Giving your home to another living being is an awesome feeling, and it is important to think about their needs alongside your own.
Listen in as Rowan and Caroline discuss how to keep your new puppy feel welcomed and relaxed in their new home in the first 24 hours and the following six days.
Discover what we can learn from wolves when it comes to dog behaviour from canine expert Dr Isla Fishburn. Read more in Dog behaviour- The basics https://www.bellaandduke.com/guide/dog-behaviour-the-basics/
Isla shares her experience about wolf behaviour, what she learned when working with wolves and how understanding their behaviours can help us understand our own dog behaviour better.
By extension, understanding our dogs better can help us get in touch with our natural, indigenous nature, which allows us to maximize our spiritual health.
Isla takes a variety of our community's questions to explain topics such as the role of defenders in a wolf pack, what types of foods wolves should eat and how often they should eat per day, how wolves hunt and establish their territorial boundaries, and the paramount importance for us human beings to being present and open to change as we go about our days.
This week we cover the myth that there’s no evidence behind raw dog food and it’s benefits. Get the full show notes and more resources here -
Rowan and Brendan discuss the overwhelming positive evidence and science for feeding raw, looking at 6 different categories. Clinical, nutritional, biochemical, anatomical, scientific research into raw dog food driven by universities and anecdotal evidence from raw feeders around the world.
They refer to our recent survey of over 3,000 raw feeders in the UK. The biggest raw dog food survey in the UK, see the full results of that here - https://www.bellaandduke.com/press-release/bella-and-duke-customer-survey/
Moving on to scientific research, Rowan highlights the Dog Risk group at the University of Helsinki. They have papers discussing how raw can reduce the likelihood of hip dysplasia, how it can improve dermatitis in dogs and more.
For more research, resources and references about raw dog food, dog behaviour and the overall health and happiness of dogs head to our dedicated directory of resources - https://www.bellaandduke.com/raw-dog-research/
Is your vet pro raw feeding? In this episode, Rowan, our Chief Nutritional Officer, and Mark, our CEO and founder, team up to discuss why some vets are still sceptical about raw feeding, the science and evidence behind the benefits of raw dog food and how we are encouraging more vets to join the dog food evolution!
Rowan gives 3 key points about why raw feeding works, to help give raw advocates 3 simple things to explain to raw sceptics on a dog walk. The proteins remain intact, the fats are non-oxidised and there are no carbs which are converted into sugar your dog can’t digest.
Mark mentions our raw feeding survey of over 3,000 Bella & Duke customers and the results of this, including 98% of owners saw an improvement in their dog’s poo habits.
He also explains that Bella & Duke want to help educate those vets who are not bought into the concept of raw feeding yet. We have created a facebook group to help educate and discuss the evidence we are seeing from feeding raw dog food.
We have also set up a pro raw feeding vet directory to help current raw feeders find a friendly vet. If your vet is not in this directory yet, let us know, it is free to join!
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss the myths of a complete, balanced diet.
The FEDIAF has set minimum requirements when feeding your dog. The problem is that these requirements are tailored to the “average dog”, which does not actually exist since every dog’s caloric requirements and metabolism are different.
Rowan and Brendan lay out the limitations of minimum calorie and nutrient requirements, why trying to give a “complete meal” at every meal is not the best idea, and why it pays to just relax when it comes to preparing your dog’s meals, as opposed to obsessing over exactly how much of every type of macro and micronutrient is present in the food.
We interviewed Alison Daniel, founder of My Pet Nutritionist to discuss dog itchy skin causes and 5 easy ways to address itchy skin in dogs.
Itchy skin in dogs generally comes from an immune response usually brought on by environmental factors, but at times is also a result of feeding your dog ultra-processed meats.
The first goal, therefore, is to identify and eliminate the particular irritant. Listen in as Alison shares five big wins for itchy skin: getting your food right, the four Rs, balancing Th1 and Th2 responses, helping create a skin barrier, and removing all chemicals.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to briefly discuss and dispel the myth that raw fed dogs should be wormed every month. The guys also discuss best practices on worming your raw-fed dog.
Brendan speaks about the appropriate frequency for worming your dog, which depends on its age and worm count. He gives different options for having a worm count done by a professional.
Pups who get worms from mum should get wormed monthly for the first few months. Worming should become more infrequent as the months pass and, if a year passes without the presence of eggs, an owner wouldn’t need to worm them more than once every six months.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss issues associated with obesity in dogs.
Obesity is one of the biggest crises taking place in both the human and dog spheres, especially in the Western world. In particular, the problem with obesity is in the diseases it can cause. Measuring for obesity does not necessarily rely on where your dog is on the scale.
Listen in and learn the common issues associated with obesity, how your dog’s body condition score can inform you on how to address your pet’s excess body fat, the first thing dog owners should do to combat obesity, and how to feed and exercise an obese dog.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss all things vaccination for your dog.
