Diabetes is a relatively common disease in dogs and cats. Nutritional management strategies aimed at mitigating disease progression can significantly improve health and well-being of pets.

In this episode of the Medicinal Herbs podcast, host Daina Parent, ND, chats with first-time guest Marisa Marciano, ND, RH, about her experience as both naturopathic doctor and Registered Herbalist, including scope of practice, qualifications, education, and training.

Kidney function often declines as animals age, in part due to loss of nephrons, the filtering unit of the kidney. Although kidney disease is a multi-factorial process, targeting pathways involved in its progression can help delay loss of kidney function. Incorporation of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, and antioxidants can help support kidney health in both cats and dogs.

There are several steps pet owners can take to ensure optimal heart health for their pets. This includes helping their dogs and cats stay active throughout their lifetime and feeding their animals intentionally with nutritious foods that contain antioxidants, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and other important nutrients.

Leaky gut syndrome, also known as intestinal hyperpermeability, occurs when the lining of the small intestine is impaired, allowing larger molecules to bypass the gut barrier and into the bloodstream. These molecules may be components of ingested food particles, bacteria, and foreign substances.1

Understanding how herbs work means understanding the wide range of actions they can have in the body, and learning some specific terminology can be helpful to define a plant’s physiological and pharmacological effects as well as its key medicinal uses. It is important to keep in mind that a single herb can have numerous actions, and often, herbs’ actions may overlap or synchronize to work together in a way that will benefit the body on multiple levels. This article will explore some helpful herb terms, clarify their meaning, and give key herbal examples and indications for ease of learning and prescribing purposes.

Animals may experience emotional health problems similarly to how a human may struggle with stress or anxiety. Pets’ emotional health may present in different ways; after all, they can’t communicate directly to their owners about what’s going on in their heads! Understanding what emotional health looks like in pets as well as what nutritional strategies may support pets’ emotional health, however, can help pet parents support their pets throughout their lives.