🐾 Pet Wellness
Commercial pet food—especially kibble—is actually a very recent invention, emerging during World War II when metal cans were redirected to the war effort and manufacturers needed a shelf-stable product that could be packaged cheaply and stored indefinitely.
While dogs and cats can survive on these ultra-processed diets, they are not biologically designed to thrive on them. Both species evolved to eat moisture-rich, animal-based foods, yet kibble is typically dehydrated, high in processed carbohydrates, and made with lower-quality ingredients that are heavily altered by extreme heat.
Over time, this disconnect between biology and diet can quietly impact digestion, metabolic health, immune function, skin, urinary health, and overall vitality—especially for cats, who are obligate carnivores and require a diet centered almost entirely on animal protein and fat.
A biologically appropriate raw or minimally processed diet better aligns with how dogs and cats are designed to eat, supporting hydration, nutrient absorption, and long-term health. For those able and willing, transitioning gradually toward raw—or simply incorporating higher-quality, moisture-rich foods alongside existing diets—can be a meaningful step toward improving a pet’s health without needing to be all-or-nothing.
🍖 Why “Human-Grade” Matters
According to holistic veterinarians like Dr. Karen Becker, a significant portion of conventional commercial pet food is made using ingredients that were rejected from the human food supply and diverted into pet food instead. These ingredients may still contain pesticide residues, mycotoxins (from mold-contaminated grains), or degraded proteins — yet are legally permitted in pet food due to looser regulatory standards.
Human-grade pet food is different. It means the ingredients are:
- Sourced from suppliers approved for human consumption
- Prepared in human food facilities
- Held to higher standards for freshness, cleanliness, and traceability
Feeding human-grade or gently cooked/raw foods doesn’t require perfection — even partial upgrades can significantly reduce a pet’s toxic and inflammatory burden over time.
🌿 Essential Oils & Pets: Safety First
Essential oils are powerful plant compounds — and while some can be supportive, many are unsafe or even toxic for pets, especially cats. Cats lack certain liver enzymes needed to process concentrated plant oils, making them particularly sensitive.
Generally considered safer options (when properly diluted and used cautiously):
- Frankincense
- Lavender (true lavender, not blends)
- Copaiba
- Helichrysum
Common oils to avoid around pets:
- Tea tree (melaleuca)
- Eucalyptus
- Peppermint
- Clove
- Cinnamon
- Citrus oils
Essential oils should never be applied directly to pets, diffused in enclosed spaces, or used without proper education. Less is more — and when in doubt, skip them entirely.
🐶🐱 5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Pet’s Health
- Upgrade water quality
Provide filtered or spring water instead of tap to reduce chlorine, heavy metals, and chemical residues. - Add fresh food to the bowl
Even small additions — fresh meat, sardines, eggs, or gently cooked foods — improve nutrient density and hydration. - Rotate proteins
Avoid feeding the same protein every day to reduce food sensitivities and support a more resilient immune system. - Choose non-toxic cleaners & bedding
Pets live close to the floor and groom themselves — reducing chemical cleaners, fragrances, and treated fabrics matters. - Support the body, not just symptoms
Focus on gut health, mineral balance, movement, sunlight, and emotional wellbeing — the foundations that allow healing to happen.
🧡 The Big Picture
Pet wellness isn’t about chasing trends or achieving perfection — it’s about reducing unnecessary stress on the body and supporting biology the way nature intended. When we clean up what our pets eat, drink, breathe, and rest on, we often see improvements not just in lifespan, but in energy, behavior, digestion, skin, and overall quality of life.
👉 Go to the Vetting Log and use the dropdown filter to select Pet Care.