A vaccine in the purest form is taking a weakened or killed virus or bacteria that can cause disease and exposing yourself to it through an injection or orally to initiate an immune response which will protect you from the “real” disease that is out there in the wild. Through a vaccination, your white blood cells will become primed to identify and fight that virus or bacteria.
Listen in as Dr. Brendan discusses the best time to give your puppy a vaccine, why you should consider doing a titre test or a VacciCheck for your dog, and things to watch out for if you do decide to give your dog a vaccine.
In this mythbuster Rowan and Dr Brendan Clarke explore and bust the myth that “raw feeding makes dogs aggressive”. Many people are put off trying raw dog food because they think their dog will become more ‘wolf-like’ and dangerous because they are eating similar food.
Dr Brendan explains that when it comes to aggression in dogs there are lots of factors at play. In his view, you should consider more ‘how’ you feed your dog rather than ‘what’ you feed a dog. How you feed your dog can play an important role in making a dog aggressive.
Read more about dog behaviour in our natural canine behaviourist guide ‘Dog behaviour - the basics’ - https://www.bellaandduke.com/guide/dog-behaviour-the-basics/
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Adele Fitzpatrick, founder of The Natural Vet, on how to help your French Bulldog thrive.
Frenchies and other brachycephalic breeds tend to have a predisposition to certain health issues such as gastrointestinal disease, skin disease, airway disease (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome, or BOAS), and joint disease are among those at the top.
Other than these diseases, brachycephalic breeds tend to have problems related to birthing. Eye conditions are also common on account of the shape of the head and how the eyes sit on the heads of these breeds.
Adele gives a number of tips for ensuring that your Frenchie lives a happy and healthy life, which include finding a reputable breeder that conducts breed health testing, having a good quality lifetime pet insurance policy for your Frenchie, and feeding them a diet of good quality, fresh, and easily digestible food.
In this mythbuster, we bust the myth that you can't feed raw dog food for small dogs or toy breeds.
Dr Brendan compares this to saying baby wolves cannot eat raw meat. Of course they can!
The guys recommend giving your small breed or toy dog a well-blended, complete raw dog food for small dogs. They also say feed appropriately sized bone material to a small dog. Like chicks and chicken wings. We don't need to give huge cow bones to a chihuahua.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss the option of castrating a dog, the benefits and dog castration aftercare.
Castration is the neutering of male dogs by entirely removing their center for testosterone production, the testes. The procedure has been around as a beneficial procedure for decades to the point where it is now routine for most pet owners. It is done to prevent unwanted puppies, as well as to reduce the possibility of prostatitis and prostate and testicular cancer.
However, you must consider whether neutering your dog is really the best option for its long-term wellbeing. Brendan shares tips for making an informed decision, as well as proposing vasectomy as an alternative to castration. Finally, he talks about important castration aftercare considerations to make during the recovery period following the operation.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with veterinarian Dr. Barbara Royal, star of Netflix’s Pet Fooled. Through her experience caring for zoo and wildlife animals, Barbara developed an approach to medicine that aims to give what animals would need in the wild—an approach that she saw was lacking during her time working with dogs and cats.
Pet Fooled “exposes what is wrong and what can be right in the pet food industry”. Through the show, pet owners learn what goes on behind the curtains of the pet food industry, and can then become more informed when they make decisions regarding their dog’s or cat’s diet.
Barbara’s aim is to have as many dog owners as possible participate in a “fresh food revolution” where practices such as raw feeding and low-carb diets become common sense. By tweaking diet alone, obesity and a host of other health problems will instantly cease for dogs everywhere.
Let’s make dog walks fun! Rowan, our Chief Nutritional Officer, talks to Kilted Coach Stephen Clarke about how to exercise with your dog. Stephen gives us 5 of his favourite exercises he regularly practices with his dog, Tilly.
Here are Stephen’s 5 ways to exercise with your dog:
Play tug of war - Stephen explains that tug of war is a perfect way to strengthen your dog’s jaw muscles. He notes that, if you have a strong dog “it’s exhausting”
Wrestle with your dog - “Even 10 minutes of this and the sweat will be dripping off your face”
Stephen equates this exercise to weight training, except you’ll use muscles you don’t normally use. It’s also a great way to connect with your dog and improve your bond.
Walk on resistant terrain - Stephen recommends walking on a beach or in a stream, where every step is the equivalent of 3 on a flat concrete surface.
Go swimming - a fantastic, low impact way to exercise with your dog. Perfect for senior dogs.
Sprint training - This is Stephen’s favourite. Walk a distance from your dog then prompt them to chase you to a pre-determined finish. As you improve, move closer to your dog before saying ‘go’.
Rowan adds that a dog walk should be about exercising both the mind and the body. Changing your dog walk route on a regular basis helps to keep things interesting.
