Your Natural Dog with Angela Ardolino - Formerly It's A Dog's Life

In this episode of Your Natural Dog, Angela sits down with Kelly Bone, founder of Saving Pets One Pet at a Time, to talk about a topic a lot of pet parents are quietly struggling with: who can you actually trust with your pet’s health? Kelly shares the heartbreaking story of losing her dog, Duncan, to a recalled prescription pet food and how that grief turned her into a fierce advocate, lead plaintiff in a class action lawsuit, and the creator of a 175,000-member Facebook community. Angela and Kelly dig into what “holistic” really means, why the word is now slapped on everything from vet clinics to online coaches, and how pet parents can spot red flags in veterinarians, nutrition courses, supplements, and online “experts.” You’ll hear real talk about pet food recalls, dangerous drugs still on the market, unregulated supplements, and the rise of under-trained “holistic” practitioners. Most importantly, Angela and Kelly share practical ways to vet potential vets and coaches, read labels, build a trustworthy holistic team, and step fully into your role as your pet’s primary advocate.

Episode Recap:
  • Angela starts by defining what holistic truly means: treating the whole being, addressing root causes, and supporting the body’s natural ability to heal. (00:00)
  • Kelly shares her dog Duncan’s story, how her healthy service dog suddenly became critically ill and died after eating contaminated Hill’s Science Diet dog food, and realizing how little these companies care about our pets, after Hill’s offered her $10 in coupons as recompense for killing her dog. (02:34)
  • She explains how Duncan’s death led her to join a class action lawsuit against Hill’s and launch the Saving Pets One Pet at a Time Facebook group, which grew rapidly as thousands of grieving or worried pet parents reached out. (05:04)
  • Angela and Kelly talk about the guilt of blindly following conventional vet advice, from prescription food, flea/tick meds, heartworm drugs, to constant vaccines, and why they now refuse to hand over full control again. (06:58)
  • Angela calls out the explosion of inexperienced “certified” holistic pet coaches and pet nutritionists, many with less than 30 hours of training, yet charging hundreds of dollars per consult. (10:00)
  • They outline red flags in “holistic” vet clinics, like pharma posters, prescription diets, annual vaccine postcards, and automatic chemical preventatives. Plus practical tips for vetting your vet: from visiting clinics in advance and asking the right questions, to being willing to drive or use telehealth to work with a truly holistic vet. (16:43)
  • Angela and Kelly talk about the shocking lack of consequences when pet food companies harm or even kill thousands of pets, who are seen as merely property, and misleading pet food labels and supplements, warning about companies changing ingredients for profit, many with long lists of synthetic vitamins, fillers, and “other ingredients.” (22:21)
  • Why long ingredient lists are a red flag and why nutrients should primarily come from real, whole foods rather than isolates sprinkled on top. (27:12)
  • They discuss influencers who suddenly flip from promoting raw feeding to pushing kibble and prescription diets, and why pet parents should always follow the money and check for sponsorships. (30:10)
  • Kelly shares about the 175,000 pet parents looking for help in her Facebook group, Saving Pets One Pet at a Time, many joining after their pets get sick because of commercial pet food, and why saving money by feeding your dog cheap kibble often leads to bigger vet bills later, plus ways to “freshen the bowl” on a budget. (36:19)

Episode Resources:

Follow Your Natural Dog on Facebook and Instagram and if you want to see what Angela is up to, follow her on Facebook or join our CBD & Holistic Pet Advice Facebook Group.

Creators and Guests

Host
Angela Ardolino
Angela Ardolino is a holistic pet expert who has been caring for animals for over 20 years. Angela owns and operates Fire Flake Farm, her animal rescue farm, as well as her two locations of a natural pet salon and shop, Beautify the Beast, and is founder of CBD Dog Health, which offers high quality, all-natural medical cannabis products designed specifically for pets and MycoDog, a line of mushroom extract and adaptogen tinctures for dogs. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Angela also founded the House of Alchemy, LLC, Miami Children’s Theater, and Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine. In 2013, Angela was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and knew that she needed to find alternatives to the toxic medications being offered to her. After hearing of the benefits of CBD oil and experiencing the life-changing results first hand, Angela set out to destigmatize medical cannabis and CBD oil so she could spread awareness around its holistic healing powers.
Editor
Podcircle
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What is Your Natural Dog with Angela Ardolino - Formerly It's A Dog's Life?

Join Angie Ardolino, certified pet care expert and founder of Your Natural Dog, in important conversations about how to care for your pet naturally. Every week, Angie connects with a top pet professional to give you actionable steps and advice on how to keep your furry friend happy and healthy. If you have a question about your pet you’d like answered on the podcast, email us at kenzie@hisocialgroup.com. Join the conversation on Instagram @yournaturaldogpodcast or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/YourNaturalDog and don’t forget to like, share and subscribe to our regular podcast updates!