The Crunchy Carnivore

Dog obesity is reaching epidemic levels, with overweight dogs facing increased risk of diabetes, joint problems, inflammation, heart disease, and shorter lifespans. In this video, we explore the real causes behind canine obesity, why traditional feeding advice may be failing, and how a holistic approach to dog weight loss, natural dog nutrition, raw feeding, fresh food diets, and metabolic health...

What happens when over 50 years of dog training experience meets a holistic, whole-body approach to canine wellness? In this episode of "The Crunchy Carnivore Podcast", we sit down with Minnesota-based trainer Katie of Katie’s K9 to explore how decades of hands-on experience have shaped her grounded, no-nonsense philosophy on training—and ultimately led her to embrace and educate others...

Are you struggling with your dog's behavioral issues and wondering if medication is the only answer? In this episode of The Crunchy Carnivore Podcast, we dive deep into the common veterinary approach of prescribing drugs like Prozac, Paxil, Trazodone, and Gabapentin for pet behavior modification. But is medicating your furry friend always the best solution? Join us as we explore the efficacy...

Ever wondered if feeding fresh food to your pet is a good idea? In this episode, we dive into the world of kibble vs raw pet food from a veterinarian's perspective. Dr. Jessica Levy shares her initial skepticism and the surprising journey that changed her views on feeding pets beyond kibble and canned food. 🐾 What you'll learn: - The initial perception of homemade pet food in veterinary...

Sit down with Dr. Jessica Levy, Melissa Weidenhamer, and Bre Drake from Tailswell to unpack two of the toughest truths in the holistic pet space: it takes courage and there is no “easy button.” Together, we dive into the reality behind natural pet care—the time, intention, and emotional investment it takes to choose a holistic path for your animals. From nutrition and lifestyle to preventative car...

Curious about homeoprophylaxis for dogs and whether it really works? In this episode, we break down the truth behind this controversial approach to disease prevention. We explore what homeoprophylaxis actually is, how nosodes are made and used, and how they compare to traditional vaccines. You’ll learn the key differences in how each approach supports (or challenges) your dog’s immune system, plus...

Lyme disease is one of the biggest health concerns for pet parents—but are we looking at it the right way? In this episode of The Crunchy Carnivore Podcast , we take a deep dive into Lyme disease from a holistic veterinarian’s perspective, uncovering what’s often overlooked in conventional conversations. From tick exposure to immune resilience, this episode goes beyond fear-based messaging and int...

What would you do if your dog suddenly stopped eating—and no one could tell you why? In this powerful episode of The Crunchy Carnivore Podcast, we sit down with Air Gustafson, an everyday dog mom whose life took an unexpected turn when her beloved dog Morty faced a terrifying health crisis. After multiple vet visits and no clear diagnosis, Air found herself searching for answers—and running out of...

What does “raw” actually mean when it comes to your dog’s food — and are all raw diets created equal? In this eye-opening episode, we're pulling back the curtain to unpack the truth about raw feeding. Because here’s the reality: just because a label says “raw” or "natural" doesn’t mean it delivers the biological nutrition your dog was designed to thrive on. We’ll dive into: What tru...

Are supplements the missing link in your pet’s health—or just clever marketing? In this episode, listen in to how we break down the truth about supplements for your pets. With so many powders, chews, and tinctures lining pet store shelves, it’s easy to assume “more is better.” But does your dog actually need supplements? And if so, which ones? We dive into: How to determine whether your dog truly...

Join us as we hear from veteran breeder Paula Vandervoort, and hear about her experience with one of her dog's ending up with a severe autoimmune disease as a result of vaccination.  She shares the challenges she faced, including juvenile arthritis and extreme behavioral changes, which ultimately changed her entire view and approach to dog health and her breeding program.   We discuss the pot...

Could something as simple as massage be the missing piece in your dog’s health routine? In this eye-opening episode of The Crunchy Carnivore Podcast, we explore one of the most overlooked yet incredibly powerful tools in holistic pet care: animal massage and bodywork. Joining us is Victoria from The Balanced Orchid, an animal massage and bodywork specialist, who breaks down exactly what this pract...