There is a common misconception that if you want to clean your dog’s teeth your dog must eat kibble. Rowan, our Chief Nutritional Officer interviewed Dr Brendan Clarke to find out the answer to the question does kibble clean dogs teeth?
Mark Scott sits down with author, podcaster, and television and radio broadcaster Tony Wrighton on his passion for taking life to the next level through alternative sources of energy.
At one point in his life, Tony contracted an unidentified tropical virus. Doctors were at a loss as to what it was or how he could be treated. This drove Tony to seek out unconventional solutions, in this case, tapping. Ten minutes into his first session with an emotional freedom therapist specializing in chronic fatigue, Tony knew that he was going to be okay.
Following this experience, Tony learned about biohacking through Dave Asprey’s Bulletproof Radio podcast, and from there he was thrust into an exciting quest for unorthodox strategies and solutions for long-term health and wellness.
Listen in as Mark and Tony discuss such topics as low-histamine diets, NLP, and Tony’s very own podcast on “energy, vitality, motivation”, Zestology.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss probiotics for dogs and their benefits. They talk about the probiotic specifically formulated for cats and dogs, FidoSpore.
Probiotics are anything which promotes beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract—in the microbiome, essentially. This can be in the form of a probiotic pill or foods such as sauerkraut, kefir, and other fermented products rich in fermented bacteria for the host.
The supplement FidoSpore is the first canine and feline-specific probiotic. Rowan highly recommends this supplement over fermenting your own food because, in FidoSpore, you know exactly which strains are in the mix. You also know for sure that you are feeding beneficial bacteria specifically handpicked for cats and dogs. Research suggests that FidoSpore generally addresses itchy skin, red or inflamed skin, ear problems, digestive issues, and low energy.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss all you need to know about spaying your dog. To castrate is to neuter a male dog, while to spay is to neuter a female dog. Neutering is removing a part of an animal’s sexual organs, so that it cannot produce offspring.
The question of whether or not to spay your dog is a really important decision that is based around what breed you have, how old they are, what your personal circumstances are, what your vet offers and their safety protocols, and the chances of certain health risks depending on your location (i.e. urban or countryside).
Listen in as Dr. Clarke goes into three different types of spaying: the classic spay, the ovarian sparing spay, and the laparoscopic (or keyhole) spay.
Rowan, our chief nutritional officer, sits down with Dr Brendan Clarke to discuss what your dogs poo is telling you about their health. The guys go through what happens when you transition dog food, between kibbles and switching from kibble to raw food. Dr Brendan explains the types of diarrhoea and constipation in dogs. Finally they discuss why your dog might be a certain colour.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare. For a number of decades, these freedoms have been serving as vitally important considerations to be respected by animal carers of all kinds, including farmers, pet owners, and zoo keepers. They are there to hopefully “enhance the environment, circumstances, and quality of life of the species you are looking after.”
Listen in as Dr. Clarke and Rowan list out and give their thoughts on the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare: health, companionship, behavior, diet, and environment.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) to discuss how to care for your senior dog.
The rule of thumb is that, the bigger the dog, the “faster” it ages. For bigger dogs such as mastiffs and Irish wolfhounds, five years may already be considered senior. At this age, Dr. Clarke suggests regular visits to the vet to check for the heart, as well as for possible growths such as osteosarcoma and other cancers. Smaller dogs such as Jack Russells may retain their youthful energy all the way up to their 13th or 14th year.
Dr. Clarke names four primary factors that you should be aware of as your dog ages: (1) dental health; (2) weight; (3) signs of cognitive dysfunction; and (4) signs of arthritis.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Brendan Clarke, President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS). The two go over whether or not dogs can eat cooked food as well as some of the benefits of raw feeding on both physical and mental health.
Dr. Clarke speaks on the important distinction between thriving and surviving on certain types of foods, as well as food that is healthy in addition to being species-appropriate. He also talks about what heat actually does to meat, in terms of impact on both bodily and behavioral factors.
Finally, to tie this important topic to the bigger picture of your dog’s overall well-being, Dr. Clarke covers the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare, which are universally accepted in the veterinary world.
Do you want to give your dog a healthier, longer life? Did you know you could save money on vet bills by feeding a healthy diet? Feeding your dog a healthy, nutritious diet is less expensive than you may think in the long run.
In this episode of the Pet Health & Happiness Show, Rowan discusses the above and more with leading Holistic Vet and Author of the Ultimate Pet Health Guide, Dr. Gary Richter
Dr Gary explains why he believes that feeding your pet Raw Food is simply the best thing you can do for their health and longevity. He also shares lessons on raw feeding from his long experience treating people's pets.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with veterinarian Dr. Gary Richter, author of the bestseller The Ultimate Pet Health Guide: Breakthrough Nutrition and Integrative Care for Dogs and Cats.
Listen in as Dr. Gary gives tips on preparing inexpensive healthy meals for your pet at home, as well as the best questions to ask your veterinarian with regards to your pet’s long-term health.
