Dogs Are Individuals

Are You Treating Symptoms Instead of the Cause? | Short

Dogs Are Individuals

Show Notes

192: Today I’m sharing my thoughts on why holistic dog care can still fall into the trap of treating symptoms instead of looking at the bigger picture. I talk about choosing herbs based on each dog’s individual needs, understanding organ health, and why the nervous system, lymphatics, and liver may need attention before focusing on the gut. I also discuss questioning common practices, looking deeper into health information, and being more intentional in how we support our dogs.

Sponsored By:

→ Pug & Hound Apothecary

Check Out Rita:

→ The Herbal Dog (Book)

→ Rita’s Instagram

→ Facebook Group

→ My Courses

→ My Website and Store

Produced By: Drake Peterson

More from Dogs Are Individuals

Oct 21, 2026

191: In this episode, I’m sharing my thoughts on how veterinarians and other professionals can work together to support dogs. I talk about knowing your limits, getting hands-on experience, and recognizing when a dog needs veterinary care. I also discuss the problems with AI-generated herbal information, why mentorship matters, and how we can learn from each other to provide better care for dogs.

Oct 14, 2026

190: In this episode, I’m sharing some common mistakes herbalists can make when working with herbs for dogs. We’ll talk about why natural doesn’t always mean gentle, the importance of understanding individual plants, and why the right herb for one dog may not work for another. I’ll also discuss the risks of using too many herbs at once and why sometimes the best approach is to keep things simple.

Oct 7, 2026

189: I’m coming to you live from the AHVMA conference in San Diego with my herbal understudy and friend, Krista Fox of Pug and Hound. We’re talking about holistic veterinary medicine, what makes it different from conventional veterinary care, and why looking at the whole animal matters so much.

Sep 30, 2026

188: Gallbladder sludge can be a frustrating issue for dogs, so in this episode, I’m sharing some of the herbal remedies I like to use to support the gallbladder and liver. We’ll talk about artichoke, linden, and hedge maple, along with some of the other symptoms that can show up alongside gallbladder issues. I’ll also share a quick update on my Tavari journey.

Sep 16, 2026

187: This week, I’m breaking down my five-step framework for supporting your dog’s organ health with herbs. We’re talking about the nervous system, lymphatic system, liver, digestion, and creating a protocol based on your individual dog. I’m also sharing why herbal protocols should change with the seasons and why you shouldn’t give your dog the same supplements forever.

See all episodes →