Detox is one of the biggest buzzwords in the wellness movement and we're going to break down this often-misunderstood concept.  Let's define what it really is, what we should detox our pets from, how it works in the body, and what we should expect when it comes to helping our animals with it.  Whether you've raised you pets naturally or are just coming over from a more conventional...

Thinking about raising a puppy naturally—but feeling overwhelmed by all the conflicting advice online? You’re not alone. In this episode of The Crunchy Carnivore Podcast, we break down the Natural Rearing (NR) approach and give you clear, practical guidance for raising puppies the way nature intended. From nutrition to socialization, from health to behavior, we cover the topics most people don’t t...

Get an experienced vet and breeder's take on important questions to ask yourself, what to research, and preparation to do well before you decide on bringing home a new addition.  Everything from deciding on a puppy vs older dog, to where to acquire them, to what should be at home ready and waiting for when they do arrive.  All of these considerations will help you have the most enjoyable and...

Homeopathy - Have you ever heard of it?  If you have, was it in a positive or negative light?  If you haven't, why is that?  What is it?  Is it even real, or is it all placebo effect?  Join us as we address all of these questions and more and attempt to demystify this often confusing and misunderstood modality. Resources: “Beyond Flat Earth Medicine” - by Dr Timothy R Dooley “Direction of Cur...

Feeling judged, attacked, or misunderstood for choosing holistic care for your pets? You’re not alone—and today, we’re tackling the elephant in the room . In this episode of The Crunchy Carnivore Podcast , we sit down with holistic advocate Nicole Nelson for a real, no-nonsense conversation about the opposition holistic pet parents often face—from friends and family, online communities, and even p...

As a follow up to episode 9, "Healing The Whole- Part I", we want to revisit what the principals and concepts to the holistic approach are by showing you what putting them into practice can really look like.  We will use 3 real life examples with 3 different levels of holistic experience to give you more clarity on what walking the natural path really means in regard to application, cost...

So what does it mean to heal your animal in a holistic way?  To answer that we need to look at the healing mechanisms that are built into the body's natural design, which we can really boil down to a couple of basic processes and then from there can embrace concepts that will facilitate true, deep, and long-lasting healing.  Join us as we flesh out holistic healing into its principles, concep...

Cancer in dogs is on the rise—and it’s raising questions, concerns, and a lot of fear among pet parents. In this eye-opening episode of The Crunchy Carnivore Podcast, we welcome back NR Breeder Nicole Nelson to tackle one of the most important and controversial topics in the dog world today: tumors, cancers, potential causes, and whether it’s time to rethink our approach. Dr. Levy joins the conver...

Have you ever thought that something in your home could be the very thing that's causing your pet's health problems?  In this episode we'll discuss what these culprits are that are in our control as well as the ones that are outside of what we can choose and what to do about it.  This is a huge part of what can lighten the toxic load in your animals, which has a massive impact on he...

Think raw feeding is too expensive for your dog or cat? Think again. In this episode of The Crunchy Carnivore Podcast, we tackle one of the biggest objections to holistic pet care: the cost. Many people assume conventional kibble is cheaper—but when you break down the numbers, consider long-term health, and factor in the true cost of veterinary care, the story isn’t so simple. We dive deep into th...

The holistic approach includes every part of our pet's life, even our own emotional state.  Trying to humanize our dogs and project our emotions onto them can burden their immune system as well as hinder our ability to recognize what might be truly going on.  Keeping calm, being patient, and observing the situation can help us navigate towards the best way to truly heal them.   Resources: Exc...

Ever wondered what’s really in your dog’s food—or whether popular feeding practices are actually helping your pet? In this episode of The Crunchy Carnivore Podcast, we welcome NR Breeder Nicole Nelson for a no-holds-barred discussion based on YOUR questions. From social media polls to personal experience, Nicole and the team cover everything dog owners are curious about: the truth behind AAFCO sta...

Listen in as a holistic vet and holistic breeder duo share some very eye-opening truths about the history of dog food, truth about kibble, and why the conventional world is so opposed to a fresh raw food diet for dogs and cats.  Many of our pets' problems today can be directly linked to getting the diet wrong, so please join us as we bring some clarity to a topic that can be swirling with imm...