Want to try our natural, nutritious food with 50% off? Head here - https://www.bellaandduke.com/lp/podcast-50-off/
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Isla Fishburn, who shares a treasure trove of wisdom on connecting and understanding our dogs by focusing our attention on our inner world.
Dr. Fishburn covers such topics as the importance of understanding our dogs as “whole ecosystems”, becoming aware of the energies we emit and absorb, and practical tips for forging a closer bond with our dogs.
The key takeaway is to not underestimate the power of our inner world. Our dogs can pick up on it vibrationally and emotionally, and act accordingly. Once we accept ourselves as “energy beings—beautiful vessels that carry our essence”, we then realize that even our thoughts and words carry energy that can impact the very DNA of lifeforms around us.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Billy Hoekman, Science Director at Answers Pet Food, to discuss the health benefits of fermentation, fermented dog food & fermented milk. They also discuss ‘good’ vs ‘bad’ bacteria & yeast.
The key to a healthy diet is to nurture diversity in the community within the gut. According to Billy, people need to realize that there is a difference between good and bad bacteria. It is possible to over-sterilize one’s environment and food, which is actually unhealthy in the long run.
“We should be looking to harness bacteria rather than avoid it,” agrees Rowan. By harnessing what nature has been providing “since people have been people”, food can be made safer and more bioavailable.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Nick Thompson to discuss tips and tricks to keep in mind when dealing with your dog’s poo-related mishaps.
Based on the seven-point Bristol Stool Chart, Dr. Nick developed his own ascending scale for measuring dog poo. A 0 is a stool with virtually no form, while a 10 is one that is perfectly torpedo or cigar-shaped. Stool with a score of 10 on this scale is an indication of great gut health. This scale is incredibly useful for accuracy when having conversations with your vet wherein the objective is to gauge how your dog responds to different foods.
Using this scale as the basis for today’s discussion, Nick goes over three common concerns regarding dog poo: what it means when stool takes on a white and crumbly form, how to address diarrhoea in dogs, and tips for dealing with constipation in dogs
Mark, our CEO, sits down with Emma Rutherford, a Functional Canine Dietary Consultant with a particular focus on promoting raw food for a dog’s integrative health. They touch on a variety of topics, relating them all to the ever-evolving Coronavirus situation.
“If you can get the food right from the start,” says Mark, “it gives your body a much better chance to deal with stress, whether emotional or physical.”
Emma adds that it is best to approach food in a holistic manner. She suggests moderation and cycling what you feed your pet, particularly if you are still getting them used to a raw diet.
Also discussed is the health of pet owners themselves. It is obviously key for humans to focus on their health as much as they do their dogs’. Beyond physical health, people should also address often overlooked factors such as recovery, mental health, and the power of association.
Have you been wondering if your pet is at risk from COVID-19? Looking for ways to maintain your own health during COVID-19? Rowan, our chief nutritionist & Dr Nick Thompson discuss how to keep you and your dog happy & healthy over the next few weeks.
Dr Nick discusses how to help your dog thrive, including can dog’s contract the virus, can they spread the virus and planning who will walk your dog if you need to stay indoors
Rowan explains how you can ensure you stay healthy in mind, body and spirit in the coming weeks, including communicating with others as much as possible, exercises to try (especially mini rebounder trampolines to help with lymphatic drainage & immune boosting foods and supplements to help you thrive.
Remember, if the news is getting you down, take your dog for a walk.
Rowan and Mark share their tips and strategies for extending your dog’s food storage amidst the COVID-19 situation.
It may be a challenge to stock up on dog food in an economy restricted by safety measures relating to Coronavirus. In case you own a smaller-sized freezer or are having trouble receiving deliveries—as many are in areas that are in lockdown—Rowan suggests a few foods to supplement the calorie count of your dog’s meals. These include toppers, tinned sardines, eggs, sauerkraut, bone broth, and offal.
Finally, Rowan and Mark discuss how to exercise and train your dog in the comfort of your own home. Rowan specifically encourages pet owners to focus on enrichment games, which double as a training tool.
Bella & Duke
Rowan Sanderson sits down with microbiologist Dr. Emily Stein of Primal Health to discuss the importance of the microbiome in dental health and beyond. It’s often repeated that there are more bacteria on and around us than we have actual cells. Bacteria can even be considered our “friends”, being our first line of defense against pathogenic viruses.
Emily presents her brainchild, TEEF!: a prebiotic that drives the metabolism of bacteria below all the mucosal surfaces (ex. gumline, tongue, etc.) to grow the protective bacteria and, at the same time, selectively targets the harmful, disease-causing bacteria to grow through nutrient pressure.
According to Emily, when it comes to chronic diseases, the microbial component is often ignored in medicine—veterinary and human. TEEF!’s goal is to create a healthy microbiome. She shares the how and why behind this product, including a couple of tragic personal experiences that served as the catalyst for TEEF!.
In this Mythbuster, Mark, our CEO & Rowan, our Chief Nutritional Officer, bust some myths around reasons not to try raw and reasons to stop feeding raw. Another way to look at this Mythbuster is the top 5 reasons you can feel great about feeding raw food to your dog
In this week’s Mythbuster, Mark and Rowan bust 5 myths around reasons many don’t try raw dog food or stop feeding raw.
In this week’s podcast Rowan, our chief nutritional officer is joined by Dr Nick Thompson, they discuss the raw dog food revolution. Read our more in depth article on raw dog food here - https://www.bellaandduke.com/guide/what-does-raw-food-diet-consist-of-and-why/ The guys discuss what Raw Dog Food is, how best to define it, how it is made & the benefits of feeding your dog a raw diet vs feeding cooked dog food.
Raw Dog Food differs from traditional dog food in that it is minimally processed and has not been heat treated. It is kept as cool as possible to ensure important nutrients are locked in. In principal raw dog food is what your dog has evolved to eat over millions of years.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Nick Thompson to discuss best practices in transitioning your dog onto raw. This is a subject that Nick has been focusing on for over 25 years and counting, and has observed more than 10,000 dogs that have gone through this journey.
While 90% of dogs have no problem making an instant switch to a pure raw diet, Nick still recommends the Four-Day Rule, which gradually introduces your dog to raw food. This not only helps the dog and its microbiome adapt to the new diet, but it also helps the owner get used to this new feeding style.
In Nick’s personal experience, everybody who makes this dramatic switch to a pure raw food diet is terrified at the beginning. When in doubt, he suggests that you contact your raw food supplier and allow them to guide you through any challenges you may be having.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Nick Thompson to discuss his top tips for feeding your growing dog while keeping in mind the phrase “fit, not fat.” According to Nick, if a puppy goes through their first year with a non-obese body composition, they will reap huge metabolic benefits in their adulthood.
Nick covers exercise, food amounts and meal frequency, calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, and the importance of skeletal maturity. The common thread tying these topics together is that of meeting your dog where it currently is.
Your dog’s current stage of growth determines what you should feed them and the amount of activity you should engage them in. “Don’t feed them until they are fat,” says Nick. “Feed them so that they can do the work they need to do every day.”
Rowan Sanderson sits down with personal trainers Stephen Clarke and Rab Shields to share what they consider to be the top health benefits to owning a dog. From inspiring you to step out of the house to do some exercise, to improving your people skills, to nurturing better microbiome, owning a dog can potentially improve your life in more ways than one.
Dogs simply give you a reason to get active versus motivating ourselves to exercise alone. With a little clever thinking, the possibilities for breaking a sweat with your pet are endless. In addition to exercise, dogs make you feel genuinely excited to speak to people. In other words, with a dog by your side, “Your heart and your head are more open to positive influence.”
The first in our 'What the Vet Says' series, our Chief Nutritional Officer, sits down with President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (https://rfvs.info), Dr Nick Thompson to summarise and discuss pancreatitis in dogs.
This podcast ties in closely with our Guide to Pancreatitis - https://www.bellaandduke.com/guide/pancreatitis-in-dogs
Rowan & Dr Nick cover conventional and new school thinking on pancreatits in dogs. They go through key points about the illness to help you better understand how to help your dog thrive. They discuss:
- What the Pancreas does
- What causes pancreatitis
- The top 5 symptoms of pancreatitis
- What you can do to help your dog manage its pancreatitis, be it chronic or acute.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with canine herbalist Rita Hogan. Rita sheds light on how to choose the appropriate herbs to add to your dog’s raw diet. She begins by saying that most pet owners use herbs allopathically; that is, with the intention to treat symptoms rather than causes. “Herbs don’t work that way,” states Rita, laying the groundwork for the discussion.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with David Levy from TEEF! Health. Their titular product, TEEF! is a “prebiotic powder made out of four natural safe ingredients”. The powder is added to a dog’s water. Once the dog drinks it, TEEF! slushes within the dog’s mouth, overtaking the bad bacteria as the prebiotic grows and helps to enhance the good bacteria. Not only does this clean the dog’s teeth, but the good bacteria then goes down into the intestinal tract and helps the probiotics.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Kiran Krishan to discuss his advocacy to rescue and rehabilitate pets on a massive scale, with a particular focus on finding new ways to improve dogs’ microbial ecology in order to prevent leaky gut.
Kiran talks about his research which undeniably verifies leaky gut as a condition in dogs. In addition, he goes into how leaky gut impacts their conditions or diseases. He singles out microbial ecology as the biggest factor in determining gut health.
It’s not what you eat, but how what you eat is absorbed. Kiran discusses the differences between bad bacteria and good bacteria, the latter being known as “universal colonizers”. He then cites examples of known keystone strains, as well as those that he is currently uncovering via ongoing research.
Rowan sits down with a roundtable of experts: Dr. Brendan Clarke, Dr. Wendy McGrandles, Dr. Nick Thompson, Dr. Vicky Simon, and Billy Hoekman. Together, they discuss the topic of “Beyond BARF: How sticking solely to an evolutionary template could potentially hold us back if we’re not open to new developments and ideas.”
Rowan sits down with microbial ecologist Dr. Holly Ganz, founder of AnimalBiome to talk about your dog’s gut microbiome, how lack of diversity and imbalances in the gut microbiome can lead to health conditions. Holly’s goal is to take what she learned from studying the microbiome to improve animal health, especially in the gut and oral environment of dogs and cats.
AnimalBiome provides capsulated fecal transplants which Holly refers to as “gut restoration supplements”. These contain a healthy mix of the core microbiome. This is the current focus of AnimalBiome in addressing microbial issues due to the extensive peer-reviewed research done on fecal transplants.
Rowan Sanderson interviews Dr. PJ Broadfoot, an integrative veterinarian and published author. She speaks about the thymus, the healing properties of thymus extract and her work with Dr. Richard N. Ushijima, who developed a number of methods of treatment using thymus extract. She also provides tips on tick control.
See our AVOIDER plan for natural tick prevention here - https://www.bellaandduke.com/guide/helping-prevent-ticks-on-dogs-your-comprehensive-guide/
Dr. PJ relates her experiences in exclusively dealing with the heavily purified thymus extract produced by Dr. Ushijima, and the latest developments surrounding the replication of this breakthrough variety that has been used for a variety of treatments.
Following this, Dr. PJ gives a few tips on dealing with ticks. She recommends oral solutions which include high amounts of sulfur. However, there are a lot of purported solutions that do more harm than good, so it pays to be cautious. Rowan pitches in by saying that the key to effective tick prevention is to empower pet owners with the knowledge that they need to make informed decisions on best practices.
Head here for more podcasts - https://www.bellaandduke.com/podcast-category/podcasts/
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Billy Hoekman, Director of Nutrition Science at Answers Pet Food. He speaks to us about being the only company in America to produce fermented raw pet food.
Billy describes the many benefits of feeding your dog all-fermented meats, vegetables, and milk. Fermenting dog food preserves and exponentially increases the amount of enzymes, vitamins, and other nutrients found in it. He notes that “Food in your refrigerator is good for a week.” That food has about 2.5 billion probiotics on average from the food matrixes that were added to it. When you leave it out at room temperature for 48 hours, that number shoots up to 12 billion probiotics per ounce of food.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Anna Hielm-Björkman, leader of the DogRisk research group, and the head of raw research at Helsinki University. Dr. Anna discusses her recently-released paper disproving the link between people getting ill and feeding pets raw food, which was written with the help of 17,000 respondents from 81 countries. The questionnaire was targeted to pet owners who, to some extent, fed raw to either cats or dogs.
Rowan Sanderson interviews Dr Isla Fishburn, leading conservation biologist and canine wellness practitioner. Rowan and Isla discuss the characteristics of your dog, functional characters, group compositions of wolves with a bonus section about fasting for dogs.
Understanding the group composition and characteristics of wolves will help you to better live in harmony with your dog. Dr Isla reveals all.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dana Scott, the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Dogs Naturally Magazine - https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/. Her vision-mission is to serve as the “glue” for an international community of ethical pet owners, vets, and vendors.
Rowan and Dana explore a few different avenues around the topic of vitamins, minerals and fats for dogs. Beginning with pet food industry legislation for minimum vitamin and mineral requirements, why and how these are often based on guesstimates.
Wondering about the best way to switch your dog from their current food to raw dog food? Rowan sits down with Dr. Nick Thompson, head of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society, and Dr. Conor Brady, founder of Dogs First. Together, they discuss how to transition your dog to a raw dog food diet.
They explain that there are two distinct camps, straight switching or gradually transitioning your dog. No matter which camp an owner is in, moving your dog to a raw diet is a move towards optimum nutrition. Every dog is different; but no matter how many days you set for the transition period, it is important to consider that, long-term, your dog will be better off cutting out the kibble.
Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Nick Thompson, head of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society, and Dr. Conor Brady, founder of Dogs First.
Together, they discuss the impact of leaky gut (intestinal permeability) on your dog’s health and how it is linked to food allergies and intolerances. They also give you a simple method to solve your dog’s leaky gut issues.
According to Dr. Nick, preventing leaky gut is simple provided one can identify the cause of inflammation or damage to the gut.
In this week's podcast, our Chief Nutritional Officer, Rowan Sanderson, sits down with Dr. Anna Hielm-Björkman, one of the world’s leading researchers in pet nutrition to talk all things raw dog food and the benefits of a species-appropriate diet. Dr Anna also discusses some cutting edge research being undertaken to identify the link between certain foods and canine diseases.
Dr. Hielm-Björkman laments the modern hyper-specialization of medicine—that the focus has gradually moved from the “wholeness” of the patient (for both animals and humans) down to their individual parts. As an example, one’s bad eyes could be due to a lack of carbohydrate intake; but because they’ve seen an eye doctor and not a nutritionist, the prescription becomes laser treatment or glasses instead.
Rowan and Dr.Hielm-Björkman also explain that feeding your dog a natural raw diet may help to prevent
- Skin diseases, allergies, and atopy
- Skeletal diseases
- Chronic gastrointestinal diseases
We are often asked whether it is okay to feed puppies a raw diet. Will they get the appropriate levels of nutrients they need to live a long and happy life?
Join Rowan, chief nutritional officer at Bella and Duke, where he discusses this topic, specifically the perfect ratios of calcium and phosphorous for puppies to avoid deficiencies, with Dr Nick Thompson and Dr Conor Brady. The guys explain why these ratios have come to the fore in recent years.
Learn why the ratio of calcium and phosphorous your dog is getting in their diet is not something you need to worry too much about when you feed a complete raw diet, appropriate to your dog’s digestive system, whether you have a giant, medium or toy breed.
In this week’s podcast, Rowan, our chief nutritional officer, is joined by top animal nutritionist and M.D of https://dogsfirst.ie/, Dr Conor Brady and head of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society, Dr Nick Thompson. They discuss why highly cooked, processed meat is not good for dogs and the dangers of ultra-processed kibble.
They explain that cooking proteins under harsh temperatures and pressures denatures it, making it harder for your dog to digest. The extreme process creates cancer-causing agents such as acrylamides.
The other point to note is that the indigestible particles and proteins remain in your dog’s system, causing gut irritation, leaky gut and food intolerance, sometimes full-blown allergies to beef and chicken especially.
to buy products visit https://www.bellaandduke.com/shop/
What would a human species-specific diet look like? Using the same approach that we take with our dog food, an evolutionary template backed by modern, cutting edge science, Rowan (chief nutritional officer) and Mark (CEO) discuss the 5 key areas to radically improve your own overall health.
They walk you through the DRESS approach, Diet, Rest, Exercise, Stress-reduction & Supplementation and break each point down into easily digestible take-away points. The guys give you their recommendations on brilliant books to read and resources you can download to help you on your journey to optimal health and longevity.
When we move our dogs away from highly processed food and onto a natural, raw diet we often see a difference in days and weeks (especially their poos). We want to empower you to work towards positive, fundamental changes in your own health too. It’s quicker and easier than you may think.
https://www.bellaandduke.com/guides_category/podcast/
In this episode of What the Experts have to say Rowan is joined by Peter Gregory at the BAHVS event 2019.
They discuss how he teaches and practices homoeopathy and is the Dean for the Faculty of Homoeopathy.
They also discuss how Peter began his raw journey, and how he believes that raw feeding heels to cure.
Finally, they discuss his books on homoeopathy and where you can learn more about him or homoeopathy.
In this episode of What the experts have to say Rowan is joined by Geoff Johnson at the BAHVS event 2019.
They discuss why Geoff is an advocate for raw and he explains that at first he actually wasn't after a colleague recommended giving his dogs raw chicken wings, however, he didn't want to as he thought this would puncture his dog's gut but after a persistent colleague assuring him he gave it a go and soon realised that this was the right choice.
He started recommending this to clients and noticed changes in their dog to, this is when he realised that giving a dog what they had evolved to eat was the best way forward.
Geoff then tells Rowan he believes in a straight switch to raw and he has had very little issues in doing this straight switch.
They then discuss what encouraged Geoff to take this career path, he tells Rowan how this passion with animals started from an early age and he was so interested in the insides of animals.
Lastly, they discuss titre testing where Geoff explains he doesn't understand why every vet doesn't offer these.
In this Mythbusting episode, Caroline and Rowan are discussing the topic that you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
They discuss that all you need is a good teacher, a good environment and a good voice. That you can always learn with the right person and this is the most important factor in it, but also with the right food as omega3 helps with nuero[lasticy in the brain which is really effective in learning.
In this Mythbusting episode, Mark and Rowan are discussing the topic that Peanut butter is a good treat for your dog.
They discuss that peanuts are not a real nut and actually super high in lectins which is pro-inflammatory affecting things like your dog's arteries.
They then go on to discuss that peanut butter is full of Omega 9, cheap salts and a mould that all contribute to inflammatory issues in your dog, so the best solution is to just stay away from it altogether.
In this video, Rowan is speaking with Martyn Barklett-Judge from Pet Remedy.
They discuss the background of Pet Remedy and how the company began 10 years ago all down to Martyn's cat continuously peeing on his bed, he tried everything and couldn't find any calming products to help at all. Until one of his friends showed him an article of natural products being used to calm animals instead. He then took it upon himself to start developing his own range of natural treatments.
He had RSPCA test his products and they said that it really does make a difference. So he decided to bring these products to the market. He talks about the different ways this product can calm your animals down, fireworks night, separation anxiety even bringing new pets into the home for other animals.
He has so nicely given our Bella & Duke customers an amazing 30% discount code to use on his website so make sure to use BND30 at the checkout.
In this Mythbusting episode, Mark and Rowan are discussing the topic of Pea Proteins.
They discuss that these proteins are seriously high in Lectins which stops the absorption of vitamins minerals and amino acids such as Taurine. Also, they discuss that Pea Protein is high in starch which increases the load a dogs pancreas has to work.
Lastly, they talk about how pea proteins or others high in lectins are not a suitable alternative to cutting out things like cereals from your dog's diet.
In this Mythbusting episode, Mark and Rowan are discussing the topic that Dogs can't eat vegetables.
They discuss that most people are following a strict evolutionary based diet and are trying to do the best by their dog.
They then go on to discuss the study that dogs with a host of bacteria in their guts live longer, healthier, happier lives. So, therefore, the vegetables might not be digested and fed by the dog but with feed the bacteria.
Lastly, they talk about how there is a high percentage of foreign genetic material in dogs and even humans.
In this Mythbusting episode, Mark and Rowan are discussing the very popular topic of DIY being a cheaper method of sourcing your raw dog food.
They discuss the main reason people choose to DIY raw rather than buy from a company which is that it's a lot less expensive to do so.
They then go on to discuss how this is not always the best choice for your dog as vital nutrients can be missed out which are already provided in completed meals from companies selling raw dog food.
They also discuss how sourcing proper organs such as tripe is not easy to get ahold of, especially green tripe which is super high in digestive enzymes.
Lastly, they talk about how it's always a good starting point for people to buy cheap raw food from a company and then add supplements on top themselves such as fermented vegetables.
In this episode, Mark and Rowan explore why fat doesn't make your dog fat, why it's virtually impossible to store fat as fat and why calories don't really count, but hormones count much, much more.
The next generation of CBD production discussed. Meet Heidi Whitman from the Naked Leaf CBD company.
In this episode, Rowan meets the compelling force for positive that is Heidi Whitman, inspirational co-founder of Naked Leaf Co, an ethical sustainable, organically grown CBD producer that is making tracks to be one of the first UK CBD producers to market for dogs under the new legislation.
Heidi explains how after many years of working as a Vet tech in the US, in between personally rescuing several animals, both her and her husband Nathan set out to find the very best seeds to produce the very best oil to share with the animals they had rescued along with their family.
Heidi recently spoke at the Equine Vet conference in San Francisco. These progressive pioneers also sponsor several animals at a Rescue Sanctuary in LA, Heidi emotionally shares some of the success stories, their return to health with the handcrafted oils they are proud to put their name too.
We cover what CBD is versus what it isn’t, what the current states for humans versus their pets. We discuss Naked Leaf's stratospheric growth and how saving pets and improving pets lives is what is at the DNA of everything they do.
We love these guys, we're sure you will too!
In this episode, Mark and Rowan are busting myths around meal times and frequency. There is a common misconception that dogs need to regularly eat 2 -3 meals a day, to regulate blood sugar levels. Rowan discusses how he varies how many meals he feeds his dog, Kismet, dependent on activity levels for the day. The guys also discuss how feeding fewer times a day can positively impact your dog's health. Allowing your dog to enter a fasted state will allow its body to 'clean itself up' by encouraging mitochondrial scavenging which upregulates the dog's metabolism. This process is associated with longevity, helping to give your dog the longer life If your dog is 'off' its food, be sure to seek reassurance from your vet to rule out any nasty illnesses.
Part of a new series of mini podcasts in which we cover fast facts about health, wellness and nutrition. And debunk some often repeated myths.
In this first episode Rowan and Mark discuss Omega 3 fatty acids. Why are they beneficial, why you need them and why most of what you know is based on mythical marketing. This with a view to some of the often promoted plant based sources. Also importantly we cover why it’s important to shift focus from the omega 3 fatty acids themselves to their usable components EPA DHA that you and your dog need to thrive. We also cover what to look for to get the best from your Omega 3 consumption. Why consuming the "wrong kind" may do more harm than good. A little known fact about Scottish beef. We also sneak a preview of a new market leading EPA and DHA rich oil we are close to launching in our food to ensure you can relax and know we have done all the hard work for you. All of these fabulous facts are glued together with laughter, good humour and some gentle jocular jousting. And kindness to moths.
This weeks podcast is a little different to our usual podcasts.
With it being the end of the month Mark and Rowan have done a live Q&A session with our facebook group.
We have a lot of new members this month, so we thought we would answer some of your questions while giving you some updates about the exciting new products and treat ranges we will be releasing soon.